Organ/Gland systems and what they each do:
Adrenal Glands
Central Nervous System
Adrenal Glands
Your adrenal glands are endocrine glands located on top of your kidneys. They produce many important hormones, including cortisol, aldosterone and adrenaline. The adrenal hormones help regulate several bodily functions including metabolism, blood pressure and your body's response to stress.
Arteries/Veins
Central Nervous System
Adrenal Glands
When the heart pumps, blood moves through the circulatory system. Blood leaving the heart through the arteries is full of oxygen.
The arteries branch off into smaller and smaller tubes. These bring oxygen and other nutrients to the cells of the body's tissues and organs. The smallest tubes are called capillaries. As blood moves through
When the heart pumps, blood moves through the circulatory system. Blood leaving the heart through the arteries is full of oxygen.
The arteries branch off into smaller and smaller tubes. These bring oxygen and other nutrients to the cells of the body's tissues and organs. The smallest tubes are called capillaries. As blood moves through the capillaries, the oxygen and other nutrients move out into the cells.
Then waste matter from the cells goes into the capillaries. As the blood leaves the capillaries, it moves through the veins. Veins merge into larger tubes to carry the blood back to the heart.
Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Your central nervous system (CNS) is a processing center that manages everything that your body does, from your thoughts and feelings to your movements. Your brain and spinal cord are “central” to your CNS because they take in and send out information to your entire body.
Eyes
Central Nervous System
Central Nervous System
Your eyes are a key sensory organ, feeding information to your brain about the outside world. Your eyes do the “physical” part of seeing. The signals they send allow your brain to “build” the picture that you see. Eye-related symptoms are also key clues to issues affecting your whole body, so experts recommend making eye health a priority.
Gallbladder
Joints and Connective Tissue
Gallbladder
The gallbladder is a small hollow organ where bile is stored and concentrated before it is released into the small intestine. The bile is then released via the common bile duct into the duodenum, where the bile helps in the digestion of fats.
Heart
Joints and Connective Tissue
Gallbladder
This organ pumps blood through the blood vessels of the circulatory system. The pumped blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the body, while carrying metabolic waste such as carbon dioxide to the lungs.
Hypothalamus Gland
Joints and Connective Tissue
Joints and Connective Tissue
Your hypothalamus receives chemical messages from nerve cells in your brain and from nerve cells in your body (your peripheral nervous system), which is also responding to signals outside your body.
Your hypothalamus’s main function is to react to these messages to keep your body in a stable state or internal balance. Just like you may ha
Your hypothalamus receives chemical messages from nerve cells in your brain and from nerve cells in your body (your peripheral nervous system), which is also responding to signals outside your body.
Your hypothalamus’s main function is to react to these messages to keep your body in a stable state or internal balance. Just like you may have a “smart control” system to seamlessly manage all functions in your home, your hypothalamus is your body’s “smart control” coordinating center. Your hypothalamus helps manage your:
- Body temperature.
- Blood pressure.
- Hunger and thirst.
- Sense of fullness when eating.
- Mood.
- Sex drive.
- Sleep.
Your hypothalamus performs many of its “body balancing” jobs either by directly influencing the autonomic nervous system or by managing hormones. Your autonomic nervous system (bodily functions that work automatically) control several important functions, such as your heart rate and breathing (respiration).
Joints and Connective Tissue
Joints and Connective Tissue
Joints and Connective Tissue
Joints and connective tissue work together to facilitate movement, provide support, and absorb shock throughout the body.
Connective tissue, specifically, plays a crucial role in joints by:
- Providing a framework for the joint capsule and ligaments
- Comprising the synovial membrane, which produces lubricating fluid
- Encompassing articular cart
Joints and connective tissue work together to facilitate movement, provide support, and absorb shock throughout the body.
Connective tissue, specifically, plays a crucial role in joints by:
- Providing a framework for the joint capsule and ligaments
- Comprising the synovial membrane, which produces lubricating fluid
- Encompassing articular cartilage, which covers the joint surfaces
- Supporting the attachment of tendons and ligaments to bones
Kidneys
Large Intestines
Large Intestines
Kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine.
Your kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. Your kidneys also remove acid that is produced by the cells of your body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals—such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and p
Kidneys filter about a half cup of blood every minute, removing wastes and extra water to make urine.
