Organs And Functions Flashcards
(19 cards)
What is the purpose of the Brain?
The control center for thoughts, emotions, and bodily functions - To act as the central command center for the nervous system, controlling and coordinating all bodily functions, from basic survival mechanisms like breathing and heart rate to complex processes like thought, emotion, and behavior.
What is the purpose of the Heart?
Pumps blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients - To pump blood throughout the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients while removing waste products. This continuous circulation is essential for the proper functioning of all organs and tissues. The heart also regulates blood pressure and heart rate.
What is the purpose of the Lungs?
Facilitates breathing and oxygen exchange- To facilitate gas exchange, specifically, to absorb oxygen from the air we breathe in and transfer it into our bloodstream, and to remove carbon dioxide, a waste gas, from the blood and exhale it out. This process is essential for providing oxygen to the body’s cells and removing waste products.
What is the purpose of the liver?
Processes nutrients, detoxifies substances and produces bile - To process and filter blood, breaking down nutrients and removing toxins. It plays a crucial role in metabolism, digestion, detoxification, and immune function.
What is the purpose of the Kidneys?
Filter waste from the blood and regulates fluid balance - To filter blood, remove waste and excess fluid, and regulate the body’s fluid and electrolyte balance. They also play a role in maintaining blood pressure, producing red blood cells, and activating vitamin D.
What is the purpose of the Stomach?
Breaks down food using acid and enzymes - To temporarily store food, mix it with digestive juices, and partially break it down into chyme before passing it to the small intestine for further digestion and absorption. The stomach achieves this through a combination of muscular contractions and the secretion of acids and enzymes.
What is the purpose of the Small Intestine?
Absorbs nutrients from digested food - To break down food, absorb nutrients, and pass waste to the large intestine. It plays a crucial role in digestion and nutrient absorption, converting food into usable forms by the body.
What is the purpose of the Large Intestine?
Processes waste and absorbs water - To absorb water and electrolytes from undigested food, forming and storing solid waste (feces) before it’s eliminated from the body. It also plays a role in producing and absorbing vitamins.
What is the purpose of the Esophagus?
Transports food from the stomach - To transport food and liquids from the mouth to the stomach. It’s a muscular tube that uses rhythmic contractions (peristalsis) to push the bolus (swallowed food) down into the stomach.
What is the purpose of the Pancreas?
Produces enzymes and insulin for digestion and metabolism - To digest food and regulate blood sugar. It produces enzymes that aid in the digestion of fats, carbohydrates, and proteins, and it also secretes hormones like insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar levels.
What is the purpose of the Gallbladder?
Stores bile to aid in digestion - To store and concentrate bile, a fluid produced by the liver that aids in the digestion of fats. When fatty foods are ingested, the gallbladder releases this concentrated bile into the small intestine to assist in the breakdown and absorption of fats.
What is the purpose of the Thyroid?
Regulates metabolism - To produce hormones that regulate the body’s metabolism and overall function, including growth and development. These hormones, primarily T3 and T4, control how quickly cells work, impacting various bodily processes like heart rate, breathing, digestion, and bone health.
What is the purpose of the Adrenal Glands?
Produces hormones like adrenaline and cortisol - To produce and release hormones that regulate crucial bodily functions like metabolism, immune system response, blood pressure, and stress response. They also play a role in water and salt balance.
What is the purpose of the Pituitary Glands?
Controls growth and other hormone-producing glands - To regulate many bodily functions by producing and releasing hormones that influence other glands and organs. These hormones, carried by the bloodstream, control various processes like growth, metabolism, reproduction, and stress response.
What is the purpose of the Hypothalamus?
Links the nervous system to the endocrine system- To maintain homeostasis, or a stable internal environment. It does this by regulating various bodily functions, including body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep-wake cycles, and hormone release. The hypothalamus also plays a role in emotions and behaviour.
What is the purpose of the Pineal Gland?
Regulates sleep by producing melatonin - To produce and secrete melatonin, a hormone that regulates the body’s circadian rhythm (the sleep-wake cycle). It does this by sensing light exposure through the eyes and then releasing more melatonin when it’s dark, which promotes sleep. The pineal gland also plays a role in other functions, including reproduction and immunity.
What is the purpose of the Ovaries?
Produce eggs and hormones (in females) -
