|  | Public Health Safety | Public Health

Different Systems of the Body

The human body is a complex structure of organs that work together to help maintain our health. The interior anatomy of the body can be categorized into systems: skeletal, muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, respiratory, urinary and reproductive.

  1. Skeletal and Muscular Systems

    • The skeletal system is the base of our body and consist of bones connected together though ligaments. It maintains our bodily form and enables it to move. It also protects vital organs like the heart, the brain and the lungs.

      The muscular system makes the body move and organs work through the contraction of the muscles. There are three types of muscles: skeletal muscles that move and support the skeleton, smooth muscles located in stomach, intestines, blood vessels and bladder and cardiac muscles that make the heart beat. Another role of the muscles is to help create heat to keep us warm.

    Nervous System

    • The nervous system controls the involuntary muscles (smooth muscles). It can be divided in two systems: central nervous (brain and spine) and peripheral nervous (all the nerves). The central system receives information from the body and sends instructions through the peripheral system. For example: when you hear a loud noise, the ears send the information to your brain and the brain sends commands to your muscles to make your arms cover your ears.

    Circulatory System

    • The circulatory system keeps the blood flowing through the entire body. It consists of the heart, vessels (arteries, capillaries and veins) and the muscles that pump the blood, helping and controlling the blood flow. The oxygen and nutrients are transported through the circulatory system to the entire body.

    Digestive System

    • The digestive system is responsible for breaking down food into chemicals, so the body can use it. The organs of the digestive system are the mouth, esophagus, stomach, small and large intestines, gallbladder, pancreas and liver. The chemicals are transported by blood to the entire body. The cells absorb the nutrients (like vitamins or proteins) and burn the calories creating energy.

    Respiratory System

    • The respiratory system brings oxygen into our bodies. Breathing is an automatic process composed by two phases: inspiration (breathing in) and expiration (breathing out). When we inspire, the air enters the body through the nose, it goes down the throat and through the trachea and bronchial tree into the lungs. When the oxygen gets into the lungs, it is absorbed into the blood and transported to the entire body. Through expiration, the body gets rid of the carbon dioxide.

    Urinary and Reproductive Systems

    • The urinary system controls the water and salts that get back into the blood and takes them out as waste. The system consists of kidneys, bladder and tubes. It also works as a filter for the blood.

      The reproductive system is what helps us procreate. It is different for male and female.
      The male system consists of the penis, testis, ductus deferens and glands and is responsible for the production of sperm.

      The female system consists of the vulva, vagina, uterus and ovaries and is responsible for the production of ovules.

    Endocrine System

    • The endocrine system consists of glands located throughout the body: adrenal, ovaries or testicles, pancreas, pituitary, thymus, thyroid and parathyroid. These glands produce hormones that are transported by blood to the entire body. Hormones have significant roles in blood pressure, heart rate, reproduction and sugar blood levels.

Public Health - Related Articles