Do You Know the Function of These Organs?

SCIENCE

By: Khadija L.

7 Min Quiz

Image: Shutterstock

About This Quiz

Multicellular organisms, including humans, have a high level of classification that begins with the basic cells. When combined, they go on to make up tissue; tissues then make up organs, organs make up organ systems and together, these systems make up an organism.

An organ is defined as "a collection of tissue that group together to perform a single function." The body is said to be made up of 80 organs, all of which carry out specific functions necessary for life.

Some of the most well-known organs include the heart, the lungs, the liver, the brain, and the kidneys. These vital organs are essential for survival and without them, death is inevitable. The body also houses the stomach, the spleen, the bladder, the thyroid gland, muscles, bones, and the skin, which happens to be the largest organ of all.

How well do you know the different functions of the organs in your own body? If you were given images of these organs, would you be able to identify their function and/or locations? If you would like to find out just how much you know about what goes on inside of you, then you can do so by taking this quiz!

What does this organ do?

The appendix is a thin four-inch tube located at the junction of the small intestine and the large intestine. The function of this organ is unknown, but it has been said to act as a storehouse for good bacteria. A common problem that occurs here is appendicitis, in which it becomes inflamed and can cause symptoms, including nausea and vomiting.

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What is the function of this organ?

The prostate is a walnut-sized organ located between the bladder and the penis and in front of the rectum (meaning it is only found in males). The prostate is responsible for secreting fluids that nourish and protect sperm and together constitute semen. Prostate cancer is the most common form of cancer in men, but it is also one of the most treatable.

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This organ is known for ________.

The skin is the largest organ in the body, with a surface area of 12 to 16 square feet. It is the body’s main protection barrier and comprises three layers, the epidermis, dermis, and hypodermis. The skin’s color depends on the concentration of cells called melanocytes that produce a pigment called melanin.

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What is the main function of this organ?

The tonsils are two soft tissue masses that can be found at the back of the throat. These organs are a part of the lymphatic system and are known to help fight infections. During an infection, they swell up, and while many people have had them removed, their immune response has seemed to remain the same.

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What does this organ do?

The ears are a pair of organs used for hearing and balance. They consist of three portions, the external, middle and inner, each of which has specific functions in the hearing process. As we age, many of us will lose our hearing, either partially or totally, whether due to disease or physiological causes.

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What is the function of this organ?

The heart is a muscular organ located behind the breastbone, toward the left side. It is responsible for pumping the blood through a series of arteries and veins to make its way around the body. It is the central component of the cardiovascular system, one of the reasons why heart health is so important.

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What is this organ known for?

The thymus gland is a specialized lymphoid organ located behind the sternum and above the heart. It is a part of the immune system and is responsible for the training and development of T-cells, which play a central role in cell-mediated immunity. As a person ages, the thymus shrinks in size and is replaced by adipose (fatty) tissue.

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What is this organ's main purpose?

The bladder is a sac located in the pelvis, behind the pubic bone. The bladder can expand from the size of a pear to being able to hold as much as 20 ounces of urine. The urine that is formed in the kidneys is stored there until someone urinates.

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What does this organ do?

The nose is an organ located in the center of the face. It consists of specialized cells responsible for the sense of smell. The nose is also responsible for warming and humidifying the inhaled air before it gets to the lungs. The hair inside the nose prevents large particles from getting into the lungs.

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What is the function of this organ?

The parathyroid glands are four small endocrine organs located in the back of the thyroid gland. They are responsible for producing the parathyroid hormone, which is in part responsible for regulating the amount of calcium in the blood and the bones.

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This organ is known for ________.

The kidneys are a pair of bean-shaped organs located below the ribs, on either side of the spine. They are responsible for filtering the blood, removing waste, controlling fluid balance, and maintaining the body’s electrolyte levels. They also responsible for creating urine, which is then stored in the bladder.

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This organ's main purpose is to...

The fallopian tubes, sometimes called the uterine tubes, are a pair of long ducts that lead to the ovaries from the uterus. They are responsible for allowing egg cells from the ovaries to pass into the uterus where they can be fertilized during sexual intercourse.

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What does this organ do?

There are 206 bones in the adult human body. They make up the skeletal system, which is the framework of the body. The bones perform six major functions, some of which include support, movement, protection, production of blood cells, and endocrine regulation.

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What is the function of this organ?

The urethra is a tube-like structure that connects the bladder to the urinary meatus, which allows for removal of urine from the body. In women, the urethra is shorter and transports urine only, while in males, it travels through the penis and also carries sperm as well as urine.

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What is this organ known for?

The large intestine is a long tube that runs from the stomach to the anus and is responsible for absorbing nutrients and water. The large intestine is approximately 5 feet long and connects the small intestine to the rectum where it absorbs water from waste, thereby creating stool.

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What is this organ's main purpose?

The eyes are the main organ in the visual system and are located in the eye sockets in the skull. They can receive and process visual detail by detecting light and converting it into electro-chemical impulses, which are then sent to the brain for interpretation.

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What does this organ do?

The liver is a large organ located on the right side of the abdomen, just below the diaphragm. It is divided into two sections or lobes, and its main job is to filter blood coming from the digestive tract before it passes to the rest of the body. It is also responsible for drug metabolism, bile secretion, and synthesis of proteins.

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What is the function of this organ?

The pancreas is a glandular organ located behind the stomach, in the abdominal cavity. It is a part of both the digestive and endocrine systems and is known for producing several hormones, including insulin, glucagon, pancreatic polypeptide, and somatostatin, as well as secreting pancreatic juices which help to neutralize chyme from the stomach.

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This organ is known for ________.

