Your independent exploration of the human
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Throughout this year, you will be learning about
all the aspects of biology. One question you
might have is, “How does biology relate to me?”
Well, the answer is simple; biology is all about
you! Everything that we will discuss this year is
related to you. To understand these
relationships, you must first learn more about
yourself.
In this activity, you will explore seven major
organ systems that make up the human body. At
the end of this activity, there will be a multiple
choice quiz. In order to complete this activity,
you must pass the quiz and email your teacher
the ‘secret password’.
Explore each system
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Nervous System
Digestive System
Reproductive
System
Cardiovascular
System
Excretory System
Musculoskeletal
System
Explore the human body
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Integumentary
System
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The nervous system controls and coordinates functions of
the body and allows the body to respond to internal and
external stimuli. The human body's five senses are
controlled by the nervous system through sensory
receptors. The messages that allow the body to respond to
stimuli are called impulses and are transmitted by cells
called neurons. Sensory neurons carry impulses from the
sensing organs to the spinal cord and brain. Motor neurons
carry impulses from the brain and spinal cord to muscles
and glands. Interneurons connect the sensory and motor
neurons and carry impulses between them in order to allow
the body's nervous system to sense, interpret and react to
stimuli.
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The divisions of the nervous
system include the central and
peripheral nervous system. The
central nervous system includes
the brain and spinal cord and it
works to relay messages,
process, and analyze
information. The peripheral
nervous system is made up of all
the nerves and associated cells
that are not part of the brain and
spinal cord. The peripheral
nervous system transmits the
messages to and from the
central nervous system and the
muscles and glands.
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Analogy
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The body's nervous system is a lot like sending a
letter in the mail. For example, pretend you are a
pain stimulus (such as a hot plate) and your friend
is a brain. You send a letter (a message) that says
HOT! to your friend through the post office. The
mailman acts as an impulse because he transmits
the message to your friend (the brain). Your friend,
the brain, then responds with a message (letter)
sent back to you that says STOP TOUCHING! Once
again, the message is transmitted via impulse
(mailman).
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The excretory system eliminates waste products
from the body in ways that maintain homeostasis.
In order to maintain homeostasis, the body must
regulate itself, including its' waste products. Body
wastes include salts, carbon dioxide, and urea (a
toxic compound produced during energy reactions
in cells); excretion helps rid the body of these
potential poisons.
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The structures involved in this
system are the skin, lungs,
kidneys, ureters, urinary bladder
and urethra. The skin excretes
excess water and salts and urea
in the form of sweat. The lungs
excrete carbon dioxide gas
through exhalation. The kidneys
remove waste products from the
blood, maintain blood pH, and
regulate the water concentration
of the blood. The kidneys are
involved in filtration of the blood,
reabsorption into the bloo and
urine formation. The ureter,
bladder and urethra all assist the
kidneys in excreting waste
products from filtration through
urine.
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Analogy
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The excretory system is a lot like a recycling
factory. The used materials that come into the
factory (waste) are filtered into usable and
unusable parts. The usable material is treated and
reintroduced into society by the factory machines
(kidneys) while the unusable material (urea, salt,
and excess water) is disposed of (much like urine).
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The digestive system converts foods into simpler
molecules that can be used by the cells of the
body. The digestive system also absorbs food and
eliminates waste in order to regulate itself.
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The digestive system is made up of
the mouth, esophagus, stomach,
small intestine, large intestine and
rectum. The mouth helps break down
foods both physically and chemically
by chewing and saliva production,
respectively. The esophagus is the
food tube through which food travels
from the mouth to the stomach. The
stomach is responsible for the
mechanical and chemical digestion
through churning and mixing the
food with stomach acids. The small
intestine is responsible for the
majority of chemical digestion and
absorption of desired nutrients. The
large intestine removes water from
the undigested material that is left
and the remaining undigested
material is eliminated from the body
through the rectum.
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Analogy
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The digestive system is like a power plant. The
plant utilizes material to convert to energy. Once
the material is used up (much like food) the power
plant removes the waste created and continues the
process in order to maintain energy levels.
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The cardiovascular system includes the circulatory
system and respiratory system. The circulatory
system brings oxygen, nutrients, and hormones to
cells. It also fights infection, removes cell waste,
and helps regulate body temperature. The
respiratory system provides oxygen needed for
cellular respiration and removes excess carbon
dioxide from the body.
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The structures involved in the
circulatory system are the heart,
blood vessels and blood. The blood
acts as a carrier for nutrients and
oxygen. Blood is pumped by the heart
and flows through vessels to all parts
of the body. The structures involved
in the respiratory system include the
nose, pharynx, larynx, bronchioles
and lungs. During respiration air
moves through the nose, pharynx,
larynx, and lungs. After reaching the
lungs, the air flows into tiny tubes
called bronchioles where gas
exchange occurs. Oxygen going into
the blood is exchanged for carbon
dioxide waste and the waste travels in
reverse order and is released from the
body as an exhale.
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Analogy
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The cardiovascular system is much like highway.
Important deliveries (nutrients and oxygen) are
carried by trucks (the blood) to and from different
parts of a city (the body). The waste material is also
carried by trucks (blood) to be disposed of
(exhalation).
