The human body is made up of different parts, including the skin, muscles, nerves, organs, bones, etc.
Each part of the human body is made up of countless cells that have defined shapes and functions. In addition, there are tissues, organs and systems, which work in an integrated manner.
We can compare our body to a complex and perfect machine with all its parts working in sync.
Anatomy: the Study of the Human Body
Human anatomy is the area of Biology that studies the structures of the human body, including systems, organs and tissues. It also looks at how body structures can be affected by genetics, the environment and time.
The human body is divided into three basic parts : head, trunk and upper and lower limbs.
The anatomical description considers that the body must be in an upright position, standing, with the face facing forward, upper limbs stretched and parallel to the trunk, with the palms facing forward, the lower limbs should be united. This is called the anatomical position. See also: What is Human Anatomy?
Levels of Organization of the Human Body
The human body is made up of simple structures like cells, even the most complex like organs.
The level of organization of the human body is as follows: cells, tissues, organs, systems and body. Each of these structures consists of a hierarchical level until the formation of the entire organism.
Learn more about each of the structures that are part of the organization of the human body:
Cells
The cells are formed of three basic structures parts of the plasma membrane, cytoplasm and nucleus.
Each cell in the body can vary in shape (starry, elongated, cylindrical, etc.), size and lifespan. Bone cells, for example, last for several years, while skin cells renew between 35 and 45 days.
Each type of cell develops to play a role in the body. The muscle cell, for example, is able to contract. The red blood cell carries oxygen throughout the body. The nerve cell is capable of receiving and transmitting stimuli.
Fabrics
Human life begins with a single cell. From there, it divides and gives rise to two new cells, which also divide and form two more, and so on.
During the formation of the fetus, in the maternal uterus, the cells develop, according to their location and function in the organism. This process is called cell differentiation.
In the human body there are many types of cells, with different shapes and functions. The cells work in groups, are organized in an integrated way, performing together a specific function.
These cell groups form tissues. Human body tissues can be classified into four types:
- Epithelial tissue
- Connective tissue
- Muscle tissue
- Nervous tissue
Bodies
Tissues, like cells, also group together. The set of tissues that perform a certain function is called an organ. In general, an organ is made up of different types of tissues.
Various organs form the human body, including the heart, lung, brain, stomach, intestine, liver, pancreas, kidneys, bones, spleen, eyes, etc. Most organs are located in the trunk region.
The skin is the largest organ in the human body.
Systems
A set of bodies that act in an integrated manner constitutes a system. The systems of the human body perform specific functions, however, they act in an integrated way.
The human body is made up of several systems: respiratory, circulatory, digestive, cardiovascular or circulatory, muscular, nervous, endocrine, excretory, lymphatic, reproductive and bone.
Each system has its specific function. The respiratory system, for example, is responsible for the absorption of oxygen from the air by the body and the elimination of carbon dioxide removed from cells.
Body
Finally, the set of all functioning systems constitutes the organism that together maintains the individual’s survival.
Thus, the organism represents the highest level of organization.
Want to know more? Read too:
- Parts of the human body
- Human Body Members
- Bones of the Human Body
- Muscles of the Human Body
- Nerves of the Human Body
Curiosities about the Human Body
- The largest bone in the human body is the femur, the thigh bone of the leg. The smallest bone is the stapes, located in the inner ear.
- An adult’s heart beats about 100,000 times a day.
- On average, 2 kg of body weight is represented by bacteria that inhabit our body.
- The kidneys filter approximately 1.3 liters of blood per minute.
- A nervous impulse can reach up to 360 km / h.
- An adult has 206 bones, while the baby has 300.