How do organs communicate with each other

Nerves also help sense the state of tissues and relay this information back to the brain and spinal cord, enabling us to experience pain, pleasure, temperature, vision, hearing, and other senses. The body uses electrical signals sent along nerves to control many functions because electrical signals can travel very quickly. At the end of each nerve's axon terminals the electrical signals are converted to chemical signals which then trigger the appropriate response in the target tissue.

However, the control exerted by the nervous system inevitably resides in the brain and spinal cord, an not in the nerves, which just pass along the signals. Most signals get processed in the brain, but high-risk signals are processed and responded to by the spinal cord before reaching the brain in the effect we call "reflexes". Although the central nervous system plays a large role in controlling the body, it is not the only system that exerts control.

The endocrine system is a series of endocrine glands throughout the body that excrete certain chemical signals called hormones into the blood stream.

The circulating blood then takes the hormones throughout the entire body where different tissues respond in characteristic ways to the hormones. The response of an organ or system to a hormone depends on how much of that hormone is present in the blood. In this way, endocrine glands can exert control over different organs and functions of the body by varying how much hormone they emit. The pituitary gland is the master gland of the endocrine system.

Most of its hormones either turn on or turn off other endocrine glands. For example, if the pituitary gland secretes thyroid stimulating hormone, the hormone travels through the circulation to the thyroid gland, which is stimulated to secrete thyroid hormone.

Thyroid hormone then travels to cells throughout the body, where it increases their metabolism. An increase in cellular metabolism requires more cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is a good example of organ system interactions because it is a basic life process that occurs in all living cells. Cellular respiration is the intracellular process that breaks down glucose with oxygen to produce carbon dioxide and energy in the form of ATP molecules.

It is the process by which cells obtain usable energy to power other cellular processes. Which organ systems are involved in cellular respiration? The glucose needed for cellular respiration comes from the digestive system via the cardiovascular system. The oxygen needed for cellular respiration comes from the respiratory system also via the cardiovascular system.

The carbon dioxide produced in cellular respiration leaves the body by the opposite route. In short, cellular respiration requires at a minimum the digestive, cardiovascular, and respiratory systems. The well-known fight-or-flight response is a good example of how the nervous and endocrine systems control other organ system responses.

The brain sends a message to the endocrine system via the pituitary gland for the adrenal glands to secrete their hormones cortisol and adrenaline. These hormones flood the circulation and affect other organ systems throughout the body, including the cardiovascular, urinary, sensory, and digestive systems.

Specific responses include increased heart rate, bladder relaxation, tunnel vision, and a shunting of blood away from the digestive system and toward the muscles, brain, and other vital organs needed to fight or flee. Digesting food requires teamwork between the digestive system and several other organ systems, including the nervous, cardiovascular, and muscular systems. When you eat a meal, the organs of the digestive system need more blood to perform their digestive functions.

Food entering the digestive systems causes nerve impulses to be sent to the brain; in response, the brain sends messages to the cardiovascular system to increase heart rate and dilate blood vessels in the digestive organs. Food passes through the organs of the digestive tract by rhythmic contractions of smooth muscles in the walls of the organs, so the muscular system is also needed for digestion.

These systems regulate body processes through chemical and electrical signals that pass between cells.

The pathways for this communication are different for each system. Responses triggered by hormones are generally slower and more sustained than the responses of the nervous system which are targeted and short lived. Responses of the hormone system affect cells that are likely to be widely distributed throughout the body, such as the hormones involved in sexual maturation, whereas the actions of nerves are likely to be more targeted. Further information may be sourced from the University of Washington: Neuroscience for Kids.

Explore the relationships between ideas about body system communication in the Concept Development Maps — Cell Functions, Cells and Organs.

Students compare and contrast the nervous and endocrine systems with each other and other everyday communication systems that they are used to dealing with. They should look specifically at the speed of response and the information carried. Teachers should allow students to experience and build their knowledge by experimenting, researching and modelling.

A sample of tissue removed for examination Doctors categorize disorders and their own medical Doctors categorize disorders and their own medical specialties according to organ systems.

Some examples of organ systems and their functions include the digestive system, the cardiovascular system, and the musculoskeletal system. The digestive or gastrointestinal system Overview of the Digestive System The digestive system, which extends from the mouth to the anus, is responsible for receiving food, breaking it down into nutrients a process called digestion , absorbing the nutrients into This system includes not only the stomach, small intestine, and large intestine, which move and absorb food, but associated organs such as the pancreas, liver, and gallbladder, which produce digestive enzymes, remove toxins, and store substances necessary for digestion.

The cardiovascular system Biology of the Heart The heart and blood vessels constitute the cardiovascular circulatory system.

The heart pumps the blood to the lungs so it can pick up oxygen and then pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body The cardiovascular system is responsible for pumping and circulating the blood. The musculoskeletal system Introduction to the Biology of the Musculoskeletal System The musculoskeletal system provides form, stability, and movement to the human body. It consists of the body's bones which make up the skeleton , muscles, tendons, ligaments, joints, cartilage Organ systems often work together to do complicated tasks.

For example, after a large meal is eaten, several organ systems work together to help the digestive system Overview of the Digestive System The digestive system, which extends from the mouth to the anus, is responsible for receiving food, breaking it down into nutrients a process called digestion , absorbing the nutrients into The digestive system enlists the aid of the cardiovascular system Biology of the Heart The heart and blood vessels constitute the cardiovascular circulatory system.

The basic Blood vessels of the digestive system widen to transport more blood. Nerve impulses are sent to the brain, notifying it of the increased digestive activity. The digestive system even directly stimulates the heart through nerve impulses and chemicals released into the bloodstream.