organs and miscellaneous things to know

heart

• organ system: cardiovascular

• function: pumps oxygenated blood throughout the body and pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs

diaphragm

• organ system: respiratory

• function: pulls/pushes air to/from the lungs by expanding/contracting

trachea

• organ system: respiratory

• function: provides a pathway for air to travel between the larynx and lungs

lungs

• organ system: respiratory

• function: brings oxygen into the bloodstream (inhale) and filters out CO₂ (exhale)

larynx

• organ system: respiratory

• function: prevents food from entering the airway by elevating and folding the epiglottis

thyroid

• organ system: endocrine

• function: secretes T₃, T₄, and calcitonin that regulate metabolism, growth, and development

thymus

• organ system: endocrine

• function: secretes thymic hormones involved in the maturation of T-lymphocytes

spleen

• organ system: lymphatic

• function: filters blood by removing old, damaged, or malformed red blood cells

liver

• organ system: digestive

• function: secretes bile that aids in the digestion and absorption of fats

gallbladder

• organ system: digestive

• function: stores and concentrates bile

esophagus

• organ system: digestive

• function: transports food/liquid to the stomach through the process of swallowing

caecum

• organ system: digestive

• function: serves as a temporary reservoir for feces before getting passed down the large intestine

rectum

• organ system: digestive

• function: serves as the final storing site for feces before they’re released during defecation

large intestine

• organ system: digestive

• function: provides an environment for certain bacteria that make vitamin K and vitamin B, which are then also absorbed along with water

small intestine

• organ system: digestive

• function: absorbs nutrients from digested food into the bloodstream

mesentery

• organ system: digestive

• function: attaches the intestines to the abdominal wall and holds them in place

pancreas

• organ systems: digestive and endocrine

• function: produces digestive enzymes and bicarbonate ions, which are delivered to the small intestine to help digest food; secretes insulin and glucagon to decrease/increase blood sugar levels

stomach

• organ systems: digestive

• function: stores and breaks down food mechanically and begins chemical digestion of proteins

umbilical arteries

• organ system: (fetal) circulatory

• function: carry deoxygenated blood from the fetus to the placenta

umbilical vein

• organ system: (fetal) circulatory

• function: carries oxygenated blood with nutrients from the placenta to the fetus

hard palate

• organ system: digestive and respiratory

• function: provides a hard, flat surface that allows food to be chewed down into small pieces; separates the oral cavity from the nasal cavity

soft palate

• organ system: digestive and respiratory

• function: elevates to prevent food from entering the nasal passage; regulates airflow and pressure in the respiratory system during speaking and swallowing by actively moving

kidneys

• organ system: urogenital and lymphatic

• function: filters nitrogenous waste out of the blood and produces urine

urethra

• organ system: urogenital

• function: carries urine out of the body

ureters

• organ system: urogenital

• function: drain the urine out of each kidney

bladder

• organ system: urogenital

• function: stores urine carried from the ureters

urogenital sinus

• organ system: urogenital

• function: opens to the outside as the urogenital orifice at the urogenital papilla in females

urogenital papilla

• organ system: urogenital

• function: serves as a site for various reproductive or urinary activities, such as egg-laying, sperm transfer, or urine expulsion

uterus

• organ system: urogenital

• function: houses a developing fetus in females

ovaries

• organ system: urogenital and endocrine

• function: produces eggs in females

oviducts/fallopian tubes

• organ system: urogenital

• function: transports an egg from the ovaries to the uterus

testes

• organ system: urogenital and endocrine

• function: produces sperm in males

epididymis

• organ system: urogenital

• function: stores and matures sperm cells before ejaculation

ductus/vas deferens

• organ system: urogenital

• function: carries the sperm from the epididymis to empty into the urethra

bulbourethral glands

• organ system: urogenital

• function: secretes fluid that protects and nourishes sperm

penis

• organ system: urogenital

• function: excretes sperm and urine

pineal gland

• organ system: endocrine

• function: secretes melatonin that regulates circadian rhythm

anterior pituitary gland

• organ system: endocrine

• function: secretes different hormones (GH, ACTH, TSH, FSH, LH, and PRL) that are sent to different endocrine glands

posterior pituitary gland

• organ system: endocrine

• function: stores and secretes hormones that are made in the hypothalamus (OT and ADH)

nipples

• organ system: reproductive

• function: excrete milk produced by the mammary glands in females; basically useless in males

mammary glands

• organ system: reproductive

• function: produce milk in females

sex

the classification of organisms based on biological, anatomical, hormonal, and other traits; typically male or female

scrotum

• organ system: reproductive

• function: a patch of skin containing male reproductive organs

umbilical cord

• organ system: (fetal) circulatory

• function: a flexible tube that connects the fetus to its mother during pregnancy, providing oxygen and nutrients