TYPES OF BODY BODY SYSTEMS FUNCTIONS

SYSTEM
NERVOUS SYTEM Your nervous system uses specialized cells
called neurons to send signals, or
messages, all over your body. These
electrical signals travel between your
brain, skin, organs, glands and muscles.

The messages help you move your limbs

and feel sensations, such as pain. Your
eyes, ears, tongue, nose and the nerves all
over your body take in information about
your environment. Then nerves carry that
data to and from your brain.

Different kinds of neurons send different

signals. Motor neurons tell your muscles to
move. Sensory neurons take information
from your senses and send signals to your
brain. Other types of neurons control the
things your body does automatically, like
breathing, shivering, having a regular
heartbeat and digesting food.

DIGESTIVE Your digestive system is uniquely

SYSTEM constructed to do its job of turning your
food into the nutrients and energy you need
to survive. And when it’s done with that, it
handily packages your solid waste, or
stool, for disposal when you have a bowel
movement.

The digestive system breaks down food

into nutrients such as carbohydrates, fats
and proteins. They can then be absorbed
into the bloodstream so the body can use
them for energy, growth and repair.
Unused materials are discarded as feces
(poo).
RESPIRATORY The respiratory system has many
SYSTEM functions. Besides helping you inhale
(breathe in) and exhale (breathe out), it:

 Allows you to talk and to smell.

 Warms air to match your body
temperature and moisturizes it to
the humidity level your body needs.
 Delivers oxygen to the cells in your
body.
 Removes waste gases, including
carbon dioxide, from the body
when you exhale.
 Protects your airways from harmful
substances and irritants.

CARDIOVASCULAR The circulatory system’s function is to

SYSTEM move blood throughout the body. This
blood circulation keeps organs, muscles
and tissues healthy and working to keep
you alive.

The circulatory system also helps your

body get rid of waste products. This waste
includes:

 Carbon dioxide from respiration

(breathing).
 Other chemical byproducts from
your organs.
 Waste from things you eat and
drink.

REPRODUCTIVE How does the male reproductive system

SYSTEM function?

The entire male reproductive system is

dependent on hormones. These are
chemicals that stimulate or regulate the
activity of your cells or organs. The
primary hormones involved in the
functioning of the male reproductive
system are follicle-stimulating hormone
(FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH) and
testosterone.

FSH and LH are produced by the pituitary

gland. It’s located at the base of your brain
and it’s responsible for many functions in
your body. FSH is necessary for sperm
production (spermatogenesis). LH
stimulates the production of testosterone,
which is necessary to continue the process
of spermatogenesis. Testosterone is also
important in the development of male
characteristics, including muscle mass and
strength, fat distribution, bone mass and
sex drive.

What are the functions of the female

reproductive system?

The female reproductive system provides

several functions. In addition to allowing a
person to have sexual intercourse, it also
helps a person reproduce.

Your ovaries produce eggs. These eggs are

then transported to your fallopian tube
during ovulation where fertilization by a
sperm may occur. The fertilized egg then
moves to your uterus, where the uterine
lining has thickened in response to the
normal hormones of your menstrual cycle
(also called your reproductive cycle). Once
in your uterus, the fertilized egg can
implant into the thickened uterine lining
and continue to develop. If implantation
doesn’t take place, the uterine lining is
shed as your menstrual period. In addition,
the female reproductive system produces
sex hormones that maintain your menstrual
cycle.

During menopause, the female

reproductive system gradually stops
making the female hormones necessary for
the menstrual cycle to work. At this
point, menstrual cycles can
become irregular and eventually stop.
You’re considered to be menopausal when
you’ve gone an entire year without a
menstrual period.
SKELETAL SYSTEM What are the 7 functions of the skeletal
system?
The skeletal system is the body system
composed of bones and cartilage and
performs the following critical functions
for the human body:
 supports the body.
 facilitates movement.
 protects internal organs.
 produces blood cells.
 stores and releases minerals and fat.

MUSCULAR Muscles play a role in nearly every system

SYSTEM and function of the body. Different kinds
of muscles help with:

 Breathing, speaking and

swallowing.
 Digesting food and getting rid of
waste.
 Moving, sitting still and standing
up straight.
 Pumping blood through the heart
and blood vessels.
 Pushing a baby through the birth
canal as muscles in the uterus
contract and relax.
 Seeing and hearing.