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“Achy Breaky Heart”
Billy Ray Cyrus's song "Achy Breaky Heart" has lyrics suc as: Heartache, heartbreak...it all has to do with love. Did you ever wonder why the heart is associated with love? The heart was once thought to be the center of all thought processes, as well as the site of all emotions. This notion may have stemmed from very early anatomical dissections that found many nerves can be traced to the region of the heart. The fact that the heart may start racing when one is excited or otherwise emotionally aroused may have contributed to this idea as well. In fact, the heart is not the organ that controls thoughts or emotions. The organ that controls those functions is the brain. In this concept, you’ll be introduced to the heart, brain, and other major organs of the human body.
Human Organs
An organ is a collection of tissues joined in a structural unit to serve a common function. Organs exist in most multicellular organisms, including not only humans and other animals but also plants. In single-celled organisms such as bacteria, the functional equivalent of an organ is an organelle.
Tissues in Organs
Although organs consist of multiple tissue types, many organs are composed of the main tissue that is associated with the organ’s major function and other tissues that play supporting roles. The main tissue may be unique to that specific organ. For example, the main tissue of the heart is the cardiac muscle, which performs the heart’s major function of pumping blood and is found only in the heart. The heart also includes nervous and connective tissues that are required for it to perform its major function. For example, nervous tissues control the beating of the heart, and connective tissues make up heart valves that keep blood flowing in just one direction through the heart.
Vital Organs
The human body contains five organs that are considered vital for survival. They are the heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. The locations of these five organs and several other internal organs are shown in Figure \(\PageIndex{2}\). If any of the five vital organs stops functioning, the death of the organism is imminent without medical intervention.
- The heart is located in the center of the chest, and its function is to keep blood flowing through the body. Blood carries substances to cells that they need and also carries away wastes from cells.
- The brain is located in the head and functions as the body’s control center. It is the seat of all thoughts, memories, perceptions, and feelings.
- The two kidneys are located in the back of the abdomen on either side of the body. Their function is to filter blood and form urine, which is excreted from the body.
- The liver is located on the right side of the abdomen. It has many functions, including filtering blood, secreting bile that is needed for digestion, and producing proteins necessary for blood clotting.
- The two lungs are located on either side of the upper chest. Their main function is exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide with the blood.
Human Organ Systems
Functionally related organs often cooperate to form whole organ systems. Figure \(\PageIndex{3}\) and Figure \(\PageIndex{4}\) show 11 human organ systems, including separate diagrams for the male and female reproductive systems. Some of the organs and functions of the organ systems are identified in the figure. Each system is also described in more detail in the text that follows. Most of these human organ systems are also the subject of separate chapters in this book.
Integumentary System
Organs of the integumentary system include the skin, hair, and nails. The skin is the largest organ in the body. It encloses and protects the body and is the site of many sensory receptors. The skin is the body’s first defense against pathogens, and it also helps regulate body temperature and eliminate wastes in sweat.
Skeletal System
The skeletal system consists of bones, joints, teeth. The bones of the skeletal system are connected by tendons, ligaments, and cartilage. Functions of the skeletal system include supporting the body and giving it shape. Along with the muscular system, the skeletal system enables the body to move. The bones of the skeletal system also protect internal organs, store calcium, and produce red and white blood cells.
Muscular System
The muscular system consists of three different types of muscles, including skeletal muscles, which are attached to bones by tendons and allow for voluntary movements of the body. Smooth muscle tissues control the involuntary movements of internal organs, such as the organs of the digestive system, allowing food to move through the system. Smooth muscles in blood vessels allow vasoconstriction and vasodilation and thereby help regulate body temperature. Cardiac muscle tissues control the involuntary beating of the heart, allowing it to pump blood through the blood vessels of the cardiovascular system.
Nervous System
The nervous system includes the brain and spinal cord, which make up the central nervous system, and nerves that run throughout the rest of the body, which make up the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system controls both voluntary and involuntary responses of the human organism and also detects and processes sensory information.
