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Human body (male)
This animation introduces the organ systems of the human body.
Grades 3 – 12
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Scenes
Skin
The skin is the largest organ in the human body: the skin of an average adult has a surface area of about 1.5 square metres and a mass of about 12 kg, including the hypodermal fat. It protects the body against mechanical damage, UV radiation,and pathogens; its keratin layer prevents it from drying out. It also plays an important role in thermoregulation. The skin is our largest sense organ; its receptors detect heat, cold and mechanical stimuli.
Skeletal muscles
- muscles of the head
- chest muscles
- abdominal muscles
- muscles of the lower leg
- muscles of the neck
- muscles of the upper arm
- muscles of the lower arm
- thigh muscles
- muscles of the back
Skeletal muscles are the active organs of locomotion. There are about 350 skeletal muscles in the human body, making up about 50% of the body mass. There are long, short, flat and ring-shaped muscles. Muscles are attached to the bones by tendons.
Skeleton
- skull - It contains the brain.
- spine - It contains the spinal cord.
- pelvis
- bones of the upper limbs
- bones of the lower limbs
- chest
The skeleton of an adult human consists of 206 bones. Bones are rigid and flexible at the same time in order to carry a large amount of weight. Bone metabolism is slow, so bones heal slowly. A broken bone takes at least 6 weeks to heal. To prevent osteoporosis a proper daily intake of calcium (1,500 mg for adolescents) must be ensured.
Digestive system
- stomach - Proteins are digested in this organ. Gastric juice is strongly acidic.
- small intestine - Proteins, carbohydrates and lipids are digested in this organ. Digested nutrients are absorbed here.
- colon - Water and minerals are digested here. Its bacterium flora produce vitamins K and B.
- rectum
- liver - It plays an important role in detoxification and produces bile, which aids the digestion of lipids.
- pancreas - It produces pancreatic juice, which digests lipids, carbohydrates and proteins in the small intestine. It also secretes insulin hormone, which acts to lower the blood glucose level.
- esophagus
- oral cavity
- gallbladder - A hollow, pear-shaped organ where bile is stored temporarily. While stored here, the bile becomes concentrated.
The digestive system is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Food is crushed in the mouth by the teeth; the digestion of carbohydrates begins here too. Proteins are digested in the stomach, where the environment is highly acidic. Then in the small intestine all three types of nutrients, that is, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids are absorbed. Pancreatic juice, which is secreted by the pancreas and contains digestive enzymes, is emptied there, as well as bile, which is secreted by the liver and aids in the digestion of lipids. The colon absorbs water and minerals; its bacterium flora produces vitamins.
Respiratory system
- trachea
- larynx
- lungs
- oral cavity
- nasal cavity
- pharynx
- main bronchus
Catabolic processes in our body require oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. The absorption of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide both take place in the lungs. In a relaxed state we inhale about 16 times a minute and exchange about half a litre of air each time. Lung cancer is a serious illness of the lungs; smoking greatly increases the chance of its development.
Cardiovascular system
- heart - It pumps blood in the pulmonary and systemic circulation.
- aorta - The main artery of the systemic circulation, it starts in the left ventricle.
The network of blood vessels in our body form the cardiovascular system. Systemic circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system that provides oxygen-rich blood to all the organs in the body and transports carbon dioxide away. Pulmonary circulation transports carbon dioxide-rich blood from the heart into the lungs, where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is absorbed. Oxygen-rich blood is then transported to the heart. The blood is pumped through the blood vessels by the contractions of the heart. The health of our heart and blood vessels can be retained by doing regular exercise, sticking to a healthy, low-fat diet and avoiding smoking.
Nervous system
- brain - It is located in the skull.
- spinal cord - It is located in the spine.
- nerves - They consist of nerve fibres that connect the central nervous system with various organs.
- temporalis muscle
- zygomatic muscles
- masseter muscle
- sternocleidomastoid muscle
- orbicularis oris muscle
- frontalis muscle
- orbicularis oculi muscle
- risorius muscle
- platysma muscle
- depressor anguli oris muscle
The nervous system, together with the endocrine system, is responsible for the coordinated, regulated functioning of the body. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of nerves, which transmit information between the central nervous system and the organs as electric signals. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves, which emerge directly from the brain, and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which emerge from segments of the spinal cord.