The pineal gland, sometimes called the conarium, is a small endocrine gland located in the brain. It produces a hormone called melatonin, which is responsible for sleep patterns in the circadian and seasonal cycles. The production of this hormone is stimulated by darkness and is inhibited by light.

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This organ's main purpose is to...

The spleen is an organ located in the left upper quadrant in the abdomen between the stomach and the posterior rib cage. It has many functions, some of which include filtering the blood, getting rid of old and damaged blood cells as part of the lymphatic system, as well as helping to fight infections as part of the immune system.

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What does this organ do?

The diaphragm, sometimes called the thoracic diaphragm, is a sheet of dome-shaped muscle located below the lung and above the liver. It is the main muscle involved in respiration, and it also serves as the landmark that separates the abdomen from the thorax. It moves up and down as a person breathes and it also has openings for the esophagus, descending aorta, and inferior vena cava to pass.

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What is the function of this organ?

The ureters are a pair of tube-like structures whose function is to transport urine from the kidneys to the bladder. Just over 10 inches long, they are made of smooth muscle and lined by urothelium which helps in peristalsis (contraction and relaxation of muscles propagating movement).

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This organ is ________.

The thyroid is an endocrine organ located in the neck, just in front of the windpipe. It is responsible for secreting two thyroid hormone (T3 and T4) that play a major role in metabolism, the growth of long bones, neural maturation and protein synthesis to some extent.

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This organ's main purpose is to...

The brain, which is located in the skull, is an organ made up of over 100 billion nerves that communicate through the synapse. It is the most complex organ in the body and is divided into several different lobes (including the frontal, parietal, temporal and occipital), each of which being responsible for specific bodily functions.

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What does this organ do?

The esophagus is an 8-inch muscular tube that connects the pharynx to the stomach and is located behind the trachea and heart but in front of the spine. It serves as a passageway for food to enter the stomach and is known for having two sphincters which allow for the control of food as it travels down.

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What is the function of this organ?

The anus is an opening in the digestive tract and the last portion of the digestive system. It is made up of different types of muscle, one of which is a band of circular muscle called the external sphincter which allows a person to control the time in which they defecate.

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What is this organ known for?

The larynx, sometimes called the voice box, is an organ located at the top of the neck, just below where the pharynx divides into the trachea and esophagus. It houses the vocal cords and allows for the ​production of sound as well as protecting food from being aspirated.

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What is the main purpose of this organ?

The mouth, sometimes referred to as the oral cavity, is the opening in which food is ingested and sounds are emitted. It is the first part of the digestive system and is bonded externally by the lips and continues onto the esophagus.

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What does this organ do?

The stomach is a muscular organ located in the upper abdominal region connecting the esophagus to the small intestines. The stomach secretes acid and enzymes that help in the digestion of certain types of food. It also contracts, which enhances digestion.

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What is the function of this organ?

The lungs are a pair of organs located on either side of the thorax. Air is transported from the bronchi into the lungs where gas exchange occurs. Oxygen from the air is absorbed into the blood, whereas carbon dioxide and other waste products are expelled and exhaled.

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This organ is known for ________.

The small intestine is a part of the digestive system that connects the stomach to the large intestines. The 20-foot-long tract is divided into three regions (the duodenum, jejunum and ileum), each of which absorbs different nutrients through its finger-like villi.

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What is the main purpose of this organ?

The adrenal glands are a pair of endocrine organs located above the kidneys. They are known for producing a number of hormones, some of which include cortisol, aldosterone, DHEA, and androgenic steroids. Together, they all play a role in maintaining homeostasis and maturation.

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What does this organ do?

The bronchus (plural: bronchi) is a passageway that air takes and is located between the trachea and the lungs. It consists of a series of divisions from the main to the sixth order until it is no longer supported by cartilage and then becomes known as the bronchioles. It is only used as a passageway, and no gas exchange occurs here.

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What is the function of this organ?

The tongue is a muscular organ made up of pink tissue known as mucosa. Located inside the mouth, the tongue is covered in papillae which in turn are covered with thousands of taste buds. It plays a vital role in chewing, swallowing and moving food around the mouth. It also plays a role in speech.

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What is this organ known for?

The gallbladder is a small sac-like organ located on the right side of the body, just beneath the liver. It is responsible for storing and concentrating bile, created in the liver before it is released into the small intestine where it helps in the digestion of lipids (fats). In some people, gallstones are formed in the gallbladder, causing severe pain and in some cases, infection.

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This organ's main purpose is to...

The vagina is a muscular canal that connects the uterus to the outside of the body. During sexual intercourse, it receives the male’s sexual organ, and it also serves as the conduit for the menstrual cycle and the passageway that babies take during childbirth.

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What does this organ do?

The spinal cord is a long and tubular bundle of nervous tissue responsible for relaying messages to and from the brain. Along with the brain, it is the second component of the central nervous system and begins at the occipital bone to the second lumbar vertebrae.

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What is the function of this organ?

The trachea, sometimes called the windpipe, is a tube that extends from the larynx to the bronchi and by extension, the lungs. It serves as a passageway for air and is responsible for warming the air before it goes into the lungs. It also prevents the accumulation of foreign particles by tapping it in cilia.

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This organ is known for ________.

The pituitary gland is an organ that, although small in size, is extremely important as it produces many hormones. These hormones are responsible for regulating growth, reproduction, blood pressure, pregnancy and childbirth, temperature, and metabolism.

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What is this organ's main purpose?

The salivary glands are exocrine glands that produce saliva. There are three main glands (sublingual, submandibular and parotid) that produce different types of saliva. The saliva contains enzymes that help to break down food particles before being digested.

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