Michele Frizzell
HCS/212
March 22, 2014
Brenda Young
Body Systems
Several systems in the human body maintain its proper function. These systems fight disease and infection; maintain proper blood flow to lungs and body, and dispose of any waste that the body no longer needs. Learning how each system works was educational and quite amazing.
Our immune system fights off bacteria, viruses, and disease. Our environment if full of harmful toxins that our bodies are subject to daily. Most of the viruses are harmless, and our immune system can protect against them. The few that are able to invade our body’s defenses can cause terrible disease and possibly death. A virus by itself is incapable of reproducing, it is not until the body and cells become invaded that disease can set in. In a short amount of time, the infected cells generate hundreds of thousands of new viruses released into the bloodstream where they are free to infect other cells. Skin, inflammatory response and the immune system are three defenses our body uses to fight disease and infection (Chiras, "Immune System,” 2013).
Without the digestive system, the protein and starch in our food could not be broken down into usable molecules, and therefore would be useless. Digestion and absorption of the food we eat is done so with the help of several organs in our body. The nervous system and the endocrine system control the digestion process. Once we have chewed our food and activated the release of saliva, the brain sends a message to our stomach where a protein-digesting enzyme from glands in the stomachs lining is released. Two hormones then circulate in the blood entering the pancreas where pancreatic juice containing food-digesting enzymes and sodium bicarbonate is released and food is broken down for the body to use and absorb (Chiras, "Digestive System,” 2013).
The entire way the human body functions are interesting and unbelievable. By maintaining good health with
References: Chiras, D. D. (2013). Human Body Systems: Structure, Body, Environment (2nd ed.). Retrieved from The University of Phoenix eBooks Collection database.