The human body consists of nine different organ systems, also called functional systems. These systems influence each other. If one system fails, the others, or parts of them, are also affected.
What is the organ system?
The human organ system is a group of organs that perform specific work in the physical organism and work closely together. All functions that are important for living are controlled by these systems. None of these systems can work independently of the other, and there are numerous interactions and overlaps. The liver, for example, must perform a variety of functions and is therefore attributed to several organ systems. The same applies to the immune system, which plays the all-important role in defending the body against pathogens. Here it is the lymphatic system that forms the basis of the immune defense and is connected with all organs. Since there is no part of the human organism that cannot be attacked by pathogens, all organ systems must be involved in the work of the immune system. The locomotor system, which includes the skeleton and its musculature, must also coordinate numerous functions in the body. While on the one hand the musculature has the task of supporting, on the other hand it has to expel certain components from the body in the digestive system. Two different functions performed by the same organ system.
Anatomy and structure
The nervous system is composed of two parts, the autonomic nervous system and the somatic nervous system, which form a close-meshed network with neurons and glial cells. The cardiovascular system is composed of two halves of the heart, each with atrium and ventricle, and the blood vessels, veins and arteries. The respiratory system begins, anatomically, in the nose and ends in the alveoli. In between are the pharynx, larynx, trachea and bronchi. A distinction is made between the upper and lower respiratory tracts. The upper ones include nasal cavity with sinuses, oral cavity and pharynx. The lower respiratory tract includes the trachea, bronchi with their bronchioles, larynx and alveoli. Similarly, the digestive system begins in the mouth with food intake, passes through the stomach and intestines, and ends in the anus with excretion of feces. Despite their different functions, the urinary and reproductive organs are included under the term genitourinary system. This is due to the common embryological development, as well as the close functional and topographical connection. The endocrine system is distributed among various glands and tissues in the body, such as the pineal gland in the brain, the thyroid gland, and the pancreas. Within the musculoskeletal system, the body is formed by the skeleton, and the associated muscles ensure the ability to move. The skin is an area organ with about 1.8 square meters. Its organ system consists of five different layers: Epidermis, Dermis, Subcutis, Skin appendages and Groin skin. The immune system is divided into nonspecific and specific defense. While the nonspecific is innate, the specific must first be acquired.
Function and tasks
All nine organ systems are responsible for a functioning interaction in the human organism. The nervous system is responsible for the perception, processing and control of stimuli and reactions. Both external and internal changes are recorded, analyzed and correlated by neurons and glial cells. The cardiovascular system is responsible for blood circulation as a transport system. The multiple functions of blood include thermoregulation and blood clotting, transport of oxygen from the lungs to the tissues. Blood is also an important medium that controls hormone transport between organ systems. The lungs play an important part in the respiratory system with their gas exchange in the alveoli. The air-conducting hollow organs nose, pharynx, larynx and trachea are responsible for filtering, heating and humidifying the air we breathe. The digestive system is responsible for the intake and absorption of food. Usable food components are transported further, while those that cannot be used are excreted. Various microorganisms and enzymes are involved in digestion. Excretion and reproduction are the central tasks of the
urogenital system with its urinary and sexual organs, which would not function without the hormonal system.As chemical messengers, hormones are responsible for various metabolic processes, reproduction and growth. The support and movement system gives the skeleton a firm shape with its musculature and at the same time ensures targeted mobility. Tendons, tendon sheaths, ligaments, bursae and sesamoid bones serve as connecting elements. The skin is both the largest and most versatile organ system and serves as a protective covering for the inside and outside. It provides thermoregulation, stores energy in the form of fat, protects against environmental influences, and plays a role in metabolism and immunology. With a finely tuned network, the immune system must ward off pathogens. A distinction is made between a cellular and humoral part. The cellular immune defense includes specialized immune cells that are either found freely in the blood or stationed firmly in certain tissues. The humoral part of the defense is based on plasma proteins, which include interleukins, antibodies, and complement factors.
Diseases
Whether allergy, meningitis, or osteoarthritis, the number of diseases that can affect each organ system is large and spans the entire spectrum. Because of the close, almost always overlapping interaction of the systems, it is almost impossible for a disease to occur only as a singular incident. The common cold is not limited to the nose, but affects the respiratory system. An immune deficiency affects the entire body. And osteoarthritis doesn’t just play out in the knee, but affects bones, muscles and tendons.