Your kidneys remove wastes and extra fluid from your body. Your kidneys also remove acid that is produced by the cells of your body and maintain a healthy balance of water, salts, and minerals—such as sodium, calcium, phosphorus, and potassium—in your blood.
Without this balance, nerves, muscles, and other tissues in your body may not work normally.
Your kidneys also make hormones that help
- control your blood pressure
- make red blood cells
- keep your bones strong and healthy
Large Intestines
Large Intestines
Large Intestines
The large intestine, also known as the large bowel, is the last part of the gastrointestinal tract and of the digestive system in tetrapods. Water is absorbed here and the remaining waste material is stored in the rectum as feces before being removed by defecation.
Liver
Large Intestines
Liver
The liver is a large organ in the abdomen that performs many important bodily functions, including blood filtering. It is also considered a gland because it makes chemicals the body needs.
The liver has hundreds of jobs. Some of the most vital are:
- Cleans toxins (harmful substances) out of the blood.
- Gets rid of old red blood cells.
- Makes
The liver is a large organ in the abdomen that performs many important bodily functions, including blood filtering. It is also considered a gland because it makes chemicals the body needs.
The liver has hundreds of jobs. Some of the most vital are:
- Cleans toxins (harmful substances) out of the blood.
- Gets rid of old red blood cells.
- Makes bile, a fluid that helps the body digest (break down) food.
- Metabolizes proteins, carbohydrates and fats so your body can use them.
- Produces substances to help blood clot.
- Regulates the amount of blood in the body.
- Stores glycogen (an energy source) and vitamins to be used by the body later.
Lungs
Large Intestines
Liver
Every cell in your body needs oxygen to live. The air we breathe contains oxygen and other gases. The respiratory system's main job is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases.
Once in the lungs, oxygen is moved into the bloodstream and carried through your body. At each cell in your body, oxygen is exchanged for a wast
Every cell in your body needs oxygen to live. The air we breathe contains oxygen and other gases. The respiratory system's main job is to move fresh air into your body while removing waste gases.
Once in the lungs, oxygen is moved into the bloodstream and carried through your body. At each cell in your body, oxygen is exchanged for a waste gas called carbon dioxide. Your bloodstream then carries this waste gas back to the lungs where it is removed from the bloodstream and then exhaled. Your lungs and respiratory system automatically perform this vital process, called gas exchange.
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is a network of delicate tubes throughout the body. It drains fluid (called lymph) that has leaked from the blood vessels into the tissues and empties it back into the bloodstream via the lymph nodes.
The lymphatic system is essential for maintaining fluid balance, absorption of fatty acids, and immune system regul
The lymphatic system is a network of delicate tubes throughout the body. It drains fluid (called lymph) that has leaked from the blood vessels into the tissues and empties it back into the bloodstream via the lymph nodes.
The lymphatic system is essential for maintaining fluid balance, absorption of fatty acids, and immune system regulation, making it a vital subsystem of the circulatory system.
Mammary Glands
Lymphatic System
Lymphatic System
Functionally, the mammary glands produce milk; structurally, they are modified sweat glands. Mammary glands, which are located in the breast overlying the pectoralis major muscles, are present in both sexes, but usually are functional only in the female. The mammary gland function is regulated by hormones.
Ovary
Lymphatic System
Pancreas
The ovary is a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova. When an ovum is released, this travels through the fallopian tube/oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary found on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries also secrete hormones that play a role in the menstrual cycle and fertility. The ovary progr
The ovary is a gonad in the female reproductive system that produces ova. When an ovum is released, this travels through the fallopian tube/oviduct into the uterus. There is an ovary found on the left and the right side of the body. The ovaries also secrete hormones that play a role in the menstrual cycle and fertility. The ovary progresses through many stages beginning in the prenatal period through menopause. It is also an endocrine gland because of the various hormones that it secretes.
Pancreas
Lymphatic System
Pancreas
Your pancreas helps with digestion and releases hormones that regulate your blood sugar. It also plays a role in supporting other organs like your heart, liver and kidneys.
Parathyroid Gland
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
The main function of the parathyroid glands are to make the parathyroid hormone (PTH). This chemical regulates the amounts of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium in the bones and blood. The minerals calcium and phosphorus are crucial for healthy bones.
