The Integumentary system is essential for protecting the inner parts of human bodies. This system protects the organs, muscles, and bones from sharp tools (or accidents in general) and UV rays.

The Integumentary system consists of 3 layers, the epidermis, the dermis, and the hypodermis. The epidermis doesn’t contain any blood vessels. The dermis contains nerves and blood vessels. The hypodermis is a flexible layer where both connective tissue and fat are stored.

The accessories of the Integumentary System such as skin, hair, and nails make up the outermost layer of all humans. All

three are made of KERATIN ,

which forms the structure that

prevents stress and damage.

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The layers of the Integumentary System also have connective tissues made of ELASTIN, a stretchy protein, and COLLAGEN, a tough protein.

By protecting the internal part of our body, such as organs, bones, blood vessels, and muscles the integumentary system contributes by maintaining our interior safe from external threats. The system also helps regulate our body temperature, by moving our body hair.

Kim, Joyce Y., and Harry Dao. “Physiology, Integument.” PubMed, StatPearls Publishing, 2021, www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK554386/#:~:text=The%20integumentary%20system%20is%20the.

Integumentary System.pdf. “Integumentary System.pdf.” Google Docs, 2019, drive.google.com/file/d/1I1NQ6xpx2-aSZbXBoz-iJMZ1gQ1W2ISc/view. Accessed 28 Aug. 2024.

The skeletal system has the primary function of giving structure to our body. Therefore the skeletal system provides the body with everything that it needs to move and support movement:

• It supports the body and gives it shape.

• It protects the internal organs.

• It stores calcium and other minerals.

The bone is made of four main parts: the periosteum, the compact bone, the spongy bone, and the bone marrow. Bones that need to move are connected via ligaments, joints, cartilage and tendons.

New bone tissue is created by special cells called OSTEOBLASTS , which use elements such as calcium to construct the new bone. If the bones break, OSTEOCLASTS break down the damaged compact bone, creating new surfaces for bone to grow and hardeninto. The cells in the skeletal system contribute significantly to its functions, such as support, movement, protection, and mineral storage.

The skeletal system contributes to homeostasis by regulating the level of calcium and other minerals in the blood by storing or releasing them from bones as needed.

There are 3 types of muscular tissues: skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, and cardiac muscle. Each of these tissues has different functions and can be found in different parts of the human body.

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The skeletal muscles help the body by moving the bones. The smooth muscles make up the stomach, lungs,

small and large intestines, bladder, uterus, and blood vessels. The cardiac muscle can only be found in the heart and is responsible for cardiac muscle cells contracting in a highly coordinated manner with the neighboring cells, working to efficiently keep the heart

pumping and blood circulating throughout

the body.

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The muscular system contributes to homeostasis by regulating our movement, which includes generating heat, moving internal body parts, and moving our bodies through space. For example, the smooth muscles helps involuntarily in nutrition collection. Thus, if they didn't function properly our body wouldn't be nourished correctly. -> There are other involuntary actions our smooth muscles perform in the heart and lungs, this is just an example

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The nervous system is divided into the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. The nervous system only includes the brain and spinal cord, meanwhile the peripheral nervous system includes everything else in our bod . The peripheral nervous system is made up of nerves that branch off from the spinal cord and extend to all parts of the body.

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The central nervous system's primary function includes receiving, processing, and responding to sensory information -> it "sees" images. Meanwhile, the peripheral nervous system feeds information into your brain from most of your senses. It carries signals that allow you to move your muscles. (Thau,2022)

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"Nervous tissue is composed of two types of cells, neurons and glial cells. Neurons are responsible for the computation and communication that the nervous system provides. They are electrically active and release chemical signals to communicate between each other and with target cells. " (n.a,n.d)That's why neurons have a star shape and have "legs" comming out, so that they can communicate with each other.

