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Human body consists of many organs that are the collection of particular types of tissue to form a functional unit that is specialized to perform a specific function. The primary structural and functional unit of any organ is the cell. Cells make up the tissues and tissues make up the organ. Different organs for different functions work in coordination to keep a human body alive and well functioning.
- Human body is made up of various organs like lung, liver, heart, brain, kidney etc.
- The organ is made up of the same type of tissue and different organs with different types of tissues make organ systems.
- These systems are well-organized and coordinate each other to perform their functions.
- In total, there are 78 organs in the human body.
- All these organs have specific structure and functions that are essential for healthy growth and life of a human.
| Table of Content |
Key terms: Human body, Organs, Lungs, Liver, Heart, Brain, Skin, Respiration and Circulation.
Read more: Difference between esophagus and trachea
Types of Organs in Human Body
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An organ is a group of tissues that performs a specific function. The word organ comes from the Latin word- organum which means an instrument or a tool. All the higher phylum animals and plants are made up of specialized tissues and organs.
- The human body has 78 organs in which the largest one is skin and the smallest one is a pineal gland.
- From 78 organs, some are crucial for survival and called vital organs.
- Human body involves 5 vital organs: Brain, Lungs, Liver, Kidney and Heart.
- Other organs are necessary but a person can live even if the organ system is functioning improperly.
For example, if a person has cancer in the stomach or in the mouth, a surgical removal is possible for such cancerous parts but if the lung is cancerous, it can not be removed from the body.
Examples of non essential organs in the human body are bladder, spleen, gallbladder etc.
The organ has many different types like respiratory organs, circulatory organs, urinary organs, nervous system organs, immune system organs, endocrine organs and glands, muscular tissues and organs, skeletal etc.
All the 78 organs of the human body are listed in alphabetical order in the below table.
| Anus | Capillaries | Joints | Nerves | Skin | Tendons |
| Arteries | Cerebellum | Liver | Nasal Cavity | Spleen | Tongue |
| Appendix | Diaphragm | Lungs | Ovaries | Scrotum | Thyroid |
| Adrenal gland | Ears | Larynx | Oesophagus | Stomac | Trachea |
| Brain | Eyes | Ligaments | Penis | Spinal Cord | Thymus Gland |
| Bones | Fallopian tubes | Lymph Node | Pancreas | Small Intestine | Ureters |
| Bronchi | Genitals | Large intestine | Pharynx | Salivary Glands | Urethra |
| Bladder | Gallbladder | Lymphatic vessel | Placenta | Skeletal Muscles | Uterus |
| Bone Marrow | Heart | Mouth | Prostate | Seminal vesicles | Vulva |
| Bulbourethral glands | Hair follicles | Mesentery | Pineal Gland | Subcutaneous tissue | Veins |
| Colon | Hypothalamus | Mammary glands | Pituitary gland | Teeth | Vagina |
| Cervix | Interstitum | Nose | Parathyroid Glands | Tonsils | Vas deferens |
| Clitoris | Kidneys | Nails | Rectum | Testes | Vestigial organ |
Read More:
| Related Topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Digestion and Absorption | Peristalsis | Absorption |
| Egestion | Gastric | Visceral Fat |
Major Organs and Their Functions
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The major organs of the human body are lungs, pancreas, brain, heart and kidney.
1. Lungs
A pair of lungs situated in the thoracic cavity is an essential respiratory organ. It exchanges the oxygen and carbon dioxide for respiration. Lungs are lined by thin membranes, bronchioles and alveoli. The size of both lungs in the body is not exactly the same, the left one is a little smaller than the right lung as there is a heart residing on the left side.
2. Pancreas
The pancreas gland is a vital part of the digestive system. It produces insulin and regulates blood sugar level. It is surrounded by spleen, liver and small intestine. It also secretes digestive enzymes like protease, amylase and lipase.
3. Kidney
A pair of kidneys are located in the abdomen. It has a main function in excretion of waste and metabolic byproducts. Another essential function of the kidney is producing renin that regulates blood pressure.
