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Appendix 3 The Bodys Organization

We can think of the entire body as a large compartment that is physically separate from the outside environ-
ment. But your body also contains smaller compartments, with still smaller compartments inside of them. Lets
examine the bodys organization by looking at the structure of some of these compartments. We begin by
considering the structure and significance of one of the bodys smallest compartmentsthe cell.

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The cell is the basic unit of structure and function in living things. All organ-
isms are made of one or more cells. The exterior border of the cell is the

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cell membrane, a structure that separates the inside of the cell from the
outside. The basic material within the cell is called cytoplasm, which con- mitochondrion
sists of a complex mixture of water, salts, proteins, and other cytoplasm

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substances.
cell membrane
Suspended in the cytoplasm are numerous smaller compartments called
organelles. Different types of organelles perform different functions in the nucleus

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cell. Chief among these is the nucleus, which contains the information
required to operate the cell. Other important organelles include mitochon-
dria, which provide most of the energy that powers activities within the cell.
epithelial cell

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The human body contains several hundred different types of cells, such as
muscle cells, nerve cells, liver cells, and blood cells. Different types of cells have different structures and
functions.

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A tissue is a group of similar cells that are organized together and perform a specific function. The human body
contains four types of tissues. The cell in the drawing above is from epithelial tissue; the other three types are
connective tissue, nerve tissue, and muscle tissue.

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Epithelial tissue covers
external and internal body
surfaces. Examples of epithe-
lial tissue include the skin
and the linings of the diges-
tive tract. Epithelial tissues
protect the bodys surfaces
and produce secretions such
as sweat and mucus.
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Connective tissue binds,
supports, and protects body
structures. Connective tissue
cells secrete nonliving materi-
al that forms a matrix. The
matrix may be liquid (as in
blood) or solid (as in bone
and cartilage).
Nerve tissue is made up
of nerve cells, or neurons,
which are specialized to
transmit nerve impulses
(essentially information in the
form of electrical signals)
from one part of the body to
Muscle tissue consists of
cells that are able to contract
in response to stimulation.
Muscle tissue gives shape
and support to the body and
produces heat by shivering. It
also helps move the whole
another. The brain and body, as well as its individual
spinal cord are made of parts.
nerve tissue.

Source: BSCS, Biological Perspectives, 2nd Edition

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muscle tissue
An organ is a group of tissues that are organized
together to form a structural and functional unit. nerve tissue
Every organ contains all four types of body tissue. connective tissue
Examples of organs include the heart, the kidney,

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and the stomach. epithelial tissue

The tissues of an organ work together, bringing

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about the organs function. For example, the stretch-
ing that occurs when food enters the stomach acti-
vates nerve tissue. The nerve tissue, in turn, stimu-

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lates epithelial tissue cells, which then secrete diges-
tive substances that help break down the food. stomach wall
Contractions of muscle tissue cells mix food with
digestive substances and move it into the next organ

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in the system. The connective tissue provides an
elastic and supportive framework that holds all of the
tissues together.

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stomach

salivary glands

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esophagus
liver Groups of organs form organ systems that carry out
major body activities such as circulation, gas ex-
stomach

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change, and digestion. These activities are accom-
plished by the coordinated action of the organs that
gallbladder make up the system. The digestive system, for
pancreas example, breaks down food into small molecules.
This breakdown begins with mechanical and chemi-

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small intestine cal processes in the mouth and continues with
large intestine further chemical processes in the stomach and small
rectum intestine. Several organs in the digestive system
contribute the chemicals needed for digestion. The

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anus nutrients that result are absorbed from the small
intestine into the blood and transported by the
circulatory system to all cells of the body.

Thinking about the structure of the body in this way

should help you see that the function of a whole
organism is the result of the coordinated action and
interaction of all of its parts. For example, the func-
tion of a cell results from the coordinated action of its
organelles, the function of a tissue results from the
coordinated action of the cells that make it up, and
so on. Thus, the function of the body results from the
action and interaction of all of its parts.

The Bodys Organization Appendix 3 747