Human internal organs

Internal organs are structures located in body cavities that perform vital functions, from exchanging gases and pumping blood to digesting food and filtering out toxins. Their study is called splanchnology and constitutes one of the key branches of anatomy.

Thoracic cavity

There are three main organs in the chest cavity:

The heart occupies the middle mediastinum and is surrounded by the pericardium. This is a hollow muscular organ weighing about 300 g, which pumps more than 7,000 liters of blood per day. Four chambers - two atria and two ventricles - ensure the separation of arterial and venous blood.

Lungs occupy most of the chest cavity. The right lung consists of three lobes, the left - of two (due to displacement by the heart). The gas exchange area in the lungs reaches 70 m² - approximately the size of a one-room apartment.

The thymus gland (thymus) is an organ of the immune system that is most active in childhood. Here T-lymphocytes mature, providing cellular immunity.

Abdomen

The abdominal cavity contains the organs of the digestive and urinary systems:

• Liver is the largest gland in the body (weight ~1500 g). Performs more than 500 functions: neutralization of toxins, synthesis of plasma proteins, production of bile, storage of glycogen.
• Stomach is a hollow muscular organ with a volume of up to 1.5 liters. Produces hydrochloric acid and enzymes to break down proteins.
• Small intestine is the main organ of absorption. Its length reaches 6 meters, and the area of ​​the mucous membrane due to the villi is about 30 m².
• Large intestine - responsible for the absorption of water and the formation of feces.
• Kidneys are paired organs of the urinary system. About 180 liters of primary urine are filtered daily, of which only 1.5–2 liters of final urine is released.
• Spleen is a blood depot and an organ of the immune system located in the left hypochondrium.

Retroperitoneal space

Behind the peritoneum are the kidneys, adrenal glands, pancreas and large vessels (aorta, inferior vena cava). The pancreas is unique in that it performs both exocrine (digestive enzymes) and endocrine (insulin, glucagon) functions.

Why study the location of organs

Knowledge of the topography of internal organs is necessary for the interpretation of pain syndromes. For example, pain in the right hypochondrium may indicate a pathology of the liver or gall bladder, and pain in the epigastrium may indicate problems with the stomach or pancreas. 3D visualization in Humio allows you to see the relative positions of organs in a way that is not possible in flat illustrations.