Chapter 5: Organ Systems of the Body

This set of vocabulary flashcards covers the definitions, structures, and functions of the 11 major organ systems of the human body, as well as concepts related to organ replacement and medical imaging.

Organ

A structure made up of two or more kinds of tissues organized to perform a more complex function than a single tissue.

System

A group of organs that together perform a more complex function than any single organ alone.

Integumentary System

The body system consisting of the skin and its appendages, including hair, nails, microscopic sense receptors, sweat glands, and oil glands.

Ligaments

Bands of fibrous tissue that hold bones together within the skeletal system.

Joints

Connections between bones that make body movement possible.

Skeletomuscular system

The combination of the skeletal and muscular systems working together.

Central nervous system (CNS)

The part of the nervous system composed of the brain and the spinal cord.

Peripheral nervous system (PNS)

The part of the nervous system consisting of the cranial nerves, spinal nerves, and their branches, as well as sense organs.

Neuroendocrine system

The functional combination of the nervous system and the endocrine system.

Cardiovascular System

Also called the circulatory system; it consists of the heart and a closed system of vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries) used for transportation.

Lymphatic System

A system composed of lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, tonsils, the thymus gland, and the spleen that drains excess fluid and provides immunity.

Phagocytes

Protective cells in the immune system that perform phagocytosis of bacteria.

Alveoli

The structures in the lungs where the exchange of waste gas ($CO_2$) for oxygen ($O_2$) occurs.

Alimentary canal

Also known as the gastrointestinal (GI) tract; the primary organs of the digestive system forming a continuous tube from the mouth to the anal canal.

Feces

The undigested waste products eliminated from the digestive system.

Urine

The waste product produced by the kidneys as they clear the blood of waste products.

Gonads

The primary sex organs; the testes in males and the ovaries in females.

Homeostasis

The relative constancy of the internal environment, maintained only by the coordinated and regulated functioning of all body systems.

Prosthesis

An artificial organ or device used for nonvital organ replacement, such as an artificial limb or a pacemaker.

Immunosuppressive drugs

Drugs administered to transplant recipients to suppress the immune system and inhibit organ rejection reactions.

Radiography

Also known as x-ray photography; the oldest and most widely used method of noninvasive imaging of the internal body, discovered by Wilhelm Röntgen.