The human body is a wonderfully successful machine. Most of this success comes from the fact that there are 11 codependent systems running at the same time. Each system is made up of distinct organs that allow it to have a unique function. Together, these systems allow you to walk around, eat food, breathe, exercise, and do anything else you choose. You may ask, how does it all work? In this series of anatomy articles we will briefly discuss each of the body systems to allow for a greater understanding of not just the anatomy of human body, but your body. To begin, let’s overview the 11 systems:
Skeletal System – bones, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, joints
- Body support and internal organ protection
- Bones provide storage for minerals
- Bones act as levers for muscular action
Muscular System – muscles attached to bones
- Muscles contract and shorten to allow motion (running, walking, etc.)
- Muscles control facial expression
- Muscles allow manipulation and interaction with the environment
Integumentary System – skin, hair, nails
- Protects organs from drying out, getting an infection, or receiving an injury
- Excretes salts and urea from body
- Helps in body temperature regulation (sweating)
Lymphatic System – lymphatic vessels, lymph nodes, spleen, thymus
- Cleanses blood of pathogens and other debris
- Houses lymphocytes – cells that act in immune responses to protect the body from foreign substances
Endocrine System – pituitary, thymus, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal glands, pineal glands, ovaries, testes, pancreas
- Maintains internal balance (homeostasis), promotes growth and development, hormone production
Nervous System – brain, spinal cord, nerves, sensory receptors
- Allows detection of external and internal changes to create a response by the muscles or glands
- Helps maintain internal balance (homeostasis) by rapid transmission of electrical signals
Reproductive Systems – males: testes, prostate gland, scrotum, penis, duct system; females: ovaries, uterine tubes, uterus, mammary glands, vagina
- Both produce sex cells, called gametes, that aid in reproduction
- Men produce sperm
- Women produce eggs
- Female anatomy provides housing for development of the fetus until birth and mammary glands provide nourishment in the form of milk for the newborn
Respiratory System – nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs
- Provides a continuous supply of oxygen into the blood while also removing carbon dioxide
- Contributes to acidity or basicity of blood
Circulatory System – heart and blood vessels
- Transport system that carries substances to and from tissues for exchange
- Substances include: oxygen, carbon dioxide, nutrients, wastes, hormones, etc.
- Blood is pumped through the vessels by the heart
- Antibodies and other proteins in the blood are involved in immune response
Digestive System – oral cavity, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines
- Breaks down food to be absorbed by the blood for delivery to cells in the body
- Removes undigested material as feces
Urinary System – kidneys, bladder, ureters, urethra
- Rids body of nitrogen-containing waste (urea, uric acid, ammonia) as a result of breaking down proteins and genetic material
- Maintains water, acid/base balance, and electrolyte concentration of the blood