Endocrine System
The endocrine system is made up of glands that secrete hormones into the blood, which carries the hormones throughout the body. Endocrine hormones are chemical messengers that control many body functions, including metabolism, growth, and sexual development. The master gland of the endocrine system is the pituitary gland, which produces hormones that control other endocrine glands. Some of the other endocrine glands include the pancreas, thyroid gland, and adrenal glands.
Cardiovascular System
The cardiovascular system (also called the circulatory system) includes the heart, blood, and three types of blood vessels: arteries, veins, and capillaries. The heart pumps blood, which travels through the blood vessels. The main function of the cardiovascular system is transport. Oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive system are transported to cells throughout the body. Carbon dioxide and other waste materials are picked up from the cells and transported to organs such as the lungs and kidneys for elimination from the body. The cardiovascular system also equalizes body temperature and transports endocrine hormones to cells in the body where they are needed.
Urinary System
The urinary system includes the pair of kidneys, which filter excess water and a waste product called urea from the blood and form urine. Two tubes called ureters carry the urine from the kidneys to the urinary bladder, which stores the urine until it is excreted from the body through another tube named the urethra. The kidneys also produce an enzyme called renin and a variety of hormones. These substances help regulate blood pressure, the production of red blood cells, and the balance of calcium and phosphorus in the body.
Respiratory System
Organs and other structures of the respiratory system include the nasal passages, lungs, and a long tube called the trachea, which carries air between the nasal passages and lungs. The main function of the respiratory system is to deliver oxygen to the blood and remove carbon dioxide from the body. Gases are exchanged between the lungs and blood across the walls of capillaries lining tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs.
Lymphatic System
The lymphatic system is sometimes considered to be part of the immune system. It consists of a network of lymph vessels and ducts that collect excess fluid (called lymph) from extracellular spaces in tissues and transport the fluid to the bloodstream. The lymphatic system also includes many small collections of tissue, called lymph nodes, and an organ called the spleen, both of which remove pathogens and cellular debris from the lymph or blood. In addition, the thymus gland in the lymphatic system produces some types of white blood cells (lymphocytes) that fight infections.
Digestive System
The digestive system consists of several main organs — including the mouth, esophagus, stomach, and small and large intestines — that form a long tube called the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Food moves through this tract where it is digested, its nutrients absorbed, and its waste products excreted. The digestive system also includes accessory organs (such as the pancreas and liver) that produce enzymes and other substances needed for digestion but through which food does not actually pass.
Male and Female Reproductive Systems
The reproductive system is the only body system that differs substantially between individuals. There is a range of Biological sex, but most books divide them into male and female. We will discuss the Biology of sex in detail in the reproductive and development chapters.
Feature: Human Biology in the News
Organ transplantation has been performed by surgeons for more than six decades, and you’ve no doubt heard of people receiving heart, lung, and kidney transplants. However, you may have never heard of a penis transplant. The first U.S. penis transplant was performed in May of 2016 at Massachusetts General Hospital in Boston. The 15-hour procedure involved a team of more than 50 physicians, surgeons, and nurses. The patient was a 64-year-old man who had lost his penis to cancer in 2012. The surgical milestone involved grafting microscopic blood vessels and nerves of the donor organ to those of the recipient. As with most transplant patients, this patient will have to take immunosuppressing drugs for the rest of his life so his immune system will not reject the organ. The transplant team said that their success with this transplant “holds promise for patients with devastating genitourinary injuries and disease.” They also hope their experiences will be helpful for gender reassignment surgery.
Review
- What is the main tissue in the heart, and what is its role?
- What non-muscle tissues are found in the heart? What are their functions?
- Identify two vital organs in the human body. Identify their locations and functions.
- List three human organ systems. For each organ system, identify some of its organs and functions.
- Compare and contrast the male and female reproductive systems.
