More about Organ Systems

We have 11 organ systems in the body that work interactively to maintain our body's homeostasis; these organ systems are illustrated and briefly described in Table 1. We will explore each system in greater detail throughout the course.

 

Table 1. Organ Systems of the Human Body
Organ System Functions Components Image
Integumentary
  • Encloses internal body structures
  • Site of many sensory receptors
  • Hair
  • Skin
  • Nails
 Image of human body listing functions and components of Integumentary System
Skeletal
  • Supports the body
  • Enable movement (with muscular system)
  • Cartilage
  • Bones
  • Joints
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Skeletal System
Muscular
  • Enable movement (with skeletal system)
  • Helps maintain body temperature
  • Skeletal muscles
  • Tendons
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Muscular System  
Nervous
  • Detects and process sensory information
  • Activates body responses
  • Brain
  • Spinal cord
  • Peripheral nerves
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Nervous System
Endocrine
  • Secretes hormones
  • Regulates body processes
  • Pituitary gland
  • Thyroid gland
  • Pancreas
  • Adrenal glands
  • Testes (men)
  • Ovaries (women)
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Endocrine System
Cardiovascular
  • Delivers oxygen and nutrients to tissues
  • Equalizes temperature in the body
  • Heart
  • Blood vessels
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Cardiovascular System
Lymphatic
  • Returns fluid to blood
  • Defends against pathogens
  • Thymus
  • Lymph nodes
  • Spleen
  • Lymphatic vessels
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Lymphatic System
Respiratory
  • Removes carbon dioxide from the blood
  • Delivers oxygen to the blood
  • Nasal passage
  • Trachea
  • Lungs
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Respiratory System
Digestive
  • Processes food for use by the body
  • Removes wastes from undigested food
  • Stomach
  • Liver
  • Gall bladder
  • Large intestine
  • Small intestine
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Digestive System
Urinary
  • Controls water balance in the body
  • Removes wastes from the blood and excretes them
  • Kidneys
  • Urinary bladder
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Urinary System
Male Reproductive
  • Produces sex hormones and gametes
  • Delivers gametes to female
  • Epidermis
  • Testes
 Image of human body listing functions and components of the Male Reproductive System  
Female Reproductive
  • Produces sex hormones and gametes
  • Supports embryo/fetus until birth
  • Produces milk for infant
  • Mammary glands
  • Ovaries
  • Uterus
 Female Reproductive System

 

 


return to top | previous page | next page