Key points

● Humans—and other complex multicellular organisms—have systems of organs 

that work together, carrying out processes that keep us alive. 
● The body has levels of organization that build on each other. Cells make up 
tissues​, tissues make up ​organs​, and organs make up ​organ systems​. 
● The function of an organ system depends on the integrated activity of its 
organs. For instance, digestive system organs cooperate to process food. 
● The survival of the organism depends on the integrated activity of all the organ 
systems, often coordinated by the endocrine and nervous systems. 

Most large multicellular organisms, such as humans, are made out of 4 basic tissue 
types. 

EPITHELIAL 

CONNECTIVE 

SKELETAL 

NERVE 

Epithelial tissue

● Consists of tightly packed cells that line cavities and cover surfaces 
● Examples: skin, found in the intestines as well. 
● They are polarized. The apical (top) side has a finger-like structure to maximize 
surface area for collecting nutrients, etc. The basal (bottom side) faces the 
underlying cells. 
 ● SAPF - They secrete, absorb, protect, and filter. As an example, they protect 
underlying organs against microbes, and absorb nutrients. 

Connective tissue

● Connects and supports other tissues 

● 2 types, loose connective tissue and dense connective tissue. Loose connective 
tissue is more common, they support blood vessels and organs. 
● Dense connective tissue can be found in tendons (connect muscle to bone) and 
ligaments (connect bones to bones). 

Muscle tissue 

Muscles are central to our body - they control everything from the movement of food 
down to our stomach, to our movement and heartbeat. Muscles contain the proteins 
actin and myosin to contract. 
 

Cardiac muscle 

● These are found in the walls of the heart. 

● These are involuntary muscles - Our body takes care of them contracting and 
relaxing. 

Skeletal muscle 

● These are linked to bones by tendons and help us move around. An example of 
 skeletal muscle are our biceps or quads. 
● These are voluntary muscles - We can control them on our will, not automated 
by the body. 

Smooth​ ​muscle 

● These are found in most internal structures/organs, such as our digestive tract, 
bladder, etc. 
● These are involuntary muscles - Our body takes care of them contracting and 
relaxing. 

Nervous tissue 

● Nervous tissue is important to sense stimuli, process and transmit information 

based on the stimuli involved. 
● The 2 types of cells in the nervous tissue are glia and neurons. Neurons 
generate electrical signals called conducted nerve impulses that carry 
information on ‘what to do’, sent at fast speeds across the body and its organs. 
● Glia/Glial Cells assist the purpose of the neurons. 
  

Courtesy of Khan Academy -  

Highlighted in green represents my additions to the given table. 

Major organ systems of the human body 

Organs, tissues, 
Organ system  Function  and structures 
involved 
Cardiovascula Transports oxygen and 
r OR  nutrients to organs and 
Heart, blood, and 
circulatory ​-  takes away the wastes, also 
blood vessels 
basically the  stabilizes pH and body 
‘blood’ system.  temp. 

Defends against infection 

Lymphatic ​-  Lymph, lymph 
and disease and transfers 
Anti Infection  nodes, and lymph 
lymph between tissues and 
System.  vessels 
the blood stream 

Mouth, salivary 
glands, esophagus, 
stomach, liver, 
Processes foods and 
gallbladder, 
Digestive  absorbs nutrients, minerals, 
exocrine 
vitamins, and water 
pancreas, small 
intestine, and 
large intestine 
 Pituitary, pineal, 
Provides communication 
thyroid, 
within the body via 
Endocrine ​-  parathyroids, 
hormones and directs 
produces  endocrine 
long-term change in other 
hormones  pancreas, 
organ systems to maintain 
adrenals, testes, 
homeostasis 
and ovaries. 

Provides protection from 

Integumentar
injury and fluid loss and 
y - ​basically 
provides physical defense  Skin, hair, and 
the skin organ, 
against infection by  nails 
which 
microorganisms; involved in 
protects. 
temperature control 

Provides movement,  Skeletal, cardiac, 

Muscular  support, and heat  and smooth 
production  muscles 

Collects, transfers, and  Brain, spinal cord, 

processes information and  nerves, and 
Nervous 
directs short-term change  sensory 
in other organ systems  organs—eyes, 
ears, tongue, skin, 
 and nose 

Fallopian tubes, 
uterus, vagina, 
Produces gametes—sex  ovaries, mammary 
cells—and sex hormones;  glands (female), 
Reproductive 
ultimately produces  testes, vas 
offspring  deferens, seminal 
vesicles, prostate, 
and penis (male) 

Respiratory - 
Mouth, nose, 
gas exchange, 
pharynx, larynx, 
they throw the  Delivers air to sites where 
trachea, bronchi, 
co2 from the  gas exchange can occur 
lungs, and 
bloodstream 
diaphragm 
and suck o2. 

Supports and protects soft 

tissues of the body;  Bones, cartilage, 
Skeletal  provides movement at  joints, tendons, 
joints; produces blood cells;  and ligaments 
and stores minerals 
 Removes excess water, 
Kidneys, ureters, 
salts, and waste products 
Urinary  urinary bladder, 
from the blood and body 
and urethra 
and controls pH 

Defends against microbial  Leukocytes, 

pathogens—disease-causin tonsils, adenoids, 
Immune 
g agents—and other  thymus, and 
diseases  spleen 

There is an overlap in both organs and function across systems, commonly 

temperature regulation, protection, etc. 

ORGANS IN A SYSTEM WORK TOGETHER 

- As an example, in the digestive system, the stomach breaks down food which 
the mouth first ‘processes’ and the large intestine absorbs the remaining liquids 
while it ‘trusts’ all the other organs to take the nutrients. 
- Both mechanical and chemical digestion exist. In mechanical digestion, the food 
is physically broken down to smaller bits. In chemical digestion, these bits react 
with chemicals and they get broken down into the basic nutrients to be easily 
absorbed. 
- The small intestine is the main place for chemical digestion, where it takes 
enzymes from the pancreas and liver to break down the food more efficiently. 

ORGAN SYSTEMS ALSO WORK TOGETHER: 

 - As an example, the muscular system and skeletal system work together to make 
us move, with the help of connective tissue. 
- Muscular and digestive systems also work together, as muscles are required for 
mechanical digestion. 
- The respiratory system and the circulatory/cardiovascular system also work 
together as the oxygen received by the respiratory system is sent to the blood 
and the waste carried by the blood is dumped out by the circulatory system too. 

BODY COORDINATION 

- Most organs cooperate by the endocrine system (hormones released to the 

blood as a way of communication) and the nervous system (neurons and glia, 
nerve impulses)