View source for Organ system

{{Short description|Group of organs assembled in a structural unit to serve a common function}}
{{More citations needed|date=June 2019}}
{{Organ system development}}
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An '''organ system''' is a [[biological system]] consisting of a group of [[organ (biology)|organs]] that work together to perform one or more bodily functions.<ref name="openstax">{{cite book |last1=Betts |display-authors=etal |first1=J Gordon |title=1.2 Structural Organization of the Human Body - Anatomy and Physiology |date=2013 |publisher=Openstax |isbn=978-1-947172-04-3 |url=https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-2-structural-organization-of-the-human-body |access-date=14 May 2023 |language=en |archive-date=2023-03-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230324133816/https://openstax.org/books/anatomy-and-physiology/pages/1-2-structural-organization-of-the-human-body |url-status=live }}</ref> Each organ has a specialized role in an organism body, and is made up of distinct [[Tissue (biology)|tissues]].

== Humans ==
{{Main|List of systems of the human body}}
[[File:TE-Nervous_system_diagram.svg|thumb|Nervous system in a human body]]
There are 11 distinct organ systems in human beings,<ref>{{cite web | url=https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/10%3A_Introduction_to_the_Human_Body/10.4%3A_Human_Organs_and_Organ_Systems | title=Human Organs and Organ Systems | last=Wakim | first=Suzanne | last2=Grewal | first2=Mandeep | date=August 8, 2020 | access-date=October 7, 2020 | archive-date=November 24, 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201124225346/https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/10%3A_Introduction_to_the_Human_Body/10.4%3A_Human_Organs_and_Organ_Systems | url-status=live }}</ref> which form the basis of [[human body|human anatomy and physiology]]. The 11 organ systems: the respiratory system, digestive and excretory system, circulatory system, urinary system, integumentary system, skeletal system, muscular system, endocrine system, lymphatic system, nervous system, and reproductive system. There are other systems in the body that are not organ systems—for example, the [[immune system]] protects the organism from infection, but it is not an organ system since it is not composed of organs. Some organs are in more than one system—for example, the nose is in the respiratory system and also serves as a sensory organ in the nervous system; the testes and ovaries are both part of the reproductive and endocrine systems.
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organ system !! Description !! Component organs
|-
| [[Respiratory system]] || breathing: exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide || [[human nose|nose]], [[human mouth|mouth]], [[paranasal sinuses]], [[pharynx]], [[larynx]], [[trachea]], [[Bronchus|bronchi]], [[lung]]s and [[thoracic diaphragm]]
|-
| [[Human digestive system|Digestive]] and [[excretory system]] || [[digestion]]: breakdown and absorption of [[nutrient]]s, excretion of solid wastes || [[human teeth|teeth]], [[tongue]], [[salivary gland]]s, [[esophagus]], [[stomach]], [[liver]], [[gallbladder]], [[pancreas]], [[small intestine]], [[large intestine]], [[rectum]] and [[Human anus|anus]]
|-
| [[Circulatory system]] || circulate blood in order to transport nutrients, waste, hormones, O<sub>2</sub>, CO<sub>2</sub>, and aid in maintaining pH and temperature || [[blood]], [[heart]], [[arteries]], [[veins]] and [[capillaries]]
|-
| [[Urinary system]] || maintain fluid and electrolyte balance, purify blood and excrete liquid waste ([[urine]])|| [[kidney]]s, [[ureter]]s, [[Urinary bladder|bladder]] and [[urethra]]
|-
| [[Integumentary system]] || exterior protection of body and thermal regulation || [[Human skin|skin]], [[hair]], [[fat]] and [[Nail (anatomy)|nails]]
|-
| [[Human skeleton|Skeletal system]] || structural support and protection, production of blood cells || [[bone]]s, [[cartilage]], [[ligament]]s and [[tendon]]s
|-
| [[Muscular system]] || movement of body, production of heat || [[skeletal muscles]], [[smooth muscles]] and [[cardiac muscle]]
|-
| [[Endocrine system]] || communication within the body using [[hormone]]s made by [[endocrine gland]]s || [[hypothalamus]], [[pituitary]], [[pineal gland]], [[thyroid]], [[parathyroid]] and [[adrenal gland]]s, [[ovaries]] and [[testicles]]
|-
| [[Exocrine gland|Exocrine system]] || various functions including lubrication and protection || [[ceruminous gland]]s, [[lacrimal gland]]s, [[sebaceous gland]]s and [[mucus]]
|-
| [[Lymphatic system]] || return [[lymph]] to the bloodstream, aid immune responses, form white blood cells || lymph, [[lymph nodes]], [[lymph vessels]], [[tonsils]], [[spleen]] and [[thymus]]
|-
| [[Nervous system]] || sensing and processing information, controlling body activities|| [[Human brain|brain]], [[spinal cord]], [[nerves]], [[sensory organ]]s and the following sensory systems (nervous subsystems): [[visual system]],[[Sense of smell|smell]] [[olfactory system|(olfactory system)]], taste ([[gustatory system]]) and [[hearing]] ([[auditory system]])
|-
| [[Human reproductive system|Reproductive system]] || [[sex organ]]s involved in reproduction || [[Ovary|ovaries]], [[fallopian tube]]s, [[uterus]], [[vagina]], [[vulva]], [[Human penis|penis]], [[testicle]]s, [[vas deferens|vasa deferentia]], [[seminal vesicle]]s and [[prostate]]
|}

==Other animals==
Other animals have similar organ systems to humans although simpler animals may have a lot of organs in an organ system or even fewer organ systems.{{clarify|date=November 2025}}

== Plants ==
[[File:Plant.svg|thumb|right|Root and shoot systems in a [[eudicots|eudicot]]]]
Plants have two major organs systems. Vascular plants have two distinct organ systems: a '''shoot system''', and a '''root system'''. The shoot system consists stems, leaves, and the reproductive parts of the plant (flowers and fruits). The shoot system generally grows above ground, where it absorbs the light needed for [[photosynthesis]]. The root system, which supports the plants and absorbs water and minerals, is usually underground.<ref name = "hillidsafdsdassadsetal2014x">{{cite book | last1 = Hillis | first1 = David M. | last2 = Sadava | first2 = David | last3 = Hill | first3 = Richard W. | last4 = Price | first4 = Mary V. | chapter = The plant body | title = Principles of Life | publisher = Sinauer Associates | edition = 2nd | date = 2014 | location = Sunderland, Mass. | pages = 521–536 | isbn = 978-1464175121}}</ref> 
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Organ system !! Description !! Component organs
|-
| [[Root | Root system]] || anchors plants into place, absorbs water and minerals, and stores carbohydrates || [[root]]s
|-
| [[Shoot system]] || stem for holding and orienting leaves to the sun as well as transporting materials between roots and leaves, leaves for [[photosynthesis]], and flowers for [[reproduction]] ||  [[plant stem|stem]], [[leaves]], and [[flowers]]
|}
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==References==
{{Reflist}}

{{Human systems and organs}}
[[Category:Organ systems]]