Year 1 · Organs and cells · Section 2.1
Animal organs
Human organs
An organ is a part of a living organism that performs a particular task. For example:
- The skin protects the body.
- The heart pumps blood around the body.
A torso model shows the trunk and head, allowing you to see where organs are located and what they look like.
Organ systems
Organs often work together in an organ system. Examples include:
- Circulatory system: The heart and blood vessels transport blood.
- Respiratory system: The lungs and windpipe help with breathing and gas exchange.
- Skeletal system: Bones, including the skull and ribs, support the body.
- Muscular system: Muscles, such as the abdominal and thigh muscles, produce movement.
- Digestive system: The stomach and intestines process food.
- Nervous system: The brain, spinal cord and nerves coordinate the body.
Organs in other animals
Other animals, such as dogs, have many of the same organs as humans. Mammals in particular share many organs with similar functions.
Glossary
- Organ
- A part of an organism with a particular task, such as the heart pumping blood or the skin protecting the body.
- Organ system
- A group of organs working together to carry out a major function, such as transporting blood.
- Torso model
- A model of the trunk and head that shows the positions of organs.
- Mammals
- Animals that feed their young with milk. Humans and other mammals have many organs in common.