What is an example of organ system

Learning objectiveS

• Define organ and organ system, and list the organ systems in the human organization
• Describe the functions of the organs systems, and list the main organs of each system

An organ is a group of tissues that work together for the overall function of the organ, and an organ system is a group of organs that work together to perform a specific function. The human organism consists of eleven organ systems. They are Integumentary System, Skeletal System, Muscular System, Nervous System, Endocrine System, Cardiovascular System, Lymphatic System, Respiratory System, Digestive System, Urinary System, and Reproductive System (Female and Male).

Figure \(\PageIndex{1}\) Organs and organ systems are the highest levels of complexity forming the human organism.

Concepts, terms, and facts check

Study Questions Write your answer in a sentence form (do not answer using loose words)

1. What is an organ system?
2. List all the organ systems in the human organism

Refer to Figures \(\PageIndex{2}\) and \(\PageIndex{3}\) below to determine the organs and functions of the eleven organ systems. Note that some organs perform activities that directly participate in the functioning of more than one system. For example, the testes and ovaries both have an endocrine function (producing sex hormones) and a reproductive function (producing, cells called gametes that will fuse to make a new organism). Another example is the pancreas, which has an endocrine function (producing hormones) and a digestive function (producing juices that help digestion).

All organ systems must work correctly for an organism, such as humans, to maintain homeostasis and health. Since all organ systems are ultimately made of ions and molecules, an understanding of the chemical and cellular organization of the body, as reviewed in this course, is needed in order to successfully master human anatomy and physiology.

Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\) Organs and function of Integumentary System, Skeletal System, Muscular System, Nervous System, Endocrine System, Cardiovascular System

Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) Organs and function of lymphatic system, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary system, and female and male reproductive system

Concepts, terms, and facts check

Study Questions Write your answer in a sentence form (do not answer using loose words)

1. What is the function of the Integumentary System?
2. List the organs of the Integumentary System.
3. What is the function of the Skeletal System?
4. List the organs of the Skeletal System.
5. What is the function of the Muscular System?
6. List the organs of the Muscular System.
7. What is the function of the Nervous System?
8. List the organs of the Nervous System.
9. What is the function of the Endocrine System?
10. List the organs of the Endocrine System.
11. What is the function of the Cardiovascular System?
12. List the organs of the Cardiovascular System.
13. What is the function of the Lymphatic System?
14. List the organs of the Lymphatic System.
15. What is the function of the Respiratory System?
16. List the organs of the Respiratory System.
17. What is the function of the Digestive System?
18. List the organs of the Digestive System.
19. What is the function of the Urinary System?
20. List the organs of the Urinary System.
21. What is the function of the Female Reproductive System?
22. List the organs of the Female Reproductive System.
23. What is the function of the Male Reproductive System?
24. List the organs of the Male Reproductive System.

“Achy Breaky Heart”

Billy Ray Cyrus's song "Achy Breaky Heart" has lyrics suc as: Heartache, heartbreak...it all has to do with love. Did you ever wonder why the heart is associated with love? The heart was once thought to be the center of all thought processes, as well as the site of all emotions. This notion may have stemmed from very early anatomical dissections that found many nerves can be traced to the region of the heart. The fact that the heart may start racing when one is excited or otherwise emotionally aroused may have contributed to this idea as well. In fact, the heart is not the organ that controls thoughts or emotions. The organ that controls those functions is the brain. In this concept, you’ll be introduced to the heart, brain, and other major organs of the human body.

Human Organs

An organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. Organs exist in most multicellular organisms, including not only humans and other animals but also plants. In single-celled organisms such as bacteria, the functional equivalent of an organ is an organelle.

Tissues in Organs

Although organs consist of multiple tissue types, many organs are composed of the main tissue that is associated with the organ’s major function and other tissues that play supporting roles. The main tissue may be unique to that specific organ. For example, the main tissue of the heart is the cardiac muscle, which performs the heart’s major function of pumping blood and is found only in the heart. The heart also includes nervous and connective tissues that are required for it to perform its major function. For example, nervous tissues control the beating of the heart, and connective tissues make up heart valves that keep blood flowing in just one direction through the heart.

Vital Organs

The human body contains five organs that are considered vital for survival. They are the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. The locations of these five organs and several other internal organs are shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\). If any of the five vital organs stops functioning, the death of the organism is imminent without medical intervention.

1. The heart is located in the center of the chest, and its function is to keep blood flowing through the body. Blood carries substances to cells that they need and also carries away wastes from cells.
2. The brain is located in the head and functions as the body’s control center. It is the seat of all thoughts, memories, perceptions, and feelings.
3. The two kidneys are located in the back of the abdomen on either side of the body. Their function is to filter blood and form urine, which is excreted from the body.
4. The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen. It has many functions, including filtering blood, secreting bile that is needed for digestion, and producing proteins necessary for blood clotting.
5. The two lungs are located on either side of the upper chest. Their main function is exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood.

Human Organ Systems

Functionally related organs often cooperate to form whole organ systems. Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) and Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) show 11 human organ systems, including separate diagrams for the male and female reproductive systems. Some of the organs and functions of the organ systems are identified in the figure. Each system is also described in more detail in the text that follows. Most of these human organ systems are also the subject of separate chapters in this book.

Integumentary System

Organs of the integumentary system include the skin, hair, and nails. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It encloses and protects the body and is the site of many sensory receptors. The skin is the body’s first defense against pathogens, and it also helps regulate body temperature and eliminate wastes in sweat.

