The body includes the preface, all original text (original argumentation, message plus citations).
How many pages to submit is listed in the course description.
Not included
For example front page, colophon, table of contents, abstract, bibliography etc.
Appendices like illustrations, charts, articles, reports, graphs and ect. are also supplementary materials often not included in the page count
There is no upper or lower limit to the page span of the elements not included in the body.
Body versus appendices
A general rule of thumb is that the body is the line of argumentation, while the appendices serves to substantiate the argument(s).
Appendices are elements that are too extensive to be included in the main body of the assignment, but still relevant to your assignment.
It is very important that nothing essential to your work appears only in the appendices without also being explained in the main text.