Skip to main content
Glite Dictionary
external organ

external organ

1 4.9
A body part on or near the outside of the body
  • noun
  • Specialized
translation icon : órgano externo
  • Injuries to an external organ are often easier to assess and treat than those to internal organs.

Examples

  • Some sensory receptors are part of external organs such as the eyes and ears.

  • The external organ of the human body is the skin.

  • The skin is considered the body's largest external organ.

  • Fish have several external organs that help them breathe.

  • The human body has several external organs, including the skin and eyes.

  • Fingernails are considered external organs that protect the tips of our fingers.

  • The external organ of the ear helps us hear sounds from our environment.

Surface Forms

external organ singular
external organs plural

Morphology

external + organ

The meaning 'an organ located on or near the surface of the body' is directly and transparently composed from 'external' (outside, on the surface) + 'organ' (a body part). Although 'organ' is often associated with internal structures, the modifying adjective 'external' plainly specifies location, a compositional and cross-linguistically common pattern that a B1 learner who knows both words can deduce.

Etymology

The noun external organ shows a simple picture: external means 'outside' and organ is a working body part. So parts you can see or touch, like the skin, eyes, or ears, are called external organs, meaning 'an organ on or near the surface of the body'.