1. Living
Organisms:
Structure and Function

2. The Big Question
What is the
relationship between
the structure and
function of cells,
tissues, organs, and
organ systems in an
organism?

3. Living Organisms
Structure and Function
 A group of cells working together to perform a
specific function form
TISSUES
 A group of tissues working together to perform
a specific function form
ORGANS
 A group of organs working together to perform
a specific function form
ORGAN SYSTEMS
 A group of organ systems working together to
maintain a stable, internal environment form
ORGANISMS

4. Tissues
 A group of similar cells working together form
tissues.
 Tissues are more complex than cells.
 Types of tissues are:
 Epithelial
(skin, hair, fingernails)
 Connective
(bone, blood, cartilage)
 Nerve
(brain, spinal cord, nerves)
 Muscle
(limbs, heart, stomach)

5. Structure and Function in
Epithelial Tissue
Structure
Cells in epithelial tissue are tightly
packed together.
Epithelial tissue covers all body
surfaces, lines body cavities
and hollow organs.
Function
Protection, secretion, absorption, excretion,
and sensory reception.

6. How Do You Think
the Structure of
Epithelial Tissue
Contributes to the
Function?

7. Structure and Function in
Connective Tissue
Structure
Cells in connective tissue can be:
hard and spongy (bone)
small, flexible and rounded (blood)
smooth & slippery (cartilage)
stringy &elastic (ligaments/tendons)
Function
Support, cushion and protect body
and organs
Transport substances
Connect 1 tissue to another

8. How Do You Think the
Structure of Connective
Tissue Contributes to
the Function?

9. Structure and Function in
Muscle Tissue
 Structure:
Skeletal muscle fibers are cylindrical and striated – voluntary
(arms, legs)
Cardiac muscle fibers are branched and striated – involuntary
(heart)
Smooth muscle fibers are spindle shaped and non-striated –
involuntary
(stomach)
 Function
Muscle tissue is composed of cells that have the special ability
to shorten or contract in order to produce movement of the parts
of the body.

10. How Do You Think the
Structure of Muscle
Tissue Contributes to
the Function?

11. Structure and Function in
Nerve Tissue
Structure
Elongated cells with branches at the ends
Found in brain, spinal cord and nerves
Function
To deliver a message to the next nerve cell in order to
transmit information across the body
Responsible for coordinating and controlling many body
activities
Messages delivered by electrical impulses

12. How Do You Think the
Structure of Nerve
Tissue Contributes to
the Function?

13. Organs
 Two or more tissues working together form an organ
 Organs are more complex than tissues.
 Examples of Organs
 Heart
 Stomach
 Lungs

14. Structure and Function in
the Heart
Structure
Made of cardiac muscle
Contains 4 chambers and 2 one-way valves
Oxygen poor blood enters the right side
of the heart, oxygen rich blood leaves the
left side of the heart
Function
To pump blood throughout the body

15. How Do You Think the
Structure of the Heart
Contributes to the
Function?

16. Structure and Function in
the Stomach
Structure
Made of layers of smooth muscle
Hollow organ that connect to the
esophagus and to the small
intestine
Valves at each connection
Function
To process and transport food

17. How Do You Think the
Structure of the
Stomach Contributes to
the Function?

18. Structure and Function in
the Lungs
Structure
Made of 2 spongy lobes
Made of increasingly smaller branches
off the trachea, ending in small, thin
air sacs called alveoli
Function
Responsible for the exchange of
O 2 and CO 2

19. How Do You Think the
Structure of the Lungs
Contributes to the
Function?

20. Organ Systems
 Organs that work together form an organ system.
 Organ systems are the most complex.
 An organ system perform complex functions for the
organism.
 There are 11 organ systems in the human body – Can you
name them?

21. Organ Systems
The 11 organ systems in the human body are
Integumentary Muscular
Includes skin, hair and nails Includes all the muscles throughout your body
Skeletal Cardiovascular
Includes bones and connective tissue Includes heart, blood and blood vessels
Respiratory Urinary
Includes nose, throat, lungs and passageways Includes kidneys and bladder
Reproductive Nervous
Includes ovaries, uterus, and testes Includes brain, spinal cord and nerves
Digestive Lymphatic
Includes salivary glands, esophagus,stomach, Includes thymus gland, spleen, bone
liver, gall bladder, pancreas, intestines marrow, tonsils, lymph nodes and
lymph vessels
Endocrine
Includes pancreas, thyroid, ovaries, testes

22. Organ Systems
Choose an organ system and
explain how you think the
structure contributes to its
function

23. What was that
question?

24. What is the relationship
between the structure and
function of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems
in an organism?

25. The question again?
(repetition is good!)

26. What is the relationship
between the structure and
function of cells, tissues,
organs, and organ systems
in an organism?

27. The Big Answer!
Organism
Organ Systems
Organs
Tissues
Cells

28. Any Questions