Excretory system
- kidneys - Their primary function is the removal of harmful materials and waste from the bloodstream.
- ureter
- bladder - It stores urine until urination.
- urethra
Unnecessary and harmful materials are removed from the body by the kidneys. They produce about 1.5 litres of urine per day. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder and is then released from the body through the urethra.
A common illness of the urinary system is pyelitis, or inflammation of the renal pelvis. Its symptoms include protein in the urine. Kidney stones are often formed in the kidneys. These might cause small injuries and therefore blood in the urine.
Lymphatic system
- tonsil
- spleen - It plays an important role in the maturing of white blood cells, thus in the functioning of the immune system.
- thymus - It plays an important role in the maturing of white blood cells, thus in the functioning of the immune system.
- lymph node - It plays an important role in the maturing of white blood cells, thus in the functioning of the immune system.
- thoracic duct - It drains into the left subclavian vein, where lymph is mixed with the blood and transferred into the heart.
- lymph vessel
Lymph is tissue fluid that returns to the blood system through lymph vessels. It is produced from blood by filtration through capillary walls. Lymph also contains waste products of cellular metabolic processes.
Lymph vessels return lymph into the venous system while passing through the lymph nodes. If the lymph carries any bacteria to the lymph nodes, the white blood cells, found in the lymph nodes, help to fight them.
Important lymphoid organs, which play a vital role in the maturation of white blood cells and in immune defence, include the thymus, the spleen and the tonsils.
Reproductive system
- testicle - It produces sperm and testosterone (male sex hormone), which promotes sperm maturation, and the development of a masculine figure and body hair.
- epididymis - It stores the sperm produced in the testicles.
- vas deferens
- seminal vesicle - It plays an important role in the formation of semen.
- prostate - It plays an important role in the formation of semen. Also called prostate.
Genitalia are responsible for reproduction, they produce gametes. During fertilisation the egg unites with a sperm, and they form a zygote from which the embryo develops. The reproductive glands in males are the testes, which produce sperm. Sperm is stored in the epididymis; during ejaculation sperm is ejected together with semen through the urethra. Semen is produced by the prostate and the seminal vesicles.
Endocrine system
- parathyroid glands - They secrete the parathyroid hormone (parathormone), which increases calcium concentration in the blood. Calcitonin, secreted by the thyroid gland, has the opposite effect: it reduces calcium concentration in the blood.
- adrenal gland - It consists of a cortex and a medulla. The cortex secretes hormones increasing sodium level and glucose level in the blood. The medulla produces epinephrine (adrenaline), which is a stress hormone, playing an important role in the acute stress response.
- testicle - It produces sperm and testosterone (male sex hormone), which promotes sperm maturation, and the development of a masculine figure and body hair.
- pancreas - It secretes insulin, which reduces glucose level in the blood. Insulin deficiency causes diabetes.
- thyroid gland - It secretes T4 (tiroxine) hormone, which increases biological oxidation. It plays an important role in the normal development of the brain and in normal growth. An excessive production of thyroid hormones causes Graves´disease, while hypothyroidism causes goitre or cretinism (caused by congenital hypothyroidism).
- pituitary gland (hypophysis) - Together with the hypothalamus, its makes up the hypothalamic-pituitary axis, the centre of our hormonal system.
Hormones are produced by the glands of the endocrine system. Adrenaline, for example, is secreted by the adrenal glands, insulin by the pancreas, and thyroxine by the thyroid gland. The centre of the endocrine system is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus produces hormones that regulate the pituitary gland, where they stimulate the production of pituitary hormones. These hormones stimulate other endocrine glands: the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland and the reproductive glands. The pancreas is not regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
Body parts
- head
- neck
- trunk
- limbs
- shoulder
- upper arm
- forearm
- hand
- thigh
- shin
- foot
- chest
- abdomen
- pelvis
- back
- waist
- buttocks
- eye
- nose
- mouth
- ear
- forehead
- scalp
- neck
- nape
- chin
- shoulder
- chest
- abdomen
- pelvis
- back
- waist
- buttocks
- navel
- upper arm
- forearm
- hand
- elbow
- wrist
- fingers
- thigh
- shin
- foot
- knee
- ankle
- sole
- penis
- scrotum
Narration
The skin is the largest organ in the human body: the skin of an average adult has a surface area of about 1.5 square metres and a mass of about 12 kg, including the hypodermal fat. It protects the body against mechanical damage, UV radiation, and pathogens; its keratin layer prevents it from drying out. It also plays an important role in thermoregulation. The skin is our largest sense organ; its receptors detect heat, cold and mechanical stimuli.
