Humans are among the most sophisticated living organisms, who have billions of unique microscopic body parts that systematically work together to benefit the total being. Human anatomy is a discipline that enables scientists to study the structure of the body, including its smallest and most significant components. Initially, human anatomy focused on the observation of exterior body parts, but in later years, the discipline evolved when physicians were allowed to dissect bodies and study their inner physical characteristics as well as the relation of the parts to each other. Currently, technological evolution allows structural visualization in living organisms, a factor that has revolutionized human anatomy and an enhanced understanding of the human body form (Gosling et al., 2016). Physiology focuses on the exploration of the functional traits of different body parts, which determines how they interact to make life possible. The study of human body functions dates back to 420BC when Hippocrates came up with the four humors theory. Consequently, in 1628, William Harvey published a book on heart and blood movement in animals, which paved the way for further breakthroughs such as those that were made by Ivan Pavlov on dogs’ physiological responses (1891) as well as Andrew and Hugh Huxley’s muscle research (1954) (Petersen, 2019). The study of human body parts and how they function is vital to understanding its complexity and the role of its components in facilitating life.
Levels of Body Organization and Organ Systems
The human body is organized in six levels, the first of which comprises its chemical attributes. Chemical components characterize the simplest organizational units of the body’s structural hierarchy, consisting of a wide range of atoms that combine to form molecules in pairs or groups (Amerman, 2015). Second is the cellular level, which is typified by the combination of varying forms of units that create cell structures. The interaction of two or more types of cells to perform a unified function results in tissue formation. The tissue level is made up of cells and the extracellular lattice that surrounds them. The appearance of body tissue varies from lean to wide sheets that cover inner surfaces, and also includes brief rubbery cartilage like that which is in the nose. Consequently, different types of tissues make up an organ, characterizing the organ level of the human body structural hierarchy. Examples of body organs include the heart and the skin. Thus, the fifth organizational level is characterized by the combination of varying organ functions to create an organ system. For instance, the cardiovascular system comprises of organs such as the heart and blood vessels, which collaboratively transport blood throughout the body. Similarly, the digestive system consists of organs including the mouth, esophagus, stomach and small intestines, which facilitate the ingestion of food, and the extraction of the nutrients thereof. The most complex organizational level in the structural hierarchy is the organism, which comprises of synchronized functions of different organ systems (Amerman, 2015). Thus, the collaboration of the components of simpler organizational levels facilitates the creation of more complex body structures, which in turn form the organism, considered as the most sophisticated unit of the structural hierarchy.
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There are about eleven organ systems that make up the human body. The first is the integumentary network, which consists of the hair, nails, exocrine glands and skin. Its primary functions include body temperature regulation, water retention, absorption of vitamin D and protection of the body from external environmental factors. The skeletal system provides support for human body components. Its secondary functions include facilitating movement, calcium storage, blood cell production and protection of internal organs. The cardiovascular system is the third fundamental functional framework of the human body that pumps and circulates oxygen-rich blood and replenishes carbon dioxide filled blood. It also facilitates waste removal from body tissues and the transportation of cells and nutrients. Fourth is the lymphatic system, which collaboratively works with the cardiovascular network to which it returns excess fluid. Additionally, the lymphatic framework provides immunity that protects the human body from diseases and infections. The fifth is the respiratory system that oxygenates the blood, eliminates carbon dioxide from the body and maintains blood acid-base levels. Additionally, the urinary system removes metabolic waste from the blood as well as regulates electrolytes and the levels of acid and bases (Amerman, 2015). The combined operations of organ systems maintain the functionality of the human body.
Seventh is the reproductive system, whose purposes vary depending on gender. Among males, it facilitates the production and transportation of sperms, hormone secretion and sexual functions. Moreover, in females, the reproductive framework enables the production and transportation of ova, provides a site for fetal development and nutrition, as well as a childbirth passage and means for lactation-based feeding (Amerman, 2015). Eighth is the digestive system that allows the intake of food and water, its digestion, absorption of nutrients and waste excretion. The endocrine network is another organ system that facilitates hormone production to regulate tissue and sexual functions, mood, sleep, metabolism and reproduction. The tenth is the nervous system which comprises of nerves and neurons that facilitate the collection, interpretation and response to both internal and external sensory input. The last is the immune system which exploits a cell-protein network to protect the body against infection (Bartsch et al., 2015). The proper functioning of the organ systems outlined above is vital to maintaining the overall wellbeing of the organism.
