Body Systems
Anatomy makes far more sense once you can see the body as a set of cooperating systems rather than a bag of parts. Each organ system has one headline job — the circulatory system moves things, the respiratory system exchanges gases, the nervous system signals — and almost every organ you will study belongs to one of them. This first set locks in the systems and their functions so that when you meet an organ later, you already know the team it plays for.
Practice this set for free — no account needed. Loads 15 flashcards into the learner. The learner asks it as shown here: phrase first, meaning second.
Practice in the free learnerHow to study this set
Tie each system to its signature organ (heart → circulatory, lungs → respiratory, kidneys → urinary). When you can name the system from the organ and the organ from the system, you have a two-way link that recalls far more reliably than a one-way definition.
All 15 flashcards
Swap question and answerThe circulatory (cardiovascular) system
Which body system transports blood, oxygen and nutrients around the body?
It is centred on the heart and the blood vessels.
The respiratory system
Which system takes in oxygen and expels carbon dioxide through gas exchange?
Its main organs are the lungs, along with the airways.
The digestive system
Which system breaks food down into nutrients the body can absorb?
It runs from the mouth through the stomach and intestines.
The skeletal system
Which system supports the body and protects organs with bones?
The muscular system
Which system produces movement by contracting?
The nervous system
Which system controls the body with electrical signals and includes the brain?
It comprises the brain, spinal cord and nerves.
The endocrine system
Which system uses hormones to regulate the body?
Its glands include the thyroid, adrenal glands and pancreas.
The urinary (renal) system
Which system filters blood and removes waste as urine?
Its main organs are the kidneys and the bladder.
The immune (lymphatic) system
Which system defends the body against infection and disease?
The integumentary system
Which system is the body’s outer barrier and largest organ?
It is made up of the skin, hair and nails.
The heart
Which organ pumps blood through the circulatory system?
The lungs
Which organ is the main site of oxygen and carbon dioxide exchange?
The kidney
Which organ filters blood to produce urine?
The liver
Which is the largest internal organ, processing nutrients and filtering toxins?
The spinal cord
Which part of the nervous system relays signals between the brain and the body?
What to learn next
With the systems mapped, it is time to get specific. Level 2 zooms in on the skeletal system and drills the major bones by their medical names.
Continue to Level 2: Bones of the Skeleton →