Underneath your skin, organs, muscles, nerves, and bones are hard at work.

They keep us alive

and healthy without even realizing it. But how do these body systems work?
Main Systems of the Human Body
The human body has many body systems. Its main systems are the nervous system, the circulatory
system, the digestive system, the respiratory system, the urinary system, the muscular system, and
the skeletal system.

The Nervous System

There are two main parts of the nervous system. The central nervous system, which includes the
brain and spinal cord, and the peripheral nervous system (The part of the nervous system in
vertebrate animals that lies outside of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). It includes
the nerves that extend to the limbs and many sense organs.), which branches out around the body.
The brain sends and receives messages along nerves to various organs of the body, muscles and
senses.

Body
Location Function
Part
processing sensory signals provided by parts of the body;
sending messages to the rest of the body; regulating automatic
brain inside the head (skull) body functions (e.g. heartbeat, breathing, cell growth); storing
memories; forming speech and behavior; facilitating
movement
spinal cord (central nervous
system); everywhere in the transmitting signals to the brain from other parts of the body;
nerves
body (peripheral nervous transmitting signals from the brain to other parts of the body
system)
spinal connecting peripheral nerves to the brain; coordinating
backbone (vertebrae)
cord reflexes in the body

The Circulatory System

The circulatory system is responsible for carrying nutrients around the body. One of its most
important functions is to bring oxygen from the lungs to the body cells. People without healthy
circulatory systems might have heart attacks or strokes.

Body Part Location Function

heart chest pumping blood throughout the body
arteries (blood various places in carrying blood away from the heart; distributing oxygen to
vessels) the body different parts of the body
veins (blood various places in bringing blood back to the heart; allowing deoxygenated
vessels) the body blood to regain oxygen
everywhere in the connecting small arteries and veins; storing blood to be taken
capillaries
body back to the heart
distributing oxygen and other nutrients across the body;
blood blood vessels
removing carbon dioxide and other waste from cells
The Digestive System

In order for your body to have nutrients to distribute, it needs to digest food. When you chew food,
it goes through a process called digestion. The body keeps nutrients that it needs and converts the
rest into waste.

Body Part Location Function

esophagus neck, behind the larynx carrying chewed food from the mouth to the stomach
receiving chewed food from the esophagus; mixing
stomach upper left side of abdomen food with stomach enzymes; holding food before it
goes into the small intestine
middle of abdomen, between the
small intestine digesting food; absorbing nutrients from food
stomach and large intestine
upper abdomen, above the filtering blood from the digestive tract; producing bile
liver
stomach to take away waste
middle of abdomen, behind the creating enzymes to break down food; creating
pancreas
stomach hormones that carry messages through the body
right side of abdomen, under the
gallbladder storing liver bile during digestion
liver
along the backside of abdomen,
large intestine moving waste to the rectum; absorbing water for the
between small intestine and
(colon, bowel) body; absorbing vitamins for the body
rectum
at the end of the large intestine,
moving waste into the anus; absorbing vitamins for the
rectum between the large intestine and
body
the anus
between the buttocks, at the end
anus pushing waste out of the body as a bowel movement
of the rectum

The Urinary System

Not all waste leaves the body through the digestive system. The urinary system, which is also
called the renal system, balances the body by eliminating waste through urine. There are four main
parts of the urinary system.

Body
Location Function
Part
removing waste from the body; balancing fluids in the
kidneys rear back of abdomen
body; sending waste to the bladder
tubes between kidneys and
ureters bringing urine to the bladder from the kidneys
bladder
bladder center of the pelvis storing urine before urination
end of the bladder to exterior
urethra bringing urine out of the body during urination
of the body
The Respiratory System

A body can’t function without oxygen. The respiratory system receives oxygen through
respiration, also known as breathing, and expels carbon dioxide from the body. These are the main
parts of the body used for breathing.

Body Part Location Function

nostrils end of the nose inhaling air during breathing; exhaling carbon dioxide
keeping foreign particles out of the respiratory tract
nasal cavity inside the nose
(sneezing); making mucus to keep the nose moist
oral cavity
middle of the face inhaling air during breathing; exhaling carbon dioxide
(mouth)
neck, behind the nose and
throat Phyranx connecting oral and nasal cavities to the trachea
mouth, above the trachea
larynx (voice neck, below the throat, in creating speech sounds; protecting the airway from
box) front of the esophagus choking; regulating airflow into the lungs
bottom of neck, between
trachea connecting larynx to bronchial tubes; passing air into
the larynx and bronchial
(windpipe) the lungs
tubes
bronchial chest, between the trachea
connecting trachea to lungs; bringing air into the lungs
tubes and lungs
bringing oxygen into the body through blood vessels;
lungs chest, behind rib cage taking carbon dioxide out of the body through
exhalation (breathing out)

Parts of the Muscular System

The muscular system enables a body to move. When the brain sends a signal to a muscle in the
body, neurotransmitters tell the muscle what to do. It creates the musculoskeletal system when
combined with the skeletal system. The three major types of muscles are skeletal muscles, cardiac
muscles and smooth muscles.

Body Part Location Function

skeletal voluntary movement; breathing
attached to bones, connected to tendons
muscles (diaphragm)
cardiac keeping your heartbeat going
heart
muscles (involuntary)
smooth organ walls (intestines, stomach, bladder),
involuntary functions in organs
muscles eyes, skin
Parts of the Skeletal System

When you think of a skeleton, you’re thinking of the skeletal system. Because humans are
vertebrates, they have a skeletal frame built around a backbone. The skeletal system includes the
body’s 206 bones, as well as connective tissue such as tendons, ligaments and cartilage.

Body Part Location Function

teeth inside mouth chewing food
skull head protecting the brain
backbone
back protecting the spinal cord; stabilizing the body
(vertebrae)
protecting the heart, lungs, and internal organs;
ribcage chest
stabilizing the body
between the hips, above supporting body weight; supporting abdominal organs;
pelvis
the legs protecting digestive tract
between muscles and
tendons attaching muscles to bones; attaching muscles to organs
other body structures
connecting bones to other bones; allowing joints to move
ligaments between bones
and bend
connecting bones to other bones; allowing joints to move
cartilage joints, between bones
fluidly; keeps bones from rubbing against each other

As you can see, none of these systems can exist without the others. If one organ fails, it can cause
an entire system to stop functioning – which can affect the entire body.