Skeletal System

The skeletal system consists of bones, joints, teeth. The bones of the skeletal system are connected by tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Functions of the skeletal system include supporting the body and giving it shape. Along with the muscular system, the skeletal system enables the body to move. The bones of the skeletal system also protect internal organs, store calcium, and produce red and white blood cells.

Muscular System

The muscular system consists of three different types of muscles, including skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons and allow for voluntary movements of the body. Smooth muscle tissues control the involuntary movements of internal organs, such as the organs of the digestive system, allowing food to move through the system. Smooth muscles in blood vessels allow vasoconstriction and vasodilation and thereby help regulate body temperature. Cardiac muscle tissues control the involuntary beating of the heart, allowing it to pump blood through the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system.

Nervous System

The nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system, and nerves that run throughout the rest of the body, which make up the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system controls both voluntary and involuntary responses of the human organism and also detects and processes sensory information.

Endocrine System

The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones into the blood, which carries the hormones throughout the body. Endocrine hormones are chemical messengers that control many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development. The master gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that control other endocrine glands. Some of the other endocrine glands include the pancreas, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands.

Cardiovascular System

The cardiovascular system (also called the circulatory system) includes the heart, blood, and three types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart pumps blood, which travels through the blood vessels. The main function of the cardiovascular system is transport. Oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive system are transported to cells throughout the body. Carbon dioxide and other waste materials are picked up from the cells and transported to organs such as the lungs and kidneys for elimination from the body. The cardiovascular system also equalizes body temperature and transports endocrine hormones to cells in the body where they are needed.

Urinary System

The urinary system includes the pair of kidneys, which filter excess water and a waste product called urea from the blood and form urine. Two tubes called ureters carry the urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, which stores the urine until it is excreted from the body through another tube named the urethra. The kidneys also produce an enzyme called renin and a variety of hormones. These substances help regulate blood pressure, the production of red blood cells, and the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.

Respiratory System

Organs and other structures of the respiratory system include the nasal passages, lungs, and a long tube called the trachea, which carries air between the nasal passages and lungs. The main function of the respiratory system is to deliver oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Gases are exchanged between the lungs and blood across the walls of capillaries lining tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.

Lymphatic System

The lymphatic system is sometimes considered to be part of the immune system. It consists of a network of lymph vessels and ducts that collect excess fluid (called lymph) from extracellular spaces in tissues and transport the fluid to the bloodstream. The lymphatic system also includes many small collections of tissue, called lymph nodes, and an organ called the spleen, both of which remove pathogens and cellular debris from the lymph or blood. In addition, the thymus gland in the lymphatic system produces some types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that fight infections.

Digestive System

The digestive system consists of several main organs — including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines — that form a long tube called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Food moves through this tract where it is digested, its nutrients absorbed, and its waste products excreted. The digestive system also includes accessory organs (such as the pancreas and liver) that produce enzymes and other substances needed for digestion but through which food does not actually pass.

Male and Female Reproductive Systems

The reproductive system is the only body system that differs substantially between individuals. There is a range of Biological sex, but most books divide them into male and female. We will discuss the Biology of sex in detail in the reproductive and development chapters.

Feature: Human Biology in the News

Organ transplantation has been performed by surgeons for more than six decades, and you’ve no doubt heard of people receiving heart, lung, and kidney transplants. However, you may have never heard of a penis transplant. The first U.S. penis transplant was performed in May of 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The 15-hour procedure involved a team of more than 50 physicians, surgeons, and nurses. The patient was a 64-year-old man who had lost his penis to cancer in 2012. The surgical milestone involved grafting microscopic blood vessels and nerves of the donor organ to those of the recipient. As with most transplant patients, this patient will have to take immunosuppressing drugs for the rest of his life so his immune system will not reject the organ. The transplant team said that their success with this transplant “holds promise for patients with devastating genitourinary injuries and disease.” They also hope their experiences will be helpful for gender reassignment surgery.

Review

1. What is the main tissue in the heart, and what is its role?
2. What non-muscle tissues are found in the heart? What are their functions?
3. Identify two vital organs in the human body. Identify their locations and functions.
4. List three human organ systems. For each organ system, identify some of its organs and functions.
5. Compare and contrast the male and female reproductive systems.
6. For each of the following pairs of organ systems, describe one way in which they work together and/or overlap.
   1. Skeletal system and muscular system
   2. Muscular system and digestive system
   3. Endocrine system and reproductive system
   4. Cardiovascular system and urinary system
7. What is the largest organ of the human body?
8. What are the three organ systems involved in regulating human body temperature?
9. Teeth are part of which system?
   1. Integumentary
   2. Skeletal
   3. Nervous
   4. A and B
10. Hair is part of which organ system?
11. True or False. Organs only exist in animals.
12. True or False. The respiratory system helps to remove wastes from the body.

Explore More

Professor Anthony Atala is working to answer an important question: Can we grow new replacement organs rather than transplanting organs from other people? In his state-of-the-art lab, he and his associates are actually growing human organs, including blood vessels, bladders, and kidneys. Watch the fascinating TED talk below to see how they are doing it.

While organ transplant saves countless lives, they oftentimes fail. Learn more here:

Attributions

1. Twemoji by Twitter, licensed CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
2. Internal organs by Mikael Häggström released into the public domain via Wikimedia Commons
3. Organ Systems by Lindsay M. Biga, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Devon Quick & Jon Runyeon CC BY-SA 4.0 via Open Oregon Education.
4. Organ Systems by Lindsay M. Biga, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Devon Quick & Jon Runyeon CC BY-SA 4.0 via Open Oregon Education.
5. Text adapted from Human Biology by CK-12 licensed CC BY-NC 3.0