Organ Systems

Integumentary System

the skin, hair, nails, sweat and oil glands. Protects body from injury and pathogens. Synthesizes vitamin D. Houses sweat glands (help with temperature regulation) and oil glands, as well as receptors for pain, pressure, and temperature to sense environment around you.

Skeletal System

bones and ligaments. Protects and supports body and organs. Provides a framework that the muscles can use to produce movement. Where blood cells are made and where minerals can be stored.

Muscular System

Skeletal muscle moves the body, allows you to manipulate your environment, convey facial expressions, maintain posture, and shiver to help with temperature regulation. Cardiac muscle pumps the heart and smooth muscle moves substances through the digestive and urinary tracts.

Nervous System

brain, spinal cord, and nerves. The fast-acting control system of the body. Responds to internal and external changes by activating appropriate muscles and glands (effectors). In charge of communication, control, and coordination of the body.

Endocrine System

Glands and the hormones they secrete. Hormones regulate many body and homeostatic processes including growth, reproduction, metabolism, water balance, blood pressure, blood sugar, etc. Also involved in communication, control, and coordination of the body but acts more slowly than the nervous system.

Cardiovascular System

the heart, blood vessels, and the blood travelling within. Major goal is transportation – of oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to cells and wastes including carbon dioxide from cells to leave the body. The heart acts as a pump to keep blood moving through the vessels.

Lymphatic System

Lymphatic vessels take up fluid that leaks from blood vessels and returns into the bloodstream. The lymphatic fluid passes through lymph nodes that house white blood cells, which break down any debris or pathogens in the fluid. White blood cells are important in immunity and mount an attack when a foreign substance is recognized in the body.

Respiratory System

Brings oxygen into blood, which is used to meet the needs of the cells. Carbon dioxide (a waste from cell metabolism) is removed from the blood at the lungs and is exhaled by the lungs. Exchange of gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) with blood happens through the walls of air sacs in the lungs.

Digestive System

Digestion (break down into nutrients) of food and absorption of nutrients into bloodstream. Anything that can’t be digested/absorbed is eliminated as feces.

Urinary System

kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra. Eliminates metabolic wastes from the body by filtering them out of the blood at the kidneys, where the wastes become part of urine, which leaves the body via the urethra. The kidneys also play a major role in maintaining the body’s water, electrolyte, and acid-base (pH) balance.

Reproductive System

Gonads (testes or ovaries) produce gametes (sex cells – sperm or ova) for reproduction of offspring, as well as release male and female sex hormones. The uterus houses developing offspring.