Systems involved:

• The Cardiovascular system
• The Respiratory system
• The Digestive system
• The Renal system
• The Nervous system
• The Endocrine system

Each system is responsible for a major function in the body. All systems are linked together and disruption to one system can have serious effects on other systems. The human body is not just a collection of different systems - it is an integrated, organised whole. Many organs take part in more than one system and change their role over life.

The Cardiovascular system

This system is responsible for pumping blood around the body. The function of blood is transport and protection. Blood transports, nutrients, oxygen and hormones around the body. It therefore interrelates with all other body systems.

The Respiratory system

This function of this system is to provide the body with its requirement of oxygen and to remove unwanted carbon dioxide. These gases are transported by the blood - therefore this system interrelates with the cardiovascular system.

The Digestive system

The digestive system has two main functions, to break down food into simple chemicals and to absorb those chemicals into the body. These chemicals/nutrients are transported around the body in the blood. Therefore this system interrelates with the cardiovascular system. It also interrelates with the endocrine system which produces the enzymes which help with digestion.

The Renal system

This system has two functions, to filter the blood and remove waste materials (excretion) and to control the level of water in the body (osmoregulation). This system therefore interrelates with the cardiovascular system and the endocrine system which produces the hormone (anti-diuretic hormone - ADH) responsible for maintaining fluid balance.

The Nervous system and Endocrine system

The function of the nervous system is communication and this communication usually occurs as a response to events outside the body. The function of the endocrine system is to secrete chemicals (hormones) into the bloodstream.