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"The nervous system maintains homeostasis by rapidly controlling body functions. The nervous system communicates with various other systems (e.g., circulatory, digestive) through use of specialized cells or neurons that receive and transmit electrical signals throughout the body." (n.a,n.d)

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"Many glands make up the endocrine system. The hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and pineal gland are in your brain. The thyroid and parathyroid glands are in your neck. The thymus is between your lungs, the adrenals are on top of your kidneys, and the pancreas is behind your stomach." (Brody, n.d)

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"The endocrine system, made up of all the body's different hormones, regulates all biological processes in the body from conception through adulthood and into old age, including the development of the brain and nervous system, the growth and function of the reproductive system, as well as the metabolism and blood sugar levels. The female ovaries, male testes, and pituitary, thyroid, and adrenal glands are major constituents of the endocrine system." (EPA, n.d)

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"The Endocrine system maintains homeostasis by producing hormones. These hormones are sent to different glands and organs which in turn make changes that help the body remain in balance." (n.a,n.d)

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Skeletal muscle cells are long, cylindrical, multi-nucleated, and striated. Meanwhile, the cardiac muscle cells are short narrow, and fairly rectangular. The smooth muscle cells are elastic, not striated, spindle-shaped, and contain a single central nucleus. The cells in the muscular system are all designed to help with their function, as they need to be able to stretch/contract and relax.

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The ability of movement of the bones and joints has a great impact on ballet dancers. 

• Support: Ballet involves weight-supporting exercises, and demands that they exercise this support against gravity. 

• Joints: Bending and straightening joints are essential to support and landing and cushion jumps. The hips are also necessary for turnouts and must be exercised constantly since ballet requires these movements—flexibility on the ankles.

• Feet: Some ballet dancers who start early have deformed feet because of all their strength. The articulation is essential for point work and supports all the weight of our body. 

Arms: shoulders have to have good articulation for port de bras and resistance. Those make the movements look graceful.

Muscular System:

A ballerina's muscles are highly developed due to the intense demands and exercises that Ballet requires, including: 

• Leg muscles: Their quadriceps, glutes, hamstrings, and calves are all intensively worked out. 

•  Flexibility: Ballerinas often have great flexibility, especially in the hips, hamstrings, and lower back. This flexibility is essential for achieving the wide range of motions and high extensions seen in ballet.

• Endurance and Strength: The combination of strength and endurance is crucial. Ballerinas often train to enhance both, as performances and rehearsals require sustained effort and the ability to execute complex sequences of movements repeatedly.

Arms and Shoulders: Although not as used as the legs, strong and flexible arms and shoulders are important for graceful arm movements and maintaining balance during turns and lifts.

*All the information was taken from our research document

The main function of the circulatory system is to move nutrients throughout the human body. The main organ of the system is the heart, as it pumps blood throughout the body via veins and arteries. Our veins carry the deoxygenated blood cells, meanwhile, the oxygenated blood flows through the arteries.

As previously said, the main organ of the circulatory system is the heart, as it pumps blood throughout our body. For this blood to be transported we have veins and arteries. Veins carry deoxygenated blood cells and arteries carry oxygenated blood. The arteries carry blood away from the heart; the veins carry it back to the heart.

The circulatory system contributes to homeostasis by controlling and maintaining the oxygen and carbon dioxide levels in our body. Having this balance contributes to our energy.

Our heart pumps blood, and it's covered by cardiac muscles, which allow the heart to stretch and relax. Within our blood, we have red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. Our platelets are our body repairers; they form clots or clumps to prevent further blood flow in case of injuries. Our red blood cells help the circulatory system function by carrying oxygen using hemoglobin, thus delivering oxygen to other cells.

The main function of the respiratory system is cellular respiration. Cellular respiration is a gas exchange; it breathes in the gas in the atmosphere (oxygen) and breathes out carbon dioxide and water, -> which are described as waste.

The respiratory system contributes to homeostasis by maintaining the levels of oxygen and carbon dioxide within our body. We need these two gases because they help with our energy balance.

We can connect the circulatory system to the muscular system by the fact that the main organ of the circulatory system, the heart, is made of cardiac muscles. The heart is the only organ in our body that's made of cardiac muscle. Also, our arteries and veins are made of smooth muscle, another type of muscle within the muscular system.

