thumb|300px|Human body featuresThe
human body is the entire structure of a
human organism, and consists of a
head,
neck,
torso, two
arms and two
legs.
By the time the human reaches
adulthood, the body consists of close to 10
trillion cells, the basic unit of
life. These cells are
organised biologically to eventually form the whole body.
Size, type and proportion
The average height of an adult male human (in developed countries) is about 1.7–1.8 m (5'7" to 5'11") tall and the adult female about 1.6–1.7 m (5'3" to 5'7") tall. This size is firstly determined by
genes and secondly by diet.
Body type and
body composition are influenced by postnatal factors such as
diet and
exercise.
Systems
The organ systems of the body include the
musculoskeletal system,
cardiovascular system,
digestive system,
endocrine system,
integumentary system,
urinary system,
lymphatic system,
immune system,
respiratory system,
nervous system and
reproductive system.

Anterior (frontal) view of the opened heart. White arrows indicate normal blood flow.
Cardiovascular system
The cardiovascular system comprises the
heart,
veins,
arteries and
capillaries. The primary function of the heart is to circulate the
blood, and through the blood, oxygen and vital minerals to the tissues and organs that comprise the body.
The left side of the main organ (
left ventricle and
left atrium) is responsible for pumping blood to all parts of the body, while the right side (
right ventricle and
right atrium pumps only to the lungs. The heart itself is divided into three layers called the
endocardium,
myocardium and
epicardium, which vary in thickness and function.
Digestive system
The digestive system provides the body's means of processing
food and transforming
nutrients into
energy.
Integumentary system
The integumentary system is the largest organ system in the human body, and is responsible for protecting the body from most physical and environmental factors. The largest organ in the body, is the
skin. The integument also includes
appendages, primarily the
sweat and
sebaceous glands,
hair,
nails and
erectores pili (tiny muscles at the root of each hair that cause
goosebumps).
Lymphatic system
The main function of the lymphatic system is to extract, transport and metabolise
lymph, the fluid found in between cells. The lymphatic system is very similar to the circulatory system in terms of both its structure its most basic function (to carry a body fluid).
Musculoskeletal system
The human musculoskeletal system consists of the
human skeleton, made by
bones attached to other bones with
joints, and skeletal muscle attached to the skeleton by
tendons.
Bones
An adult human has approximately 206 distinct bones:
Spine and vertebral column (26)
Cranium (8)
Face (14)
Hyoid bone, sternum and ribs (26)
Upper extremities (64)
Lower extremities (62)
Nervous System
The nervous system is a network of specialized cells that communicate information about an organism's surroundings and itself.
Reproductive system
Human reproduction takes place as internal fertilization by sexual intercourse. During this process, the
erect penis of the
male is inserted into the
female's
vagina until the male ejaculates semen, which contains
sperm, into the female's vagina. The sperm then travels through the vagina and cervix into the
uterus or
fallopian tubes for fertilization of the
ovum.
The human
male reproductive system is a series of organs located outside the body and around the
pelvic region of a male that contribute towards the
reproductive process. The primary direct function of the male reproductive system is to provide the male
gamete or
spermatozoa for fertilization of the ovum.
The major reproductive organs of the male can be grouped into three categories. The first category is sperm production and storage. Production takes place in the
testes which are housed in the temperature regulating
scrotum, immature sperm then travel to the
epididymis for development and storage. The second category are the ejaculatory fluid producing glands which include the
seminal vesicles,
prostate, and the
vas deferens. The final category are those used for copulation, and deposition of the
spermatozoa (
sperm) within the female, these include the
penis,
urethra,
vas deferens and
Cowper's gland.
The human
female reproductive system is a series of organs primarily located inside of the body and around the
pelvic region of a
female that contribute towards the
reproductive process. The human female reproductive system contains three main parts: the
vagina, which acts as the receptacle for the male's sperm, the
uterus, which holds the developing fetus, and the
ovaries, which produce the female's ova. The breasts are also an important reproductive organ during the parenting stage of reproduction.
The vagina meets the outside at the
vulva, which also includes the
labia,
clitoris and
urethra; during intercourse this area is lubricated by mucus secreted by the
Bartholin's glands. The vagina is attached to the uterus through the
cervix, while the uterus is attached to the ovaries via the
fallopian tubes. At certain intervals, typically approximately every 28 days, the ovaries release an
ovum, which passes through the fallopian tube into the uterus. The lining of the uterus, called the
endometrium, and unfertilized ova are shed each cycle through a process known as
menstruation.