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
Peripheral Nervous System
Your peripheral nervous system (PNS) is that part of your nervous system that lies outside your brain and spinal cord. It plays key role in both sending information from different areas of your body back to your brain, as well as carrying out commands from your brain to various parts of your body.
Pineal Gland
Peripheral Nervous System
Pituitary Gland
Your pineal gland is a tiny gland in your brain that’s located beneath the back part of the corpus callosum. It’s a part of your endocrine system and secretes the hormone melatonin. Your pineal gland’s main job is to help control the circadian cycle of sleep and wakefulness by secreting melatonin.
Pituitary Gland
Peripheral Nervous System
Pituitary Gland
Your pituitary gland (also known as hypophysis) is a small, pea-sized gland located at the base of your brain below your hypothalamus. It’s a part of your endocrine system and is in charge of making several essential hormones. Your pituitary gland also tells other endocrine system glands to release hormones.
Skin
Small Intestines
Small Intestines
The skin is the body’s largest organ, made of water, protein, fats and minerals. Your skin protects your body from germs and regulates body temperature. Nerves in the skin help you feel sensations like hot and cold.
Your skin, along with your hair, nails, oil glands and sweat glands, is part of the integumentary system. “Integumentary” means a body’s outer covering.
Small Intestines
Small Intestines
Small Intestines
The small intestine or small bowel is an organ in the gastrointestinal tract where most of the absorption of nutrients from food takes place. It lies between the stomach and large intestine, and receives bile and pancreatic juice through the pancreatic duct to aid in digestion.
Spleen
Small Intestines
Stomach
Your spleen is a small organ that sits inside your left rib cage, just above your stomach. In adults, the spleen is about the size of an avocado. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system (which is part of your immune system). It does several important jobs to keep your body healthy.
Your spleen:
- Stores blood.
- Filters blood by removing
Your spleen is a small organ that sits inside your left rib cage, just above your stomach. In adults, the spleen is about the size of an avocado. The spleen is part of your lymphatic system (which is part of your immune system). It does several important jobs to keep your body healthy.
Your spleen:
- Stores blood.
- Filters blood by removing cellular waste and getting rid of old or damaged blood cells.
- Makes white blood cells and antibodies that help you fight infection.
- Maintains the levels of fluid in your body.
- Produces antibodies that protect you against infection.
Stomach
Small Intestines
Stomach
Your stomach’s purpose is to digest food and send it to your small intestine. It has three functions:
- Temporarily store food.
- Contract and relax to mix and break down food.
- Produce enzymes and other specialized cells to digest food.
Thymus
Urinary Bladder
Thyroid
Your thymus is a small gland in the lymphatic system that makes and trains special white blood cells called T-cells. The T-cells help your immune system fight disease and infection. Your thymus gland produces most of your T-cells before birth. The rest are made in childhood and you’ll have all the T-cells you need for life by the time you hit puberty.
Thyroid
Urinary Bladder
Thyroid
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. It’s a part of your endocrine system and controls many of your body’s important functions by producing and releasing (secreting) certain hormones. Your thyroid’s main job is to control the speed of your metabolism (metabolic rate), which is
Your thyroid is a small, butterfly-shaped gland located at the front of your neck under your skin. It’s a part of your endocrine system and controls many of your body’s important functions by producing and releasing (secreting) certain hormones. Your thyroid’s main job is to control the speed of your metabolism (metabolic rate), which is the process of how your body transforms the food you consume into energy. All of the cells in your body need energy to function. When your thyroid isn’t working properly, it can impact your entire body.
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder
The urinary bladder is a temporary storage reservoir for urine, located in the pelvic cavity, posterior to the symphysis pubis, and below the parietal peritoneum. Its size and shape vary with the amount of urine it contains and the pressure it receives from surrounding organs.
Uterus
Urinary Bladder
Urinary Bladder
The uterus is a hollow muscular organ located in the female pelvis between the bladder and rectum. The ovaries produce the eggs that travel through the fallopian tubes. Once the egg has left the ovary it can be fertilized and implant itself in the lining of the uterus. The main function of the uterus is to nourish the developing fetus prior to birth.