MAIN ORGAN SYSTEMS

A disease may initially target a single group of cells, or a single organ system. But its effects can then ripple across the rest of the body. This is because your body is one large interconnected biological complex - your organs all function in relation to one another. Everything affects everything. Together, your organ systems make up the physical container of your existence on this planet.

Your digestive system is how you initially break down the food you eat into biological macromolecules - carbohydrates, proteins, fats. These molecules enter the bloodstream, are filtered by the liver, and transported to other organ systems through your circulatory system. Oxygen from the respiratory system is crucial for energy production, which is especially vital for the function of your muscles. Your muscles and organs are supported by your skeletal system, which forms the structural framework of your body. The cardiovascular system is not the only fluid transport system in your body - your lymphatic system drains fluid from peripheral tissue, and returns it to your bloodstream near the heart. Your lymphatic system is also highly associated with your immune system, which is a collection of cells throughout your body that protect you from infection. Also designed to protect you is your skin, which keeps the inside world in, and the outside world, out. The waste products of cells exit your system through your excretory system, featuring your kidneys. And your reproductive system is, of course, intimately involved in the formation of new life.