The Atom and Chemical Elements in Living Systems
Atoms are the smallest matter units that possess distinctive qualities. They are made up of smaller components called subatomic particles, which exist in three variants. Protons are positively charged and are located in the centralized atomic nucleus. Neutrons have no charge and are larger than protons. They are also found in the atomic nucleus. Electrons are the smallest of the subatomic particles. They have a negative charge and exist outside the atom core. Regardless, atoms are electrically neutral because they possess an equal number of electrons and protons (Amerman, 2015). The components of the nucleus and the arrangement of electrons around it varies depending on the chemical elements of an atom.
Amerman (2015) explains that the chemical elements that are found in living systems are differentiated by their atomic number, which is similar to the number of protons they possess. Four primary elements characterize 96% of human body mass. They include oxygen, accounting for 65%, carbon dioxide, consisting of 18%, hydrogen, occupying 10% and nitrogen, comprising of 3%. Oxygen serves various functions in the human body, including combining with carbon and hydrogen atoms to form complex fats and proteins. Additionally, it fuses with hydrogen to make water, essential for facilitating chemical reactions and providing a primary living medium for cells. Secondly, carbon is vital to living organisms because it can hold up to four stable bonds at a go, allowing complex molecule formation. Hence, it is often found in the middle of compounded element chains such as those of fats and proteins as well as RNA and DNA. Thirdly, hydrogen easily bonds with carbon and serves as a linking agent in molecules created from carbon bases. The combination of hydrogen and carbon in a continuous hydrogen chain allows the formation of organic molecules such as proteins. Lastly, nitrogen is vital to living systems because it is found in all proteins together with carbon. It has several hydrogen atoms, which allow the formation of complex bonds that are vital to the creation of essential molecules (Aversa et al., 2016). Without the four chemical elements discussed above, living systems would be incapable of functioning.
Organic versus Inorganic Compounds in the Human Body
Organic compounds are those that are made up of molecules with carbon-hydrogen bonds. Inorganic compounds typically lack carbon-hydrogen bonds (Amerman, 2015). Examples of organic compounds found in the human body are proteins, enzymes and sugars. Inorganic compounds include water, carbon dioxide and bimolecular oxygen . Inorganic compounds facilitate simple body functions such as chemical reactions that happen in the presence of water. Oxygen is vital for cellular metabolism and maintenance of life, whereas carbon dioxide is a waste product that must be removed from cells to prevent acidosis. Organic compounds facilitate almost all biochemical activities associated with cellular function and metabolism. Sugars, derived from carbohydrates, provide cellular energy that is used for respiration. Proteins have structural purposes such as those that are executed by keratin in skin and myosin in muscles. Additionally, enzymes are protein variants that produce catalytic agents that accelerate chemical reactions at the cellular level (Tortora & Derrickson, 2017). Despite their variations in structural components, both the organic and inorganic compounds found in the human body enhance its functionality.
Conclusion
The human body comprises different parts that must operate synchronously to facilitate life processes. Human anatomy and physiology enable the study of the components of the human body and their functions, illuminating their vitality to life. Operations in the simplest to the most complex structural hierarchy organization levels must be maintained, failure to which life systems crash. Additionally, despite being the smallest existential form of matter, atoms characterize crucial elements of organic and inorganic compounds found in the human body, which assure its functionality. As organisms, human bodies sustain life by maintaining the functionality of their various components.
References
Amerman, E. C. (2015). Chapter 13 and 14 [Kindle]. In Human Anatomy & Physiology (1st ed., pp. 477–535). USA: Pearson.
Aversa, R., Petrescu, R. V., Apicella, A., & Petrescu, F. I. (2016). The basic elements of life's. American Journal of Engineering and Applied Sciences , 9 (4), 1189-1197.
Bartsch, R. P., Liu, K. K., Bashan, A., & Ivanov, P. C. (2015). Network physiology: how organ systems dynamically interact. PloS one , 10 (11), e0142143.
Gosling, J. A., Harris, P. F., Humpherson, J. R., Whitmore, I., & Willan, . L. (2016). Human Anatomy, Color Atlas and Textbook E-Book . Elsevier Health Sciences.
Petersen, O. H. (Ed.). (2019). Lecture notes: Human physiology . John Wiley & Sons.
Tortora, G. J., & Derrickson, B. H. (2017). Introduction to the human body . John Wiley & Sons, Incorporated.
