Living Organisms:
Structure and Function
The Big Question
What is the relationship
between the structure and
function of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems in
an organism?
Living Organisms
Structure and Function
 A group of cells working together to perform a
specific function form
TISSUES
 A group of tissues working together to perform
a specific function form
ORGANS
 A group of organs working together to perform
a specific function form
ORGAN SYSTEMS
 A group of organ systems working together to
maintain a stable, internal environment form
ORGANISMS
Tissues
 A group of similar cells working together form tissues.
 Tissues are more complex than cells.
 Types of tissues are:
 Epithelial
(skin, hair, fingernails)
 Connective
(bone, blood, cartilage)
 Nerve
(brain, spinal cord, nerves)
 Muscle
(limbs, heart, stomach)
Structure and Function in
Epithelial Tissue
Structure
Cells in epithelial tissue are tightly
packed together.
Epithelial tissue covers all body
surfaces, lines body cavities
and hollow organs.
Function
Protection, secretion, absorption, excretion,
and sensory reception.
How Do You Think the
Structure of Epithelial
Tissue Contributes to
the Function?
Structure and Function in
Connective Tissue
 Structure
Cells in connective tissue can be:
hard and spongy (bone)
small, flexible and rounded (blood)
smooth & slippery (cartilage)
stringy &elastic (ligaments/tendons)
 Function
Support, cushion and protect body
and organs
Transport substances
Connect 1 tissue to another
How Do You Think the
Structure of Connective
Tissue Contributes to the
Function?
Structure and Function in
Muscle Tissue
 Structure:
Skeletal muscle fibers are cylindrical and striated – voluntary (arms, legs)
Cardiac muscle fibers are branched and striated – involuntary (heart)
Smooth muscle fibers are spindle shaped and non-striated – involuntary
(stomach)
 Function
Muscle tissue is composed of cells that have the special ability to shorten or
contract in order to produce movement of the parts of the body.
How Do You Think the
Structure of Muscle Tissue
Contributes to the Function?
Structure and Function in
Nerve Tissue
Structure
Elongated cells with branches at the ends
Found in brain, spinal cord and nerves
Function
To deliver a message to the next nerve cell in order to transmit
information across the body
Responsible for coordinating and controlling many body activities
Messages delivered by electrical impulses
How Do You Think the
Structure of Nerve Tissue
Contributes to the Function?
Organs
 Two or more tissues working together form an organ
 Organs are more complex than tissues.
 Examples of Organs
 Heart
 Stomach
 Lungs
Structure and Function in
the Heart
Structure
Made of cardiac muscle
Contains 4 chambers and 2 one-way valves
Oxygen poor blood enters the right side
of the heart, oxygen rich blood leaves the
left side of the heart
Function
To pump blood throughout the body
How Do You Think the
Structure of the Heart
Contributes to the Function?
Structure and Function in
the Stomach
Structure
Made of layers of smooth muscle
Hollow organ that connect to the
esophagus and to the small
intestine
Valves at each connection
Function
To process and transport food
How Do You Think the
Structure of the Stomach
Contributes to the Function?
Structure and Function in
the Lungs
Structure
Made of 2 spongy lobes
Made of increasingly smaller branches
off the trachea, ending in small, thin
air sacs called alveoli
Function
Responsible for the exchange of
O2 and CO2
How Do You Think the
Structure of the Lungs
Contributes to the Function?
Organ Systems




Organs that work together form an organ system.
Organ systems are the most complex.
An organ system perform complex functions for the organism.
There are 11 organ systems in the human body – Can you name them?
Organ Systems
The 11 organ systems in the human body are
Integumentary
Includes skin, hair and nails
Skeletal
Includes bones and connective tissue
Respiratory
Includes nose, throat, lungs and passageways
Reproductive
Includes ovaries, uterus, and testes
Digestive
Includes salivary glands, esophagus,stomach,
liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestines
Endocrine
Includes pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, testes
and adrenal gland
Muscular
Includes all the muscles throughout your body
Cardiovascular
Includes heart, blood and blood vessels
Urinary
Includes kidneys and bladder
Nervous
Includes brain, spinal cord and nerves
Lymphatic
Includes thymus gland, spleen, bone
marrow, tonsils, lymph nodes and
lymph vessels
Organ Systems
Choose an organ system and explain
how you think the structure
contributes to its function
What was that question?
What is the relationship
between the structure and
function of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems in
an organism?
The question again?
(repetition is good!)
What is the relationship
between the structure and
function of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems in
an organism?
The Big Answer!
Organism
Organ Systems
Organs
Tissues
Cells
Any Questions?