4. Brain
The most complicated organ of the human body is the brain. It is situated in the head and protected by a skull- a strong bony structure and suspended into fluid. With the spinal cord, the brain forms the central nervous system. It is responsible for controlling the body movement, thinking and regulation process.
5. Heart
Human heart is one of the most vital organs that keeps a person breathing until death. Heart is situated beneath the left lung. The main function of the heart is pumping the blood. It beats almost 70 times a minute and pumps about 2000 gallons of blood daily. The average size of an adult heart is about two hands clasped together. The size of the heart in a child is about a fist.
Read More:
| Related Topics | ||
|---|---|---|
| Liver Diagram | Types of Teeth in Humans | Digestive disorders |
| The small intestine | Oesophagus | Marasmus |
| Bile | Pharynx | Pepsin |
Things to Remember
- Human body is made up of 78 organs.
- Organs are the collection of specialized tissues that performs a specific function.
- Organs make the organ systems work in coordination to maintain the normal body function in a well organized way.
- The vital organs of the human body are heart, lung, liver, brain and kidney.
- The largest organs are skin and liver.
Sample Questions
Ques. What is organ and organ system? (2 marks)
Ans. Organ is the collection of a particular type of tissue that performs a specific function. Organs together, makes an organ system to perform a function in the human body. For example, the food pipe, pancreas, liver, intestine and all organs together make a digestive system. Other essential organs like lungs and heart make a respiratory and circulatory system.
Ques. Organ is made up of specialized tissue. Is the statement true or false? Justify your answer. (2 marks)
Ans. The given statement is true as the organ is developed by a specific type of tissue that performs a specific and specialized function. A tissue is made up of the same type of cells and this ultimately develops a specific organ in the human body. For example, epithelial tissue makes up the skin.
Ques. Write about a few major organs of the human body. (5 marks)
Ans. Major organs of the body are lung, brain, heart, pancreas and kidney.
Lung- Main respiratory organ that exchanges the gasses. Pair of lungs situated in the thoracic cavity lined by membrane, bronchioles and alveoli.
Heart- Human heart is the most essential organ to keep a person alive. It pumps about 2000 gallons of blood everyday.
Pancreas- The pancreas gland produces insulin and other digestive enzymes like protease, amylase and lipase. This gland helps in regulation of blood sugar level.
Brain- Human brain is the most complicated organ that is situated in the head and suspended into fluid. Brain works in regulation and control of body movements.
Kidney-The pair of kidneys functions in excretion and water absorption to remove extra water and waste from the body. It also produces rennin that helps in blood pressure regulation.
Ques. How many organs are there in the human body? (1 mark)
Ans. There are a total 78 organs in the human body out of which 5 are essential for survival.
Ques. Which organs are the largest in the human body. (1 mark)
Ans. Largest organs of the human body are skin and liver. The skin covers an entire human body and the liver is the largest gland present in the body.
Ques. Give the definition of cell, tissue and organ. (3 marks)
Ans. Cell- A structural and functional unit of all living organisms. It is a closed structure that forms the tissue.
Tissue- collection of multiple cells is called tissue. Tissue is made up of the same type of cells that further develop organs.
Organs- An organ is a group of specialized tissues that has a specific function. Organs make organ systems.
Ques. Write about different types of organs and give examples. (4 marks)
Ans. There are many different types of human organs. Few of them are as follows.
Skeletal- Organs that make the skeleton and give a structural frame to the body. E.g. bones
Respiratory organs- Organs involved in respiration. E.g. Lungs, bronchi, diaphragm.
Circulatory organs- Organs that are involved in blood circulation. E.g. heart, arteries, veins etc.
Immune organs- Immune system organs function include defense against infection. E.g. spleen, lymphatic tissues and lymph nodes.
Excretory organs- These organs are responsible for excretion of body fluids and waste products. E.g. Kidney
Digestive organs- The organs that make up the digestive system. E.g. stomach, intestine, pancreas.
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