Connection 2: Skeletal System

We can connect the circulatory system to the skeletal by the fact that the production of blood happens within our bones. Our blood is produced in the bone marrow, and the deepest layer of our bones. As we know the circulatory system pumps blood throughout our entire body.

As mentioned previously lungs are covered by smooth muscles, which allows them to stretch and relax -> allowing lungs to inhale and exhale. Within our lungs, we have cells with cilia, which help with the spread of mucus around the organ. Airways -> nose, trachea, larynx, pharynx.

The main organ of the respiratory system is the lungs, which are covered in smooth muscles. In respiration, oxygen from incoming air enters the blood, and carbon dioxide, waste gas, leaves the blood. -> gas exchange. Within our lungs, we have cells with cilia, which help with the spread of mucus around the organ. Airways -> nose, trachea, larynx, pharynx.

The digestive system takes in food,
breaks it down, and absorbs nutrients into the body. There are two types of digestion: mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. The mechanical digestion is when the body physically increases the surface area of food by breaking it down or when the stomach churns and compresses the food, improving chemical digestion (enzymatic) efficiency. Meanwhile chemical digestion consists of our body breaking down food using enzymes, a protein that produces chemical reactions.

Our digestive tract is the group of all the organs where food goes trough, it includes: our mouth, the esophagus, the stomach, the large intestine, and the small intestine. However, there are also accessory organs in the digestive system: our pancreas, the liver, and the gallbladder.

In the digestive tract organs are made of smooth muscle, as they allow the muscles to stretch and contract. The smooth muscles also help break down food and move it along the tract. Thus, helps in the process of digestion. Also, the small intestine contains an epithelium tissue specialized on villi and microvilli increase intestinal absorptive surface providing exceptionally efficient absorption of dietary nutrients from the lumen. The intestinal villi are small finger like projections that extend into the lumen of the small intestine. Each villus has many microvilli projecting from its epithelial surface, collectively forming a brush border.Villi are specialized for absorption and have very thin walls which are single cell thick. So they help in the absorption of nutrients during the digestion.

The function of the excretory system is to remove waste from the body in order to maintain homeostasis. The excretory system includes skin, lungs, large intestines, and kidneys. The body excretes
metabolic waste, such as excess water,
carbon dioxide, and nitrogen compounds.

As previously mentioned, the excretory system includes our skin, lungs, large intestine, and kidneys. he main excretory function of the large intestine is to eliminate solid waste that remains after food is digested and water is extracted from the indigestible matter. The skin plays a role in excretion through the production of sweat by sweat glands. Sweating eliminates excess water and salts, as well as a small amount of urea, a byproduct of protein catabolism. The lungs are responsible for the excretion of gaseous wastes, primarily carbon dioxide from cellular respiration in cells throughout the body.

The excretory system helps maintain homeostasis because it removes toxins from the body and keeps concentrations of nutrients, minerals, and water stable.

One of the organs that are part of the excretory systems are the kidneys, which are covered in smooth muscle as when the filtration process is happening our kidneys need to move -> the movement can only be conceded with smooth muscles.

The function of the immune system is to fight and protect our body from any infection or disease that enters our body. When pathogens enter our body they need to leave as soon as possible. that's why our immune performs an action refered to as immune response, which detects the presence of pathogens and reacts to them.

The structure of the immune system includes what is called the lymphatic system, a network of tiny vessels that allow immune cells to travel between tissues and the bloodstream. The lymphatic system contains lymphocytes (white blood cells), which are carried in a milky fluid called lymph. The white blood cells help our body fight infections and other diseases.

"The immune system helps maintain homeostasis by removing pathogens from our body, which would otherwise cause diseases in the body. Thus, bringing the human body to an unbalanced state."

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As mentioned previously white blood cells play a huge part in the function and structure of the immune system. To fulfill the function of defending our body the immune system counts on white blood cells, which are specialized to defend our body from micro organisms.

We can connect the Integumentary System with the Immune System, as when our skin suffers a wound (cut, scratch) the immune system is alerted to fight agains the possible infections that can enter our body trough this wound. It deploys white blood cells to the injury site, thus starting the process of healing.

