Unit 8: Systems of the Body

Unit 8: Systems of the Body

Body systems are groups of organs and tissues that work together to perform essential bodily functions. If an organ serves multiple functions, it may be part of more than one body system.

All body systems are necessary for life to be sustained. In this article, we’ll focus on the systems of the human body – all animals require similar systems, but the details of how they accomplish their tasks may vary.

Functions that an animal must perform to stay alive include:

• Must be able to take in oxygen for cellular respiration and excrete carbon dioxide waste.
• Must ingest and process food to obtain sugars and other nutrients.
• Must transport necessary substances, such as oxygen and nutrients, to all cells.
• Must be able to clear toxic waste products from the body.
• Must be able to respond to the environment.
• It must protect the body’s organs from the environment.
• Must be able to fight infections.
• For a species to survive, its individuals must be able to reproduce.