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Our bodies are made up of eleven systems, each of which has been designed to fulfil
different functions:
Digestive. This is the system that breaks down food and absorbs its nutrients. The
digestive tract is a long system of tubes that run from the mouth to the anus. It includes the
oesophagus, stomach, small intestine, and large intestine. The liver and the pancreas
manufacture special enzymes to help break down food.
Muscular. This system provides the body with movement. There are three types of muscle:
skeletal, cardiac, and smooth. Skeletal muscles attach to bones, and are voluntary--they
are consciously controlled by the nervous system. Cardiac muscles cause the heart to
pump blood, and are involuntary--they contract automatically. Smooth muscles are also
involuntary, and cause movement in other organs; these are the muscles that push the
food that we eat down the oesophagus and into the stomach.
Integumentary. The integumentary system includes skin, which provides sensory receptors
and protects the body.
Excretory. This system gets rid of various body wastes. It includes the sweat glands
(where the body excretes unnecessary salts), kidneys (which filter the blood), and urinary
tract.
Reproductive. The reproductive system allows for the continuation of life. Gametes from
the male's sperm and the female's egg combine to form a zygote--a unique combination of
genes which no other human being has!
Circulatory. This is the system that our blood flows through. It carries nutrients and oxygen
to all the organs of the body, and carries away wastes.
Respiratory. The respiratory system provides the body with oxygen, and it expels carbon
dioxide from the body. The nasal passage, trachea, bronchial tubes, lungs, and alveoli are
involved in this process. Inhaled oxygen is broken down in the alveoli (tiny air sacs in the
lungs) and then passed into the capillaries, where it travels into the bloodstream. In the
same way, carbon dioxide from the blood is passed back into the alveoli, and exhaled from
the body.
Skeletal. The skeletal system provides structure for the body and protection for the body's
internal organs. Bones, ligaments, joints, and the skull are all part of the skeleton.
Immune. The body's immune system fights disease. The lymphatic system is the main
defence mechanism within this system. A liquid called lymph flows over the tissues and
carries off harmful bacteria, which is filtered out in the lymph nodes. White blood cells,
which are produced in our bones' marrow, are another important part of the body's
defences.
Nervous. The brain, spinal cord, and nerves work together to coordinate the body's
actions. Our senses are also part of this system, allowing us to see, taste, smell, touch,
hear, and feel pressure and pain.
Endocrine. The endocrine system is made up of the chemical messengers which control
many bodily activities: hormones. Hormones initiate many bodily processes, such as
reproduction, growth, and digestion.