1. Cells to Systems How cells relate to body systems: A short story

2. Are all cells alike? No, while cells have similar parts, they look very different from each other.

3. Why do cells look different? Cells have different shapes because they have different functions. For example, red blood cells carry oxygen to all parts of the body. They are shaped to have a lot of surface area in order to get as much oxygen as possible.

4. Why do cells look different? Neurons (nerve cells) have to carry messages to and from the brain. They have wire-like ends that do that job.

5. Cell to tissue A group of one type of cells working together is tissue. Here is nerve tissue. Here you see a group of nerve cells.

6. Tissue to Organ organMillions of cells in nerve tissue make the amazing organ of the brain.

7. Tissue to organ Another organ is the spinal cord.

8. Organ to system

9. So, every cell in your body works in groups called tissue. The tissue forms organs. Several organs work together in a system that has a particular function or job for the body.

10. And this is only one body system! Skeletal Circulation Respiration Muscular Digestive Excretory Endocrine Reproductive