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Monique Mavronicolas
http://www.landryamps.com/photographyjna/systems-of-the-body
For the purpose of the assignment we will only focus on the main
organs within these systems. We will identify and discuss the
following organs:
Brain
Lungs
Heart
Pancreas
Stomach
Large Intestine
Small Intestine
Liver
Kidneys
Spleen
Bladder
The Nervous System
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The Nervous System consists of THE BRAIN (the major organ of the Nervous
System), Spinal Cord, Peripheral Nerves and nerves. The system detects and
processes sensory information that activates bodily responses
The Brain
Location: In the Cranium (Skull)
Definition: According to BMA Medical Dictionary (July 2013) An organ of
soft nervous tissue contained in the skull of vertebrates, functioning as the
coordinating centre of sensation, intellectual and nervous activity
A Vertical section through the human brain, showing the main areas
Main Function: The Brain receives, sorts and interprets sensations from the
nerves that extend from the central nervous system (brain and spinal cord)
to the rest of the body; it initiates and coordinates nerve signals involved in
activities such as speech, movement, thought and emotion
Physical Description: Pale gray, the size of a small cauliflower (the average
adult brain weighs about 1.4kg) and the texture of pate
Significant Features and Functions:
Cerebrum
o This is the largest part of the brain and it is divided into lobes
Monique Mavronicolas
Monique Mavronicolas
Monique Mavronicolas
Physical Description: Healthy adult lungs are 10-12 inches cone shaped light
spongy inflatable organs that appear pink in color. The left lung is slightly
smaller than the right to make space for the heart
Monique Mavronicolas
Monique Mavronicolas
The heart sits within a fluid-filled cavity called the pericardial cavity
o The walls and lining of the cavity is known as the pericardium
Pericardium is a type of serous membrane that produces
serous fluid to lubricate the heart and prevent friction
between the heart and surrounding organs
The Pericardium also holds the heart in position
The Pericardium has 2 layers:
A Visceral layer, that covers the outside of the heart
A Parietal layer that forms a sac around the outside
of the pericardial cavity
The heart wall is made up of 3 layers:
o Epicardium is just another name for the visceral layer of the
pericardium, thus to lubricate and protect the outside of the
heart
o Myocardium is the second layer and is the muscular middle
layer of the heart wall that contains cardiac muscle tissue. It is
responsible for pumping blood.
o Endocardium is the squamous endothelium layer in the inside
of the heart. It is smooth and make sure that blood doesnt stick
to the inside of the heart and forming blood clots
The heart has four chambers:
o Right atrium and Left Atrium
The atrium are thinner and less muscular, they act as
receiver chambers for the blood and are connected to the
veins that transport blood to the heart
o Right Ventricle and Left Ventricle
The ventricles are bigger, stronger chambers that pump
blood out of the heart, they are connected to the arteries
that transport blood away from the heart
The heart has two types of valves that prevents blood flow in the
wrong direction
o Atrioventricular (AV) valves that carry blood to the heart
o Semilunar valves that carry blood away from the heart
The Pancreas
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Location: The Pancreas sits at the back of the abdomen and is surrounded by
the stomach, liver, spleen, small intestine and gallbladder
Definition: According to http://www.thefreedictionary.com/pancreas A
tapered gland that lies across the abdomen, that has digestive and hormonal
functions, which secrets digestive enzymes into the duodenum. Embedded in
the pancreas are the islets of Langerhans, which secrete into the blood the
hormones insulin and glucagon
Main Function: The pancreas serves two primary functions. Its endocrine
function is to produce the hormones insulin and glucagon. The second
function, the exocrine function which is to produce and release digestive
fluids.
Physical Description: The pancreas is a soft, lobular, fleshy, cream colored,
elongated gland that has a most unusual and unique shape, and suffers from
the absence of a robust protective capsule. It functions both as both an
endocrine gland and as an exocrine gland.
Monique Mavronicolas
Monique Mavronicolas
Main Function: The Stomachs main function is to break down and digest food
in order to extract necessary nutrients from what you have eaten.
Physical Description: A J-shaped elastic sac which is the widest part of your
digestive system
Significant Features and Functions:
The stomach is divided into 5 areas
o Cardia surrounding and upper opening of the stomach
o Fundus upper portion of the stomach that normally contains
only air
o Body large central portion
o Antrum lies between the body and the pyloris, this is the
expanded potion of pyloric part of the stomach
o Pyloris narrow lower end of the stomach where food leaves the
stomach to enter the small intestine
Peristalsis breaks food down into smaller pieces, mix it with fluids
secreted from your stomach lining and move it through your stomach.
The Liver
Location: Located in the upper-right portion of the abdominal cavity under
the diaphragm, above your stomach, but a small portion extends into the
upper left quadrant
Definition: According to http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/liver A
large and complicated reddish-brown organ that secrets bile and
functions in metabolism of protein and carbohydrate and fat;synthesizes sub
stances involved in the clotting of the blood; synthesizes vitamin A; detoxifie
spoisonous substances and breaks down worn-out erythrocytes.
Main Function: The liver is the largest glandular organ in the body and
performs many vital functions to filter blood coming from the digestive tract
before passing it to the rest of the body, it keeps the body pure of toxins and
harmful substances.
Physical Description: The Liver is a large, meaty organ weighing about 3
pounds, it is reddish-brown in color and feels rubbery to the touch
Significant Features and Functions:
Removes substances like alcohol and drugs by detoxifying the
Detoxifies the blood
Stores some vitamins, iron and simple sugar glucose
Convers stored sugar to glucose when the levels fall below normal
Breaks down hemoglobin as well as insulin and other hormones
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The Urinary System consists of THE KIDNEYS, THE BLADDER, ureters and
urethra and is involved in fluid balance, electrolyte balance and excretion of
urine.
The Kidneys
Location: Located behind the peritoneal cavity on the posterior abdominal
wall and either side of the spine. The right kidney sits a bit lower than the left
kidney to accommodate the liver
Definition: According to
http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=4103
A pair of organs in the dorsal region of the vertebrate abdominal
cavity, functioning to maintain proper water
and electrolyte balance, regulate
acidbase concentration, and filter the blood of metabolic wastes, which are t
hen excreted as urine.
Main Function: The kidneys are the waste filtering and disposal system of
the body
Physical Description: Two reddish bean shaped organs that is about the size
of a fist
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Bibliography
Books
Shaw, L (2005) Anatomy & Physiology Access to HE, Cengage,
Hampshire
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