The most important organs perform a series of vital functions for our survival.
What are the organs?
The organs are units of our body that are well differentiated from the rest of the tissues of our body . These tissues that make up the structure are in turn made up of specialized cells.
These sets of tissues thus perform a series of specific irreplaceable vital functions. In addition, there are closely related organs, acting at the level of what is known as systems.
The different organs then interact with each other to reach one or more functional purposes for the human body. We can then speak of systems such as the digestive system, made up of organs such as the stomach, the pancreas, the liver or the small intestine.
In any case, there are relationships at an integral level in our organism. For example, the nervous system is related to each and every other system in our body.
It is very important to note that all organs are essential for our survival. There are only a few very specific cases where you can survive without any of them.
Major organs of the human body
At a scientific level, about eighty different organs have been recognized . Most of these have been recognized by science for centuries, although this has not always been the case. For example, we have a very clear recent case with the interstitium, which was not considered an organ until 2018 , or with the mesentery, recognized as an organ at the beginning of 2017 .
Although there are somewhat diffuse organs such as the interstitium, the truth is that most have a very recognizable shape. Next we will present the main organs of our body.
1. Heart
The heart is the most important organ of the cardiovascular system. Its main objective is to pump the blood so that it reaches each and every one of the cells of our body through the blood vessels.
2. Stomach
The stomach is the organ in charge of making the food we eat as processed as possible. Its main way of getting the different nutrients to dissociate from the food is through the acids it secretes.
3. Lungs
The lungs represent the most essential organs of the respiratory system. Its main function is to collect and expel air so that our body obtains oxygen and can get rid of carbon dioxide.
4. Brain
We can say that the brain is the central nervous system. It is responsible for controlling all the other functions of the body through nerves, which are connected to the other organs. In addition, they allow us to have all the intellectual abilities that characterize us, and it is the organ that makes the human being different from the rest of the animals.
5. Liver
The liver is known as the laboratory of the human body. It is part of the digestive system, and its main role is linked to the metabolism of nutrients from food. It is also the main responsible for breaking down the different substances that can cause problems to our body.
6. Bones
Our bones have a marked structural function, that is, they ensure that our body does not lose its shape. It also protects the most important organs of our body, such as the heart, lungs and brain.
7. Kidneys
The kidneys have a purifying purpose. They filter the blood of our body so that substances that are not useful can be eliminated through the excretory system. On the other hand, it is important to maintain body homeostasis in terms of internal balance regulation (blood pressure, blood osmolarity, blood acidity, electrolyte balance, etc.)
8. Small and large intestine
The small and small intestines are organs folded inside our abdomen. It is an essential part of our digestive tract, and nutrients previously digested by the stomach pass through them. Its main function is to absorb these nutrients.
9. Skin
Many will be surprised to learn that the skin is an organ. It is the most visible of all, and its main function is to isolate our internal environment from the outside. Other functions are the regulation of body temperature or the excretion of waste substances through sweat.
10. Muscles
Many people surely had not thought about it, but muscles are also organs. Its main function is the movement of the body, and it is through dilation and contraction that they achieve it. There are muscles of voluntary movement and others of involuntary movement to guarantee vital functions such as breathing.
11. Pancreas
The pancreas often goes unnoticed, but it is a vitally important organ. It is responsible for secreting metabolic enzymes and hormones that regulate the endocrine system. One of the most important substances is insulin, very important to control blood sugar levels.
12. Timo
The thymus is a glandular organ that belongs to the immune system. Its main function is to give the body the ability to adapt to external invading microorganisms. For this reason, different lymphocytes mature within the thymus, among which the T-cells stand out.
13. Bladder
The bladder is an organ that basically serves as a storage site for urine. The kidneys gradually filter the blood and send fluid there. Once the bladder is full it can be expelled and that is when we urinate.
14. Basis
The spleen is an organ also belonging to the lymphatic system and the immune system. Its functions include the destruction of old red blood cells and platelets. For years its functions were not identified, and in fact it is one of the few organs whose loss by accident or removal does not cause death.
15. Genital organs
We finish the list by mentioning the different genital organs. Although not having them does not generally compromise the person’s life, it does make reproduction impossible. The ovaries, uterus and clitoris stand out in the case of women and the penis, testicles and prostate in the case of men.
Bibliographic references
- BBC News Mundo (2018) Interstitium, the “new organ” of the human body that science has just discovered
- Coffey, J.C. y O’Leary, D.P. (2016). The mesentery: structure, function, and role in disease. The Lancet Gastroenterology & Hepatology, 1 (3), 238–247.
- Netter, F.H. (2014). Atlas of human anatomy. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier Health Sciences.
To the classic question “what do you do?” I always answer “basically I am a psychologist”. In fact, my academic training has revolved around the psychology of development, education and community, a field of study influenced my volunteer activities, as well as my first work experiences in personal services.