Connection 2: Skeletal System

We can connect the Integumentary System with the Skeletal System via the protection in which our skin provides our bones. Our skin has many layers as a way to protect our bones from external factors, meaning it acts as a barrier.

We can connect the Skeletal System with the Muscular System by looking into the structure of our body. Our body is structured by bones and muscles, we wouldn’t be able to perform movement if we only had bones as our muscles connect our bones through tendons. Thus, when muscles contract, they pull on bones, allowing our body to perform movements.

Connection 2: Circulatory System

We can connect the Skeletal System with the Circulatory System as blood cells are generated in the bone marrow, this includes red blood cells, white blood cells, and platelets. As we know (some) blood cells carry oxygen and nutrients around our body via the circulatory system.

We can connect the Muscular System with the Skeletal System by looking into the structure of our body. Our body is structured by bones and muscles, we wouldn’t be able to perform movement if we only had bones as our muscles connect our bones through tendons. Thus, when muscles contract, they pull on bones, allowing our body to perform movements.

Connection 2: Respiratory System

We can connect the Muscular System with the Respiratory System by looking at inhalation and exhalation. Our lungs are covered in smooth muscles, which allow the organ to expand and contract when performing the gas exchange -> requires inhaling and exhaling. 

We can connect the Nervous System with the Immune System because the nervous system communicates with the immune system through neurotransmitters and hormones. The brain can influence immune responses by releasing stress hormones like cortisol, which can suppress  immune activity.

Connection 2: Digestive System

We can connect the Nervous System with the Circulatory System because the autonomic nervous system controls the heart rate and dilation of blood vessels. The sympathetic nervous system increases the heart rate and constricts blood vessels during stress or exercise, while the parasympathetic nervous system slows the heart rate and promotes relaxation.

We can connect the Endocrine System with the Circulatory System as the endocrine system releases hormones directly onto the blood stream, the circulatory system them transport these hormones throughout the body to reach organs and tissues.

Connection 2: Digestive System

We can connect the Endocrine System to the Digestive System by the hormones (insulin, glucagon) released by the endocrine system that helps regulates digestion. These hormones control blood sugar levels, directing how the body stores and uses energy from food.

We can connect the Respiratory System with the Muscular System because the lungs are covered by smooth muscles, which allow the organ to stretch and relax when inhaling and exhaling. Thus, allowing the lungs to move and perform the gas exchange.

Connection 2: Circulatory System

We can connect the Respiratory System with the Circulatory System because they work together to remove carbon dioxide and deliver oxygen through out our body. The red blood cells in the bloodstream pick up this oxygen that comes through the lungs and transport it to the rest of the body via the heart.

We can connect the Digestive System with the Circulatory system because the digestive system breaks down food into nutrients such as glucose and amino acids which are then absorbed into our bloodstream through the small intestine. These nutrients are then transported brought our body via the circulatory system

Connection 2: Skeletal System

We can connect the Digestive System with the Skeletal system because the digestive system absorbs minerals like calcium from food, which are essential for bone growth, maintenance, and repair in the skeletal system. Without this absorption of nutrients bones become weak, which can lead to different conditions.

We can connect the Excretory System with the Circulatory System because the kidneys filter blood from the circulatory system to remove waste products like urea, excess salts, and water, forming urine. This filtration helps maintain the body’s fluid and regulate blood pressure.

Connection 2: Respiratory System

We can connect the Excretory System with the Respiratory System because the respiratory system eliminates carbon dioxide, and this waste removal connects to the excretory system, which handles solid and liquid wastes. Together, these systems maintain the body’s pH balance by removing waste products.

We can connect the Immune System with the Circulatory System because immune cells (white blood cells) are transported by the circulatory system throughout the body. White blood cells flow in the bloodstream, constantly looking for signs of infection or foreign invaders (pathogens).

Connection 2: Respiratory System

We can connect the Immune System with the Respiratory System because the mucous membranes lining the respiratory tract, along with cilia, help trap pathogens before they can enter deeper into our body. Immune cells are present in the lungs and work to destroy invaders and signal other immune responses.