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The musculoskeletal system includes the muscular
and skeletal systems. The skeletal system supports
the body, protects internal organs, allows
movement, stored mineral reserves, and provides a
site for blood cell formation. The muscular system
works with the skeletal system to produce
voluntary movement, circulate blood, and move
through the digestive system.
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The skeletal system is made up
of bones, cartilage, ligaments,
and tendons. These structures
work together to allow support
and desired movement of the
body. The muscular system is
made up of skeletal muscle
(attached to bones), smooth
muscle (controlled nonvoluntarily such as the
digestive muscles moving
food) and cardiac muscle (the
heart). These three types of
muscles work together to
provide internal and external
movement for the body.
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Analogy
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The musculoskeletal system is like a car. The
skeleton is like the car frame and the muscles are
like the wheels. The car frame gives the car its
structure and supports the car. The wheels allow
the car to move.
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The reproductive system produces reproductive
cells and in females, the reproductive system
nurtures and protects developing embryo. The
reproductive system is responsible for creating the
sperm cells in males and egg cells in females. The
reproductive system is the only way for species to
form new individuals, without it, new life could not
be created.
Explore the male
reproductive system
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Explore the female
reproductive system
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The reproductive system
includes testes, epididymus, vas
deferens, urethra and penis (in
males); and ovaries, Fallopian
tubes, uterus, and vagina (in
females). The main purpose of
the male reproductive system is
to produce and deliver sperm for
embryo fertilization. The main
purpose of the female
reproductive system is to
produce ova. The female
reproductive system also
prepares the female's body to
nourish a developing embryo.
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Male
Female
Analogy
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The reproductive system is a lot like a teddy bear
factory. For example, the male reproductive system
is the stuffing of a teddy bear and the female
reproductive system is the furry bear-shaped
casing. The two systems work together to produce
a teddy bear suitable to use. However, if one of the
systems was not present, the teddy bear could not
be formed completely. Without the systems
working together, new life cannot occur.
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The integumentary system serves as a barrier
against infection and injury. This system works to
help regulate body temperature, helps eliminate
waste products from the body, and it provides
protection against ultraviolet radiation from the
sun.
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The integumentary system is
made up of the skin, hair, nails,
sweat, and oil glands. Skin and
nails protect the body from the
environment and other dangers.
Hair on the head protects the
scalp from UV rays while hairs is
the nostrils, ears and around the
eyes help to catch dirt and
debris before it enters the body.
Sweat is a release of excess
water and urea, which is a waste
product.
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Analogy
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The integumentary system is a lot like the outside
of a house. Like the system, the external house has
many different parts that aid in protecting the
inside. For example, walls keep out unwanted
guests. The roof protects the house from harsh
weather conditions and the doors help keep out
dangers while letting in desired guests. Screened
windows allow air in while keeping the house clear
of unwanted materials.
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Which type of muscle is labeled I in the Venn
diagram shown in Figure 32-4?
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Cardiac
Filament
Skeletal
Smooth
Figure 32-4
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A tissue is observed to contain nerve cells, muscle
fibers, and oil glands. Where is this tissue found?
◦
◦
◦
◦
Dermis
Epidermis
Hair
Nails
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Epithelial cells are similar to the shingles of a roof
in that they are both flat and overlap. How does
this structure aid in their function?
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◦
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It
It
It
It
allows
allows
allows
allows
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the individual cells to shed more easily.
the whole structure of the skin to be lightweight.
them to form a barrier to the outside.
them to use small amounts of space.
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Leukemia results when an excess of defective
blood cells are produced. These defective cells
interfere with the production of normal blood cells.
Which of the following treatments would most
likely help someone with leukemia?
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◦
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Blood transfusion
Bone marrow transplant
Muscle relaxers
Skin graft
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What is the possible explanation for the location of
the nerves in Figure 33-1?
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◦
◦
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So
So
So
So
they
they
they
they
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can feel the outside air
can be near the stimulus
are protected
will be closer to the brain
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Why is the heavy pressure sensor
located where it is shown in
Figure 33-2?
◦ Because heavy pressure must push
lower in the skin
◦ Because heavy pressure is more
damaging than light pressure
◦ Because heavy pressure is really felt
only in the epidermis
◦ Because heavy pressure is not that
important
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How is the blood located in the vein at C in Figure
34-2 different than the blood in all other veins of
the body?
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◦
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It
It
It
It
is rich with oxygen
is rich with carbon dioxide
doesn’t reach the lung
doesn’t reach the heart
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Which of the following is a function of the
circulatory system?
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◦
◦
Remove wastes from the bloodstream
Transport materials to fight infections
Transport gases out of the body
Produce digestive enzymes
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Which best describes the difference between
chemical and mechanical digestion?
◦ Chemical digestion requires the use of enzymes,
mechanical digestion does not involve enzymes
◦ Chemical digestion occurs only in the small intestine,
mechanical digestion occurs in all digestive organs
◦ Chemical digestion involves physically breaking down
food, mechanical digestion breaks the bonds in foods
◦ Chemical digestion occurs only when the body’s pH is
acidic, mechanical digestion requires alkaline
surroundings
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Which of the following is not part of the male
reproductive system?
◦
◦
◦
◦
Uterus
Testes
Epididymus
Vas Deferens
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You have completed this activity. Great job!
◦ In order to earn credit for this activity, you must email
your teacher with the following password:
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The password is:
Teacher Email:
Niles and Frasier
asteinman@bloomfield.org
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