The document provides an overview of the major body systems, including: - The integumentary system including the skin and its functions. - The skeletal system including bones, ligaments, and functions like support, protection and movement. - Key systems like the muscular, nervous, circulatory, digestive, excretory, endocrine, reproductive and their basic structures and functions. The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system including the brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system including nerves and ganglia. Each system is summarized in one to three sentences.

1. Body Systems
Adapted from Georgia Virtual School
http://www.gavirtuallearning.org/

2. Integumentary
• Skin is a soft outer covering of the
body.
• In mammals, the skin is the
largest organ of the
integumentary system made up
of multiple layers of ectodermal
tissue, and guards the underlying
muscles, bones, ligaments and
internal organs.
• The skin forms a barrier to help
keep bacteria from getting inside;
this is considered the first line of
nonspecific defense.
• The skin is actually the largest
organ in the body and is referred
to as part of the Integumentary
System.

3. Skeletal System
• The Skeletal System is composed of
206 bones, connected to each other
by ligaments. There are several very
important functions performed by
the skeletal system besides forming
the framework for the body.
• Support-provides internal framework
that support tissues
• Protection-protects soft body organs
• Movement-Skeletal muscles that are
attached to bones use the bones as
levers to move the body.
• Storage-Bone is a storehouse for
minerals such as calcium
• Blood Cell Formation-site of blood
cell formation

4. Muscular System
• The Muscular System is
made up of over 600
muscles.
• Muscle tissue is
specialized with the ability
to contract and relax
when stimulated to do so.
• Some muscles, such as
those in the digestive
system or the iris of the
eye, are involuntary and
move without conscious
thought. These are
referred to as smooth
muscles and are usually
controlled by the medulla
at the base of the brain.

5. Nervous System
• The nervous system is the master
controlling, regulating and
communicating system of the
body. The nervous system has
three overlapping functions:
• Sensory input-monitor changes
inside and outside the body
• Integration-processes and
interprets sensory input
• Motor output-effects a response
by activating muscles or glands
• The nervous system is divided
into 2 subdivisions:
• central nervous system
• peripheral nervous system

6. Central Nervous System
• The Central Nervous System
• The brain and spinal cord are the
organs of the central nervous system.
Because they are so vitally important,
the brain and spinal cord, located in
the dorsal body cavity, are encased in
bone for protection.
• The central nervous system interprets
incoming sensory information and
send out responses based on past
experiences and current conditions.
• The brain is in the cranial vault and
the spinal cord is in the vertebral
canal of the vertebral column.
Although considered to be two
separate organs, the brain and spinal
cord are continuous at the foramen
magnum

7. Peripheral Nervous System
• The organs of the peripheral nervous
system are the nerves and ganglia.
• Nerves are bundles of nerve fibers,
much like muscles are bundles of
muscle fibers.
• Cranial nerves and spinal nerves
extend from the CNS to peripheral
organs such as muscles and glands.
Ganglia are collections, or small
knots, of nerve cell bodies outside
the CNS.
• Spinal nerves carry impulses to and
from the spinal cord. Cranial nerves
carry impulses to and from the brain.
These nerves act as communication
lines by linking all the parts of the Nerve
body. Citation: http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Astrocytre.jpg

8. Endocrine System
• The endocrine system, along with
the nervous system, functions in
the regulation of body activities.
• The endocrine system maintains
homeostasis by releasing
chemicals called hormones.
• This system controls growth,
development, reproduction and
metabolism.
• The endocrine system is made up
of the endocrine glands that
secrete hormones. Although the
endocrine glands are scattered
throughout the body, they are
still considered to be one system
because they have similar
functions, similar mechanisms of
influence, and many important
interrelationships.

9. Circulatory System
• Most of the cells in the human
body are not in direct contact
with the external
environment. The circulatory
system acts as a transport
service for these cells.
• Two fluids move through the
circulatory system: blood and
lymph.
• The blood, heart and blood
vessels form the circulatory
system.
• The lymph, lymph nodes and
lymph vessels form the
lymphatic system.

10. Digestive System
• When you eat foods—bread,
meat, fruits, vegetables, snacks,
candy, or desserts—they are not
in a form that the body can
readily use as nourishment.
• The food and drink that you
introduce into your body must be
changed into smaller molecules
of nutrients before they can be
absorbed into the blood and
carried to cells throughout the
body.
• Digestion is the process by which
food and drink are broken down
into their smallest parts so the
body can use them to build and
nourish cells and to provide
energy.

11. Excretory System
• Function to get rid of unwanted
waste in the body
• The kidneys perform the critical
regulation of the body's salt,
potassium and acid content. The
kidneys also produce hormones that
affect the function of other organs.
• The kidneys are powerful chemical
factories that perform the following
functions:
remove waste products from the body
remove drugs from the body
balance the body's fluids
release hormones that regulate blood
pressure
produce an active form of vitamin D that
promotes strong, healthy bones
control the production of red blood cells

12. Reproduction- Female
• The organs of the human female
reproductive system work together to
produce eggs and prepare the female's body
for the possible implantation of an embryo.
• The main structures of the human female
reproductive system are:
• Ovaries - main female reproductive organs
that store egg cells.
• Fallopian tubes - the two tubes connecting
ovaries to the uterus; egg is swept here
during ovulation; if fertilization occurs, it
occurs here.
• Uterus - organ in which a fertilized egg can
develop.
• Endometrium - inner lining of the uterus.
• Cervix - lower third of the uterus.
• Vagina - canal that connects cervix to the
outside of the body.

13. Reproduction- Male
• The organs of the male reproductive system
work together to produce and deliver sperm.
• The primary reproductive organs of the male
are the testes, or male gonads.
• The testes produce sperm, an exocrine
function, and they also produce and secrete
testosterone, an endocrine function. The
main structures of the male human
reproductive system are:
• Testes - internal male reproductive organs;
produce testosterone, the male sex
hormone, which is required for sperm
production and lead to male secondary sex
characteristics
• Duct System
– epididymis - This highly coiled tube is about 6
meters (20 feet) long and provides a
temporary storage area for immature sperm.
For 20 days, the sperm mature as they move
through the epididymis.
– Vas deferans – muscular tube that propels
sperm from the epididymis to the urethra.
Citation:
http://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Male_reproductive_system_lateral_nolabel
.png