Skeletal muscles are the active organs of locomotion. There are about 350 skeletal muscles in the human body, making up about 50% of the body mass. There are long, short, flat and ring-shaped muscles. Muscles are attached to the bones by tendons.
The skeleton of an adult human consists of 206 bones. Bones are rigid and flexible at the same time in order to carry a large amount of weight. Bone metabolism is slow, so bones heal slowly. A broken bone takes at least 6 weeks to heal. To prevent osteoporosis a proper daily intake of calcium (1,500 mg for adolescents) must be ensured.
The digestive system is responsible for the digestion and absorption of nutrients. Food is crushed in the mouth by the teeth; the digestion of carbohydrates begins here too. Proteins are digested in the stomach, where the environment is highly acidic. Then in the small intestine all three types of nutrients, that is, proteins, carbohydrates and lipids are absorbed. Pancreatic juice, which is secreted by the pancreas and contains digestive enzymes, is emptied there, as well as bile, which is secreted by the liver and aids in the digestion of lipids. The colon absorbs water and minerals; its bacterium flora produces vitamins.
Catabolic processes in our body require oxygen and produce carbon dioxide. The absorption of oxygen and release of carbon dioxide both take place in the lungs. In a relaxed state we inhale about 16 times a minute and exchange about half a litre of air each time. Lung cancer is a serious illness of the lungs; smoking greatly increases the chance of its development.
The network of blood vessels in our body form the cardiovascular system. Systemic circulation is the portion of the cardiovascular system that provides oxygen-rich blood to all the organs in the body and transports carbon dioxide away. Pulmonary circulation transports carbon dioxide-rich blood from the heart into the lungs, where carbon dioxide is released and oxygen is absorbed. Oxygen-rich blood is then transported to the heart. The blood is pumped through the blood vessels by the contractions of the heart. The health of our heart and blood vessels can be retained by doing regular exercise, sticking to a healthy, low-fat diet and avoiding smoking.
Unnecessary and harmful materials are removed from the body by the kidneys. They produce about 1.5 litres of urine per day. Urine is stored in the urinary bladder and is then released from the body through the urethra.
A common illness of the urinary system is pyelitis, or inflammation of the renal pelvis. Its symptoms include protein in the urine. Kidney stones are often formed in the kidneys. These might cause small injuries and therefore blood in the urine.
The nervous system, together with the endocrine system, is responsible for the coordinated, regulated functioning of the body. The central nervous system consists of the brain and the spinal cord, while the peripheral nervous system consists of nerves, which transmit information between the central nervous system and the organs as electric signals. There are 12 pairs of cranial nerves, which emerge directly from the brain, and 31 pairs of spinal nerves, which emerge from segments of the spinal cord.
Hormones are produced by the glands of the endocrine system. Adrenaline is secreted by the adrenal glands, insulin by the pancreas, and thyroxine by the thyroid gland. The centre of the endocrine system is the hypothalamic-pituitary axis. The hypothalamus produces hormones that regulate the pituitary gland, where they stimulate the production of pituitary hormones. These hormones stimulate other endocrine glands: the thyroid gland, the adrenal gland and the reproductive glands. The pancreas is not regulated by the hypothalamic-pituitary axis.
Lymph is tissue fluid that returns to the blood system through lymph vessels. It is produced from blood by filtration through capillary walls. Lymph also contains waste products of cellular metabolic processes.
Lymph vessels return lymph into the venous system while passing through the lymph nodes. If the lymph carries any bacteria to the lymph nodes, the white blood cells, found in the lymph nodes, help to fight them.
Important lymphoid organs, which play a vital role in the maturation of white blood cells and in immune defence, include the thymus, the spleen and the tonsils.
Genitalia are responsible for reproduction, they produce gametes. During fertilisation the egg unites with a sperm, and they form a zygote from which the embryo develops. The reproductive glands in males are the testes, which produce sperm. Sperm is stored in the epididymis; during ejaculation sperm is ejected together with semen through the urethra. Semen is produced by the prostate and the seminal vesicles.
