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The Human Body
The human body is comprised of various organs and organ systems which play different roles facilitating towards normal body functions. An organ is defined as a group of tissues that perform a specific function. For instance, the heart is an organ that serves the function of pumping blood around the body system. The heart is composed of various special tissues such as cardiac muscles, connective tissues all working towards blood pumping. An organ system, on the other hand, refers to various organs that work together to achieve certain functions.
The circulatory systems, for instance, is an organ system given that there are various organs that work together to facilitate the whole blood circulation process. These organs include; the heart, blood vessels, the lungs, among other organs. Together, the organs work in unison, facilitating blood flow around the body. The human body is, therefore, a whole consisting of the following systems: integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, lymphatic, respiratory, digestive, urinary, and reproductive. All the systems are interconnected, and all together are able to guarantee life.
In the event that one of the above systems is failing, sickness or other effects related to changes bodily functions are observed. As a result, there is a necessity to maintain healthy lifestyle approaches. By maintaining healthy practices, one is able to maintain the various body systems at optimum performance. This, on the other hand, enhances other aspects of life, such as productivity, as well as enjoying life in general.
Body systems- Functions and interrelations
A body system, as described previously, refers to a group of organs that work together to serve a specific purpose in the body. The different body systems interact to ensure that normal body functions are maintained. By maintaining such interdependent functions, the human body comes into being and is able to sustain itself in various operations. There are 11 body systems that aid normal body functions including;
- Skeletal System
The skeletal system plays an important function in the human body with the most fundamental role being the provision of support for the various body organs and tissues. The support provided by the skeletal system for the soft tissues is essential for the maintenance of a rigid body framework. Most organs are delicate and require protection from various external factors such as force which may result in damage. As a result, the skeletal system also plays an essential role in protecting delicate internal organs. The ribcage, for instance, which is a part of the skeletal system provides housing for the lungs, heart, among other delicate organs. Other functions of the skeletal system include; storage of nutrients, e.g. calcium and phosphorous. The production of red blood cells is also facilitated by the skeletal system. The red blood cells are important cell organelles and blood constituents. These are among the key components that make up the circulatory system.
- Cardio-circulatory System
The cardio-circulatory system is comprised of various organs that all serve a purpose in facilitating the blood circulation process around the body. Blood plays an important role in the body, such as transportation, protection, regulation, waste expulsion, among other functions. To ensure that these processes are carried out efficiently, the circulatory system is comprised of various organs that are responsible for the blood transportation process around the body. Blood vessels are important organs that carry the blood around the body either away from the heart or back to the heart. There are two major blood vessels, including the arteries and veins. The arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart into other body parts while the veins carry deoxygenated blood back from the body parts to the heart. The blood vessels are structured and designed according to their functions. The arteries, for instance, have thick walls and a narrow lumen because they carry pressurized blood from the heart. The thick walls enable the arteries to carry blood under pressure from the pumping action of the heart. Veins, on the other hand, have thin walls and a wider lumen, i.e. aperture. This is because they carry blood under low pressure and the wide aperture, therefore, minimizes the resistance to blood flow. Veins also have valves that prevent the backflow of blood as the blood carried is under low pressure.
Other blood components include cell organelles such as the white blood cells. In conjunction with the lymphatic system, the white blood cells provide the body with protection from opportunistic disease-causing organisms.
- Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is the body system that plays the central role of facilitating the body in the expulsion of toxins, waste and other unwanted materials from the body systems. The lymphatic system is involved in the transportation of lymph a body fluid that contains the infection-fighting white blood cells. The lymphatic system is a constituent of both the circulatory system and the immune system. The primary organs in the lymphatic system include the thymus and bone marrow. The thymus facilitates for the development of the T-cells, which are essential organelles in the immune response system. On the other hand, the bone marrow is responsible for the production of B-cells which are import in the adaptive immune response system. Upon production in the bone marrow, the B-cells move to the active lymphoid organs ready to attack pathogens in the body system.
The lymphatic system works in close relation with the endocrine system through chemical communication processes in the body (Marieb, Elaine Nicpon, and Katja Hoehn, 2007). The lack of proper connection between the immune system and the endocrine system results in the development of autoimmune diseases such as autoimmune thyroiditis and diabetes mellitus type.
- Endocrine System
The endocrine system is the chemical messaging organ system in the body that comprises of feedback loops made up of the hormones that are released by the internal glands of an organism into the cardio-circulatory system. The thyroid and adrenal glands are the key endocrine glands in the human body. The hypothalamus, on the other hand, is the central control system for the endocrine system. The main functions of the endocrine system include; regulation of the body metabolism processes, growth and sexual development functions. The endocrine system plays an important role in the regulation of various body states such as mood, sleep, appetite, among other bodily processes and functions. This is all regulated through the various hormonal secretions that the human body releases that are part of the body chemical communication system.
The endocrine system works in close relation to the nervous system. The nervous system is linked to the endocrine system by the hypothalamus through the pituitary gland. The hypothalamus serves as the neural control of the endocrine system.
