Introduction of Organ Systems and their Functions

Body covering

The organs of the integumentary systems include the skin and accessory organs such as hair, nails, sweat glands, and sebaceous
glands. These parts protect underlying tissues, help regulate body temperature, house a variety of sensory receptors, and
synthesize certain products.

Support and Movement

The skeletal system consists of the bones as well as the ligaments and cartilages that bind bones together at joints. These parts
provide a framework and protective shield for softer tissues, serve as attachments for muscles, and act together with muscles
when body parts move. The muscles are the organ of the muscular system contracting and pulling their ends closer together,
muscles provide the forces that move body parts. Muscles also help maintain posture and are the primary source of body heat.

Integration and Coordination

The nervous and endocrine systems control and adjust various organ functions from time to time, maintaining homeostasis. The
nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sense organs. Nerve cells within these organs use electrochemical
signals called nerve impulses (action potential) to communicate with one another and with muscles and glands. Each impulse
produces a relatively short-term effect on its target. Some nerve cells act as specialized sensory receptors that can detect changes
occurring inside and outside the body. The endocrine system includes all the glands that secrete chemical messengers, called
hormones. Hormones, in turn, travel away from the glands in body fluids such as blood or tissue fluid.

Transport

Two organ systems transport substances throughout the internal environment. The cardiovascular system includes the heart,
arteries, capillaries, veins, and blood. The heart is a muscular pump that helps force blood through the blood vessels. Blood
transports gases, nutrients, hormones, and wastes. It carries oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive organs to all
body cells, where these substances are used in metabolic processes. Blood also transports hormones from endocrine glands to
their target cells and carries wastes from body cells to the excretory organs, where the waste is removed from the blood and
released to the outside. The lymphatic system is sometimes considered part of the cardiovascular system. It is composed of the
lymphatic vessels, lymph fluid, lymph nodes, thymus, and spleen.

Absorption and Excretion

Organ in several systems absorption nutrients and oxygen and excrete waste. The organs of the digestive system receive foods
and then break down food molecules into simpler forms that can pass through cell membranes and be absorbed into the internal
environment. The organs of the respiratory system take air in and out and exchange gases between the blood and the air. More
specifically, oxygen passes from the air within the lungs into the blood, and carbon dioxide leaves the blood and enters the air.
The urinary system consists of the kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder, and urethra.

Reproduction

Reproduction is the process of producing offspring (progeny). Cells reproduce when they divide and give rise to new cells. The
reproduction system of an organism, however, produces a whole new organism like itself. The male reproductive system
produces and maintains the male sex cells, or sperm cells (spermatozoa). The female reproductive system produces and maintain
the female sex cells (egg cells or ova), transport the female sex cells within the female reproductive system, and receive the male
sex cells (sperm cells) for the possibility of fertilizing an egg.

Anatomical Terminology

Before we get into the following learning units, which will provide more detailed discussion of topics on different human body
systems, it is necessary to learn some useful terms for describing body structure. Knowing these terms will make
it much easier for us to understand the content of the following learning units. Three groups of terms are:

Directional Terms

Directional terms describe the positions of structures relative to other structures or locations in the body.

Superior or cranial - toward the head end of the body; upper (example, the hand is part of the superior extremity).

Inferior or caudal - away from the head; lower (example, the foot is part of the inferior extremity).

Anterior or ventral - front (example, the kneecap is located on the anterior side of the leg).

Posterior or dorsal - back (example, the shoulder blades are located on the posterior side of the body).

Medial - toward the midline of the body (example, the middle toe is located at the medial side of the foot).
Lateral - away from the midline of the body (example, the little toe is located at the lateral side of the foot).

Proximal - toward or nearest the trunk or the point of origin of a part (example, the proximal end of the femur joins with the
pelvic bone).

Distal - away from or farthest from the trunk or the point or origin of a part (example, the hand is located at the distal end of the
forearm).

Planes of the Body

Coronal Plane (Frontal Plane) - A vertical plane running from side to side; divides the body orany of its parts into anterior and
posterior portions.

POSTURE

Posture refers to the habitual or assumed alignment and balance of the body segments over the base on support. Generally, good
posture is judged when one is standing or setting. While standing, the body line should be vertical line running from just in front
of the ankle joint, through the middle of the kneecap, the middle of the hip joint, the edge of the shoulder and up through middle
of the ear.

The concept of good posture has changed from that of a rigid, static, upright, unnatural position to one of efficient, graceful yet
somewhat relaxed body movement. Good posture is valuable for appearance since it influences the concept others have of the
individual. One's posture may even influence self-concept and attitude of mind.

Poor posture may be the result of several causes including weak musculature, faulty diet, fatigue, disease, arthritis, vision and
hearing defects, overweight and obesity, skeletal defects, faulty postural habits and injuries such as back strain. Even negative
attitudes toward exercise and desirable posture can be basic causes of poor body carriage.

What are the Different Types of Stretching?

Since stretching the muscles can help reduce the risk of injuries by increasing the flexibility and range or motion, stretching
should be incorporated into your exercise program. There are four types of stretching- active stretching, passive stretching,
dynamic stretching, and proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF) stretching, which involves table stretching.

TYPES OF STRETCHING

FOUR DIFFERENT TYPES OF STRETCHING

Active Stretching

This technique adopts and holds a pose while exclusively utilizing the muscles within the group that’s being targeted. For
instance, flexing the ankle back and forth involves the use of the calf muscles as they hold the toes in a pointed position and as
the toes are being raised toward the shin. The muscles are performing opposing functions as one is being lengthened, and the
other one is being contracted.

Passive Stretching

This type of stretching is excellent for enhancing your balance, as well as your flexibility by holding a position or a pose with
gravity or by hand. As a specific force is reaching the outer limits of your range of motion, the target muscle is being lengthened.
For example, hamstring stretches involve bending at your waist to touch your toes and holding that pose for over 30 seconds
before you do a deeper stretch.

Dynamic Stretching

These are lively stretches that rely on momentum to flow through repeated movements. An example is doing a hamstring stretch
where your leg is swung upward in a kick through is range or motion. With each pass, a gradual progression in height is being
reached.

PNF Stretching

This refers to a set of techniques that involve table stretching and the help of a certified stretch therapist. PNF Stretching
promotes the restoration o a weakened or injured muscle as resistance is provided while keeping everything in place. As the
contraction is released, the stretch pose is being held in place for about 20 to 30 seconds and another 30 to 40 seconds for the
muscles to relax completely.