The organ systems of the human body work together to create homeostasis, a state of functional health adequate to sustain life. The human organs within these systems work together to perform a specific function. For instance, inhalation requires interaction between the lungs, diaphragm and respiratory tract organs.
Organ systems include circulatory, nervous, digestive, endocrine, respiratory and others. Without one portion of the overall equation, homeostasis of the human body is threatened. In addition to easily identifiable internal human organs, such as the kidneys and liver, a collection of tissue such as the skin is considered an organ as well.
Cardiopulmonary
The cardiopulmonary mechanism of the human body combines two important, interdependent organ groups, the cardiovascular and the respiratory systems. The cardiovascular system is made up of the heart and blood vessels. These play a part in healthy body function by pumping a controlled and continuous supply of blood to all cells, providing the nutrients they need and carrying away their waste products.
Among this exchange is life-sustaining oxygen and waste carbon dioxide, products of pulmonary function. The respiratory, or pulmonary, system, includes the nose, larynx, trachea and lungs. It utilizes oxygen drawn in through the nose and transfers it to the body cells via the bloodstream.
The main circulatory organ, the heart, pumps about 5 liters of blood every minute, which must travel thousands of miles of vascular roadway. Additional organs include veins, which carry blood to the heart; arteries, which move blood out to the body's tissues; and capillaries, which reach every cell and connect the veins and arteries.
Nervous
The nervous system keeps us mentally alert, thinking and moving. It is also the human body's general manager. Neural function is necessary to integrate all of the other organ systems. The major human organ in the nervous system is the brain, which sends and receives information through accessory organs, the spinal cord and lesser ganglia.
The spinal cord and ganglia are bundled nerve tissue that deliver impulses that cause muscles to contract, allowing, for example, physical movement such as walking. Spinal cord nerves and ganglia send sensory information such as temperature, light and sound to the brain for processing. This results in thoughts and voluntary and involuntary reactions.
Digestive
Most people are familiar with the human organs of the digestive system because we feel the effects of their performance daily. The major organs include the stomach, small intestine and large intestine. These are connected to the mouth by the esophagus, through which food passes when we eat.
The digestive process is aided by accessory organs, the salivary glands, liver, gallbladder and pancreas. These prepare the nutrients in food for absorption by body cells. Waste molecules, from which nutrients have been separated, are then eliminated from the body with the help of the related excretory system.
