In this article you will see what the organs of the human body are and learn details about how they work to help the body function. See below!
From fertilization to the full development of the human being, there are many stages and phases that we go through. The union between the egg and the sperm gives rise to the zygote. Once formed, the zygote will divide many times through mitosis, creating a new individual.
Despite this, throughout embryonic development, cells undergo a process of cellular differentiation. In this way, cell types with distinct morphology and functions emerge, which are organized into tissues. Tissues come together and form organs, groups of organs form systems, which in turn constitute the organism.
Organs are made up of two or more different types of tissues and have specific functions. The largest organ in the human body is the skin , covering the entire man externally, being made up of three layers: hypodermis, dermis and epidermis.
Main organs of the human body
Stomach
Responsible for the production of gastric juice. It is a fundamental organ during the digestion process . It is located between the esophagus and the small intestine.
Pharynx
It is an organ that communicates with both the digestive system and the respiratory system, being responsible for the passage of food and air.
Esophagus
It is the organ that takes food to the stomach. It has a tubular shape.
Small intestine
It is divided into the duodenum (initial portion), jejunum (intermediate portion) and ileum (final portion). As an adult, it measures approximately 6 m in length and 4 cm in diameter. Its function is to absorb nutrients .
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Large intestine
It is divided into transverse colon, ascending colon and descending colon. Its function is to absorb water, store and eliminate solid waste .
Liver
It produces bile , which does not contain digestive enzymes, but substances that emulsify fats, facilitating the action of the enzymes that will act on the food inside the duodenum. An adult person’s liver is about 1.5 kg in mass. Bile is stored in the gallbladder, a structure that in an adult measures approximately 10 cm in length and 3.5 cm in diameter at its widest part. In addition to producing bile, the liver performs several functions, such as storing glycogen, synthesizing urea from ammonia and carbon dioxide, degrading alcohol and other toxic substances, and degrading hemoglobin.
Pancreas
In addition to participating in digestion, the pancreas is important in other functions of the body. It produces two hormones that control the amount of glucose in the blood: insulin, whose action reduces the amount of glucose, and glucagon, whose action leads to an increase in the concentration of glucose in the blood. Regarding the digestion process , the pancreas produces bicarbonate and various digestive enzymes, communicating with the duodenum through the pancreatic duct. An adult’s pancreas is about 15 cm long, 4 cm high and 2 cm thick.
Larynx
Responsible for producing sound (speech), also receiving air from the pharynx. It contains the epiglottis, which, through opening and closing movements, prevents the passage of food into the trachea during swallowing.
Trachea
Filters, humidifies and heats the air so that it is taken to the lungs.
Lungs
Human beings have a pair of lungs, which are responsible for gas exchange, bringing oxygen to the blood and eliminating carbon dioxide.
Bronchi
They take air to the lungs , through a communication between the trachea and both lungs.
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Hypophysis
Also called the pituitary gland, it is located at the base of the skull. It is approximately the size of a pea. Responsible for controlling glands , hormone synthesis and controlling hormonal cycles.
Thyroid
Located in the anterior region of the neck, it acts on metabolism .
Parathyroids
Located on the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, they control calcium concentration and hormone synthesis .
Adrenals
Also called adrenal glands, they are located over each of the kidneys. They have the function of hormone synthesis and release, control of sodium and potassium levels , act on male secondary sexual characteristics, among others.
Heart
The heart is the central organ of blood circulation . The heart of an adult person weighs 300 g on average and is approximately the volume of an individual’s closed hand. This organ is capable of pumping around 70 ml of blood into the body with each contraction, through the movements of systole (contraction) and diastole (relaxation). The human heart has four distinct chambers, two atria and two ventricles and there is no mixing of arterial and venous blood. The heartbeat in humans is caused by myogenic phenomena, which come from the heart muscle itself.
Blood vessels
They are tubular organs that carry blood throughout the body , consisting of veins and arteries.
thymus
It is a very important and well-developed organ in newborns, undergoing involution after puberty. The thymus produces hormones that stimulate the lymphatic organs . Its main cells are T lymphocytes and macrophages.
Spleen
It is an organ rich in macrophages, which phagocytose microorganisms that enter the blood. Rich in B and T lymphocytes, it is an important organ in defense mechanisms and also acts in the degradation of red blood cells.
Brain
Also called the telencephalon, it is the most important organ of the nervous system . It is related to memory, intelligence and the processing of vision, hearing, smell, taste and speech.
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Cerebellum
It is responsible for coordinating motor functions such as locomotion, body balance, muscle tone and vigor.
spinal cord
Its function is to transport information from the body to the brain and from the brain to the body and integrate simple responses to certain types of stimuli, without the brain taking part.
Kidneys
The human being has two kidneys, which have the function of filtering substances , synthesizing hormones, forming urine and eliminating toxic substances, such as urea, for example.
Bladder
It is responsible for storing urine .
Ovaries
Female organ responsible for the synthesis of hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone. It is responsible for the production of female gametes, the eggs .
Uterus
It is a muscular and hollow female organ, whose function is to house the fetus after fertilization.
Clitoris
Female organ located in the vulva that gives pleasure to the woman.
Penis
Male sexual organ responsible for eliminating urine and semen.
Prostate
It secretes part of the seminal fluid that, together with sperm, constitutes semen.
Testicles
They produce sperm and synthesize the male sex hormone, testosterone.