Our body is not a homogeneous and uniform mass. We are complex organisms, being made up of a large number of different types of cells, tissues, organs and systems that in their totality allow to a greater or lesser extent our survival and adaptation to the environment.

The organs of the human body are a fundamental part of this whole , there being a great variety of them throughout the human body. In this article we will briefly review just that, the main organs of the human body.

Reviewing the concept: what is an organ?

Although this is something that most people already know, it is useful to make a brief mention of what we consider to be an organ since there can often be confusion between that concept and that of tissue.

We consider an organ as a whole , a set of associated organic tissues that form a structured and organized whole as a unit , being able to perform by itself one (or several) specific functions within the organism. Generally, the organs are associated with each other forming different systems, which together regulate the different processes linked to specific physiological and behavioural functions.

Although practically all organs have their function, the truth is that not all of them are fundamental for our survival , some are more relevant than others and even organs without which it is possible to live. Likewise, we also possess some elements inherited from our ancestors whose role is merely vestigial.

Major organs of the human body

There are an enormous number of different organs distributed throughout our organism. Although technically more than eighty different organs can be found and classified in the human body, in this article we will focus on some of the most fundamental and recognisable as such.

1. Brain

The so-called king organ, the brain is the nucleus of the nervous system and is in charge of managing all body functions by sending out nerve signals that govern all other organs and systems. Its action allows life (in fact, brain death is considered to be real death) and the performance of any type of behaviour. Perception and movement, as well as intellectual abilities, are produced by its performance and correct functioning. It is formed by neurons and glial tissues.

2. Heart

An organ formed by muscle tissue and the nucleus of the cardiovascular system, the heart has the main function of pumping blood throughout the body . Thanks to its action we can carry oxygen and nutrients to the rest of the organs and body systems, allowing them to survive.

3. Lungs

The lungs are another major organ of the body, and in this case they are the main element of the respiratory system . They are two large organs that occupy a large part of the chest and whose main function is to obtain oxygen from the environment to allow cellular respiration while eliminating carbon dioxide and other waste generated by the functioning of the body. These elements are carried from the lungs to the rest of the body or from the organs to the lungs through the blood.

4. Stomach

The so-called second brain is another of the organs that allow our survival. It is the organ in charge of diluting the food we eat thanks to the acids present in it and those sent by various vesicles and other organs of the system. Thanks to its action we can digest food and later absorb its nutrients

5. Liver

Important organ of the human body and part of the digestive system, its action allows us to metabolize the nutrients and different substances that we consume. It is also fundamental when eliminating and purging elements interpreted as harmful to the body.

6. Pancreas

Another of the body’s most important organs, the pancreas, is part of the digestive and endocrine system. It secretes different enzymes and hormones that allow the management and regulation of different elements, such as the glycemic level through the insulin secreted by the islets of Langerhans, or glucagon or ghrelin.

7. Intestines (thick and thin)

The large and small intestines are a major part of the digestive tract, as well as the longest. Their importance is paramount, as the food previously digested in the stomach passes through them and they are responsible for absorbing the nutrients , in such a way that it allows our survival.

8. Kidneys

A fundamental element of the organism, these organs allow the purification and filtering of the blood in such a way that toxins and waste products generated by the body’s functioning can be eliminated through the excretory system. In addition, it allows the reabsorption of blood to be redirected through the circulatory system and acts as an important element in the body’s homeostasis and the regulation of blood pressure.

9. Timo

This organ (although some authors consider it only a gland) is part of the immune system and is of great importance to our survival. In the thymus we can find the organ in which the T-lymphocytes, white blood cells that are fundamental for the body’s defense against bacterial aggressions and external toxic substances and which are generated in the spinal cord, mature and differentiate themselves.

10. Spleen

Although in the past it was believed that the spleen was a non-functional or even vestigial organ, the truth is that although it is possible to live without it, it does have functions relevant to our health. In fact, it is considered part of the lymphatic system and the largest organ in that system.

To begin with, the spleen fulfills the important function of serving as a blood store, which allows us to maintain adequate and constant levels of this element circulating through our body. But it does not limit its function to being a mere store: it also forms part of the lymphatic and immune systems , acting as a filter and contributing to the synthesis of antibodies. It also contributes to the destruction of damaged red blood cells and to the fluid balance in the body. Finally, this organ is characterized by having hematopoietic cells, the immature stem cells that can end up generating different types of cells depending on the need.

