The Structure of Living Things Unit 8

Organism Any living thing

Organ A body part that is made up of smaller parts that work together to do a certain job.

Organ System A group of organs that work together to do a job for the body.

Brain The organ in the human body that processes information.

Skin The human body’s largest organ that covers the outside of the body.

Bones A hard organ that has a spongy layer inside that may help support the body or protect other organs.

Muscles An organ made of bundles of long fibers that can contract and work with bones to help you move.

Exoskeleton A hard outer covering, found in many types of animals, that supports and protects the body.

Lungs The large organs that supports the respiratory system that brings oxygen from the air and into the body and releases carbon dioxide.

Heart A muscular organ that pumps blood through the rest of the circulatory system.

Stomach A bag like organ in which food is mixed with digestive juices and squeezed by a muscle.

Liver A large organ that makes a digestive juice called bile.

Pancreas A large organ that makes digestive juice and insulin.

Kidney Organs in the human excretory system that removes waste materials for the blood.

Bladder Organ in the excretory system that stores and releases urine.

Nerve Cells The nervous system is made up of these tiny cells. Aids in passing information to the brain.

Nerves Chains of nerve cells that carries information to and from the brain.

Spinal Cord A rope like bundle of nerves that runs along your backbone. Main pathway for information to travel to and from the brain.

Retina The back of the eye that detects light.

Taste Buds Bumps on the tongue that sense chemicals in food.

Cochlea Passes vibrations (sounds) to tiny hairs attached to nerves Part of the ear

Dermis The inner layer of the skin. It contains hair follicles, sweat glands, bloods vessels, and nerve endings.

Epidermis The outer layer of the skin. It is thin in some places and thick in others.

Ligaments Connect bones to joints.

Joint A place where two or more bones meet. Some joints move and others do not (skull)

Cartilage Provides cushion to the ends of bones and forms flexible parts like ears and nose.

Trachea Allows air to pass from your nose to your lungs.

Bronchi Brings air from the trachea to the lungs.

Bronchioles Allows air to flow from the bronchi to the aleveoli.

Alveoli Tiny sacs that make up most of the lungs.

Red Blood Cells Carry oxygen throughout your body

White Blood Cells Fight foreign objects (viruses, diseases, bacteria, etc)

Plasma Carries nutrients and blood cells throughout the body.

Platelets Stops bleeding by sticking together and forming clots. Think scaps

Arteries Are blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart to different parts of the body.

Veins Blood vessels that brings blood back to the heart from the lungs and body.

Capillaries Are tiny blood vessels with very thin walls that connects arteries and veins. Oxygen and nutrients can pass through the thin walls to the body.

Esophagus A long tube that begins in your throat. It moves food from your mouth to your stomach.

Small Intestine Long tube that digests food and absorbs nutrients your body needs from the digested food. Anything not absorb is sent to the large intestines.

Large Intestines A large tube that soaks up water and mineral and leaves only waste. Solid waste passes out of your body.

Calories Is a way to measure how much energy your body will get from food.

Carbohydrates A source of energy

Proteins Builds muscle The only source of energy your brain uses.

Fats Used to make important chemical signals and to store energy.

Nutrition Label Contains information about the food you eat.

Ammonia Is toxic and made of broken down protein.

Ureters Takes urine from the kidneys to the bladder.

Urethra A small tube that takes the urine from the bladder to outside the body.