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Dental One Associates of Dunwoody
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The human body is actually an amazing coalition of many different systems that work together to keep everything functioning correctly. For example, some systems handle food and energy, while others focus on taking in oxygen and moving it around the body. By learning about the different systems working inside the body, you can understand how everything works together to keep you healthy, growing, and strong.
Nervous System
Your brain and spinal cord are the major parts of the central nervous system. Different parts of your body send messages to the brain through the nerves and spinal cord. Once your brain gets these messages, it responds by interpreting the messages and reacting. The brain can then send instructions out to the body.
Endocrine System
The endocrine system takes care of many different things. This system sends hormones out through the body, which are chemicals that tell cells what to do. Under the care of the endocrine system, lots of different activities occur. For instance, the body sleeps at night and wakes up in the morning, cells grow, and organs function in certain ways.
Respiratory System
Breathing in air and using the oxygen in it are the most important functions of the respiratory system. The body breathes in air through the nose and the mouth. The air moves through airways to the lungs. In the lungs, fresh oxygen goes into the blood for transport throughout the body. Carbon dioxide moves out of the body as you exhale.
Circulatory System
The circulatory system has the job of transporting substances throughout the body. With a system of veins and arteries, blood moves continuously all over the body. Blood carries chemicals to the places they need to go, and it also transports waste products to be eliminated from the body. The circulatory system is very important because it works together with every other system and organ in the body.
Digestive System
The digestive system is in charge of taking the food you eat and turning it into the fuel your body needs to function. With every bite of food, saliva begins working immediately to get food ready to swallow. The tongue and teeth also help with this process. After swallowing food, it moves down the esophagus to the stomach for digestion. Food then moves through the intestines, where the digestive system breaks down and absorbs nutrients for the body to use.
Immune System
The body needs to defend itself against germs and infection. The immune system is the body’s shield against unfamiliar things like viruses and parasites. When the immune system detects something foreign, it will attack it to protect the body. For example, if bacteria get into your body through your mouth, the immune system would send white blood cells to kill the invading germs. Sometimes the white blood cells win and you don’t get sick. Other times, the white blood cells aren’t able to stop an illness and you will get sick. If this happens, the white blood cells will keep fighting until you are well again.
Muscular System
The muscular system has three different kinds of muscles: cardiac, smooth, and voluntary. Cardiac muscles are in your heart, and these muscles have the job of pumping blood. The smooth muscles are the ones that work inside your body for functions like digesting food. Voluntary muscles are the ones that you control with your brain to move your body.
Skeletal System
The bones, tendons, and ligaments in the body make up the skeletal system. This system is in charge of supporting the body and all of the systems in it. Teeth are also part of the skeletal system. Bones are strong so they can protect fragile organs inside the body. The ribs are in place in the chest to protect the heart and lungs.
Excretory System
As the body performs its various functions, it creates waste products that have to be removed. The body has to have a way to remove both liquid and solid waste to stay healthy. The kidneys are in charge of keeping the right balance of fluids and salt in the body. After filtering, the kidneys move waste fluids out of the body as urine. The excretory system also removes waste when you breathe out and when you sweat. Defecation is the way the body removes solid waste.