Physical culture today is of particular social importance, as its purpose, subject and main result is human development and self-development. Only through a person, through the manifestation of the interdependence of the human-forming and adaptive functions of culture, is there an impact on the individual and society. The purpose is to reveal the biosocial values and functions of physical culture at the present stage of civilisational development. Methods. We used the analysis of scientific literature in the following areas: pedagogy, philosophy of culture, physical culture, pedagogical hermeneutics, methodology of science, innovation, system analysis, pedagogical synergetics, and actualisation of the personal-psychological and value-semantic factors of physical culture. Methodologically significant for our study was the concept of knowledge fundamentalisation, which includes the idea of forming «body culture». Results. The cultural analysis of physical culture shows that physical culture is a field of culture that regulates human activity (its orientation, methods, results) related to the formation, development and use of bodily-motor abilities in accordance with the norms, values and patterns accepted in the culture (subculture). In this context, it is advisable to use a new concept – somatic body culture. The content of physical culture and related phenomena can be divided into functional and performance bases. The physical culture of an individual should be considered as a biological (genetic) and socially determined sphere of general human culture (spiritual, intellectual and bodily), which is a qualitative, systemic, dynamic state that characterises psychophysical health, the level of physical (bodily) perfection, personalised and social motivational and value orientations acquired as a result of specially organised motor and sports activities and a healthy lifestyle. Ukrainian folk physical culture and all its existing means are a unique cultural phenomenon that requires not only description, but also further development and improvement, taking into account the specifics of ethno-cultural traditions in different regions of Ukraine. Conclusions. The identified groups of values of physical culture allow us to realise its essential understanding as a category that unites a significant number of concepts – sport, sport for all, physical recreation and rehabilitation, sports animation, physical qualities, physical training and fitness, sports competitions, physical education, etc.