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Unit 1 Health Informatics Career Pathway
Body Organs and Systems
Groups of tissues working together form organs. Each organ performs
specifi bodily functions. For example, the heart pumps blood and the fic
vessels carry blood to all parts of the body. Groups of organs work
together as body systems, such as the circulatory system. Different
medical professions may specialize in the study of specifi organs and fic
systems. A cardiologist studies the heart and cardiovascular system.
An oncologist studies cancers of the blood and other tissues. Internal
medicine doctors study multiple body systems and their interaction. In
health informatics, a medical coder looks up surgical procedures by body
system and subcategorizes them by the specifi organ. fic
Body systems work together as part of a complete organism (the
human body) to control, move, support, protect, and reproduce. The
human body systems are listed with their major organs and functions in
Figure 5.9. The table also tells you which future chapters contain detailed
information for each system. The acronym SLIC MEN R RED will help
you to remember the names of the systems.
The tasks of the body systems often overlap, and some organs
belong to more than one system. For example, the pancreas is part of
both the digestive and endocrine systems. Some systems, such as the
musculoskeletal system (muscles and bones), combine body parts that
depend on each other so they can be studied together. All cells, organs,
and body systems work together to keep your body healthy and maintain
organ
a distinct body structure
made of different tissues
working together for the
same purpose
body system
a group of organs working
together to perform a vital
function in the body
Figure 5.9 Body Systems
Body System Major Organs Major Functions Chapter
Skeletal bones, ligaments support, protection 9
Lymphatic (immune) lymph nodes, tonsils, thymus,
spleen
fluid return, immunity 13
Integumentary skin, hair, nails protection 9
Cardiovascular heart, vessels transportation 13
Muscular muscles, tendons movement 9
Endocrine glands body communication and control 21
Nervous and special
senses
brain, spinal cord, nerves, nose,
mouth, ears, eyes, skin
body communication and control 21
Respiratory pharynx, trachea, bronchi, lungs,
alveoli, diaphragm
gas exchange 13
Reproductive ovaries, uterus, fallopian tubes,
testes, vas deferens, prostate
offspring production 17
Excretory (urinary) kidneys, ureters, bladder, urethra waste filtration 17
Digestive stomach, liver, pancreas,
intestines, colon
nutrient breakdown and
absorption
17