Summary of Organ Systems

Organ systems—two or more organs working together

Note that several of the systems have overlapping functions.  This means that they are interdependent.

1)  Skeletal:  bones, cartilage

            -supports body

            -provides attachment points

            Protects

2)  Muscular:  skeletal muscles, tendons, ligaments

            -move from place to place

            -move substances through body (nutrients, oxygen etc.)

3)  Circulatory:  heart, blood vessels, blood

            -carries nutrients and oxygen throughout the body

            -carries away wastes

4)  Respiratory:  nose, trachea (windpipe), lungs

            -respiration:  takes in oxygen and removes carbon dioxide

5)  Nervous:  brain, spinal cord, nerves (Central Nervous System)

            -sends and receives messages

            -controls behaviour, movement, processes

6)  Digestive:  mouth, salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gall bladder, pancreas, small and large intestines, colon

            -breaks food down into useful nutrients

            -expels solid waste (feces)

7)  Excretory:  kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra

            -filters impurities from the blood

            -removes liquid waste (urine)

8)  Integumentary:  skin, hair, nails, sweat glands

            -protects organs

            -sweat glands regulate body temperature

9)  Endocrine:  glands that produce hormones that regulate body functions

            -thyroid, thymus, pituitary, pancreas etc.

10)  Lymphatic:  spleen, lymph nodes, lymph, lymphoid tissue, lymph vessels

            -protects the body by destroying and removing invading organisms and abnormal cells

11)  Reproductive:  organs for producing offspring

            -male and female systems are different

            -the only system you can survive without

12)  Immune:  white blood cells, bone marrow

            -works with the lymphatic system to destroy bacteria, viruses etc.