- Nervous system
The human body is composed of various complex systems that all serve specific functions. The nervous system is a highly complex part of the human body that coordinates its actions and sensory information by transmitting signals to and from different parts of the body (Roberts, Alice and Alice Roberts, 2010). The nervous system identifies changes in the human body’s surrounding environment and then works in close unison with the endocrine system to respond to these changes. In the human body, the nervous system is divided into two major categories, including; the central nervous system (CNS) and the periphery nervous system (PNS). The CNS comprises the brain and the spinal code. The central nervous system is charged with the central task of receiving and coordinating the effects associated with the external information received. The PNS, on the other hand, comprises of the nerves and ganglia outside the CNS, i.e. the brain and the spinal cord. The nervous system plays the central role of sending information from one cell to another and from one part of the body to another and receiving the feedback. The nervous system is responsible for the various communicative processes that take place in the human body. Nerves, neurons and other receptors play an integral role in the facilitation of the neural communication process in the human body.
The nervous system is linked to the integumentary system, and both systems work in unison to ensure that internal organs are protected as well as the maintenance of a steady-state between the internal and external body environment. Through the exchange of information through receptors in both systems, the integumentary system is able to maintain and protect the internal organs and also strike a balance between the prevailing internal and external environment.
- Integumentary System
The integumentary system comprises of the skin and other related organs whose primary function is to protect the body from external damage and other effects such as loss of body water which could result in dehydration. The skin is composed of layers with specific functions as part of the integumentary system. Through a well elaborate system of excretion systems, the skin is also able to expel waste substances from the body in the form of sweat and excess oil. The epidermis is the outermost layer of the skin which is composed of the stratum corneum as the topmost layer. This layer is composed of dead cells which are prone to wear and tear and get replaced with time—glands contained in the dermis secret chemical substances which protect the skin from damage. Sebum helps to keep the skin moisturized, thus preventing drying and breakage of the skin, which may occur as a result of insufficient miniaturization. The primary functions of the integumentary system could, therefore, be viewed as a protection of the inner body systems as well as the provision of excretion alternatives.
The integumentary system is related to the respiratory system in that the two systems play an integral role in the expulsion of unwanted materials from the body. The integumentary system also plays an essential role in the protection of the respiratory system, thus preventing entry of any foreign materials that can cause any damage to the system.
- Respiratory System
The respiratory system is comprised of a group of organs that aid in the gaseous exchange processes in the body. During respiration, the human body takes in air rich in oxygen and expels air rich in carbon dioxide. The nasal cavity is the exterior organ that connects to the respiratory system and directly integrates with the integumentary system. There are small hairs in the nasal cavity that trap any foreign particles that may be contained in the air that is breathed in during the inhalation process. Mucus produced by the goblet cells is also present in the nasal cavity and is responsible for the trapping of the finer particles in the inhaled air. The primary function of the respiratory system, as initially identified, is aiding in the gaseous exchange process. The air that is breathed in is utilized for the purpose of blood oxygenation that is then carried out throughout the body and aids in various respiratory processes in the body. Currently, the globe is under attack by a respiratory condition, i.e. coronavirus (COVID-19). The respiratory condition has been identified to attack the respiratory system, thereby resulting in respiratory complications. The public has therefore been sensitized to seek medical attention upon exhibiting the outlined symptoms such as; difficulty in breathing, fever, dry cough, among other symptoms.
- Digestive System
The digestive system plays an essential role in the nutrition process in the body. This is achieved through the facilitation of food intake and breakdown into forms that can be utilized and absorbed by the body. Digestion begins in the moth through a process referred to as mastication. This process breaks down the food into smaller particles, thereby facilitating an increase in the surface area for digestion. The food is then rolled up by the tongue into balls referred to as bolus into the stomach where further digestion through processes such as fermentation takes place.
The digestive system plays an important role in nutrition, ensuring that the food consumed gets utilized by the body accordingly. In the presence of digestive complications and challenges, another aspect of the human body wellness such as nutrition is affected and may result in conditions such as nutrient deficiencies.
The digestive system is in close relation with the urinary system, given that not all the food that gets ingested gets absorbed into the body system. As a result, the urinary system serves an essential role in facilitating the excretion of some of the digestive waste, e.g. water and other products in the form of urine.
- Urinary System
The urinary system is also referred to as the renal tract is made up of the kidneys, ureter, bladder and the urethra. The purpose of the urinary system is to eliminate waste from the body, regulate blood volume and blood pressure, control levels of electrolytes and metabolites, and regulate blood ph (Tortora, 2005). The urinary tract is the body’s drainage system for the eventual removal of urine (Tortora, 2005). The kidney nephrons play an essential role in conjunction with the renal veins in ensuring that there is the facilitation of the expulsion of waste products from the body. Other dissolved waste products are also expelled from the body system through the urinary system.
The urinary system is linked to the reproductive system in a variety of ways. Some of the organs utilized in the urinary system are also presented in the reproductive system, e.g. the urethra, which is a part of the male sexual reproductive organ as well as the vagina in female reproduction.
- Reproductive System
The reproductive system is involved in the sexual reproduction process and comprises of the male and female reproduction organs. Reproduction takes place through the fusion of the male and female gametes. In the human reproduction system, the male produces sperm which fuses with the ovum produced by the female. The expulsion of these reproductive gametes takes place through the urethra in the males, which is a part of the urinary system. In natural reproduction, the female reproductive gamete fuses with the male inside the female reproductive organs. However, there still remains a relation between the female reproductive system and the urinary system.
Works Cited
Gerard J. Principles of human anatomy. John Wiley & Sons Incorporated, 2005.
Roberts, Alice M., and Alice Roberts. The complete human body. Dorling Kindersley Ltd, 2010.
Marieb, Elaine Nicpon, and Katja Hoehn. Human anatomy & physiology. Pearson Education, 2007.