11. Bladder

An important part of the body is the bladder, a small sac-like organ that stores urine, a product of filtration by the kidneys, which will later be expelled through the urethra.

12. Eyes

The sense organs are also very relevant for our survival, as they allow us to detect what is happening outside. The eyes are one of the most important sensory organs, allowing us to perceive images through the capture of light stimuli, these images being subsequently processed by the brain.

13. The ear

The ear is a sensory structure that allows us to capture information from the vibration of the waves, being able to capture sounds thanks to it. However, it is a structure made up of multiple elements. One of the most relevant is the organ of Corti , which is the real responsible for the capture of auditory stimuli.

14. Nose

Identified as the main olfactory organ, the elements that are part of the nose allow the detection and identification of odors. In addition, it is through the nostrils that most people (although some breathe through the mouth) introduce oxygen from outside into our bodies and excrete the carbon dioxide produced in breathing. It acts as a filter for microorganisms and heats the air that is introduced into the body. The vomeronasal or Jacobson’s organ deserves a special mention, linked to the perception of pheromones.

15. Tongue

Organ formed by muscle tissue that is essential for multiple functions such as feeding or communicating orally. In it we can find the taste buds, which allow us to capture the flavours of the different foods or substances that come into contact with our mouth.

16. Penis

The penis is one of the main male sex organs in existence. It is an erectile element that allows copulation by filling its cavernous bodies with blood and the transmission of semen to the outside world. Moreover, unlike in women, it also allows the expulsion of urine through the same organ.

17. Testicles

Part of the reproductive and endocrine system , these are two structures that generate and store sex hormones such as testosterone and the male reproductive cells, sperm.

18. Prostate

An organ in the form of a gland that forms part of the male reproductive system and whose main function is to secrete substances that allow the survival and protection of sperm, being fundamental in the production of semen.

19. Clitoris

Female sexual organ that enjoys the privilege of being the point in the body with the greatest number of nerve endings in the human body . Its only known function at the moment is to provide pleasure during the sexual act or with its stimulation through other means. Interestingly, the penis and clitoris arise from the same structure during development, and both can become erect.

20. Ovaries

Located above the fallopian tubes, the ovaries are female sex organs that are also part of the endocrine system. They are the structures in which eggs are produced and developed, as well as one of the main producers of estrogen and progesterone in women.

21. Uterus

Organ , formed mainly of muscle and endothelial tissue , is the part of the female body that houses the future baby while it is gestating and provides it with food and oxygen through the blood vessels.

22. Skin

One of the most visible organs externally, the skin is the layer of tissue that covers our body and separates us from external stimulation, being a protective element. In addition, protects us from dehydration and participates in the regulation of body temperature and the excretion (through the sweat glands in it) of toxins. It is an adaptable and flexible organ of great importance for our survival, and yet it is not usually given the same attention as other large organs.

23. Bones

Our skeleton can be considered an organ, whose main function is the protection of the main organs (brain, heart and lungs) and the maintenance of a body structure that allows our basic functionality. In addition, it is linked to the creation of blood cells and autoimmunity, as well as storage and homeostatic system of substances such as calcium and fats (in the yellow marrow).

24. Muscles

Our musculature could also be identified as an organ. Its main function is to allow movement, both voluntary and involuntary (for example, respiratory or digestive), by contracting and dilating.

25. Teeth

These small elements present in the mouth of could also be considered an organ, and may have different functions. The main and most evident one is the chewing and preparation of solid food to be transported through the digestive tract and get the nutrients absorbed. They can also serve as a defensive element against external aggressions, such as that of a predator or a member of our own species. They also participate along with the rest of the orophonatory organs in the communication.

… And many more

As we have said, there are about eighty organs that make up our organism, of which we have only exposed some of the most important ones. The oesophagus, the urethra, glands such as the thyroid… depending on where we put the limits we will find more or less identifiable structures as organs. There is a lot of research to be done.

You’d think we’d know a lot about the body these days. However, there is still a lot of misinformation about how our body acts, limiting the available knowledge about different body functions and processes to multiple more or less accepted theories.

And even today there are still many advances and discoveries being made. For example, relatively recently the existence of what was considered to be another organ was discovered: the mesentery . This organ is part of the digestive tract, being a retraction of the peritoneum that makes the intestines stay in place by joining it to the posterior abdominal wall (although its functions beyond this have yet to be analysed to any great extent). In conclusion, there are many organs and much more research that can be done on the functioning of our body, something that to a large extent we still do not know.