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Anatomy & Physiology vocabulary · Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

Organ system

Meaning in anatomy & physiology, with examples

nounCore term

In anatomy & physiology, organ system means: A group of organs that work together to perform a major body function. The digestive system, for example, includes the mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, liver and pancreas.

In Turkish: organ sistemi, sistem

How it is used

Textbooks are usually organized by organ system, and people normally just say 'system': the respiratory system, the nervous system. The levels of organization run from cell to tissue, organ, organ system and finally the whole organism.

Example sentences

  1. This semester we're studying one organ system every two weeks.

  2. The kidneys, ureters, bladder and urethra form the urinary system, an organ system that removes waste from the blood.

Common collocations

  • respiratory system
  • digestive system
  • urinary system
  • levels of organization
  • organA part of the body made of two or more tissues that work together to carry out a particular function, such as the heart, liver, stomach or skin.
  • tissueA group of similar cells, together with the material around them, that work together to do one job. The four basic types are epithelial, connective, muscle and nervous tissue.
  • cellThe smallest living unit of the body. Each cell has a membrane and cytoplasm, most also have a nucleus, and groups of similar cells form tissues.
  • nervous systemThe network of the brain, spinal cord and nerves that receives information, processes it and controls the body's responses by sending electrical signals.

More terms: Cells, Tissues and Body Organization

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This page explains English vocabulary for learners. It is not medical advice.