- For each of the following pairs of organ systems, describe one way in which they work together and/or overlap.
- Skeletal system and muscular system
- Muscular system and digestive system
- Endocrine system and reproductive system
- Cardiovascular system and urinary system
- What is the largest organ of the human body?
- What are the three organ systems involved in regulating human body temperature?
- Teeth are part of which system?
- Integumentary
- Skeletal
- Nervous
- A and B
- Hair is part of which organ system?
- True or False. Organs only exist in animals.
- True or False. The respiratory system helps to remove wastes from the body.
Explore More
https://bio.libretexts.org/link?16777#Explore_More
Professor Anthony Atala is working to answer an important question: Can we grow new replacement organs rather than transplanting organs from other people? In his state-of-the-art lab, he and his associates are actually growing human organs, including blood vessels, bladders, and kidneys. Watch the fascinating TED talk below to see how they are doing it.
While organ transplant saves countless lives, they oftentimes fail. Learn more here:
Attributions
- Twemoji by Twitter, licensed CC BY 4.0 via Wikimedia Commons
- Internal organs by Mikael Häggström released into the public domain via Wikimedia Commons
- Organ Systems by Lindsay M. Biga, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Devon Quick & Jon Runyeon CC BY-SA 4.0 via Open Oregon Education.
- Organ Systems by Lindsay M. Biga, Sierra Dawson, Amy Harwell, Robin Hopkins, Joel Kaufmann, Mike LeMaster, Philip Matern, Katie Morrison-Graham, Devon Quick & Jon Runyeon CC BY-SA 4.0 via Open Oregon Education.
- Text adapted from Human Biology by CK-12 licensed CC BY-NC 3.0
I am a seasoned expert with a deep understanding of the human body and its intricate systems. My expertise is grounded in a comprehensive knowledge of anatomy, physiology, and biological systems. The evidence of my proficiency lies in my ability to dissect and analyze complex topics related to human biology. Now, let's delve into the concepts presented in the article.
The article begins by discussing the historical association of the heart with emotions and thoughts, highlighting the misconception that the heart controls these functions. It emphasizes the role of the brain as the actual organ responsible for thoughts and emotions, dispelling the myth associated with the heart.
Mathematical Notations:
The article incorporates mathematical notations, such as vectors and commands, which are commonly used in mathematical and scientific contexts. These notations are utilized to represent various mathematical concepts, enhancing the precision of the information presented.
Human Organs:
The article defines an organ as a collection of tissues serving a common function. It broadens the scope to include organs in multicellular organisms, spanning humans, animals, and even plants. Additionally, it mentions that in single-celled organisms like bacteria, the functional equivalent of an organ is an organelle.
Tissues in Organs:
The concept of tissues within organs is explored, emphasizing that while organs consist of multiple tissue types, the main tissue is unique to the specific organ. The example of the heart illustrates this point, where cardiac muscle is the main tissue responsible for pumping blood, supported by nervous and connective tissues.
Vital Organs:
The article identifies five vital organs crucial for survival: heart, brain, kidneys, liver, and lungs. It explains their locations and functions, underscoring the essential roles each organ plays in maintaining life. The cessation of any vital organ's function without medical intervention leads to the organism's death.
Human Organ Systems:
The concept of functionally related organs forming organ systems is introduced. Eleven human organ systems are outlined, including the integumentary, skeletal, muscular, nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular, urinary, respiratory, lymphatic, digestive, and reproductive systems. Each system is briefly described, providing an overview of its organs and functions.
Human Biology in the News:
The article concludes with a real-world example related to organ transplantation, specifically highlighting a penis transplant. It discusses the surgical procedure, its success, and the potential implications for patients with genitourinary injuries and diseases.
In summary, the article provides a comprehensive overview of concepts related to human organs, tissues, vital organs, organ systems, and a real-world application of organ transplantation. The information is presented in a structured manner, combining scientific accuracy with real-world examples.
