Lesson 1: Vital Organs

Lesson 1: Our Amazing Bodies!

Vital Organs

• Your vital organs are the parts of your body that you cannot live without.

• Today we will talk about your heart, lungs, brain, kidneys, and liver.

Brain

Your brain controls everything that your body does: breathing, moving, digestion, and more!

This is why it is protected by your skull. It is the most important organ in your entire body.

Heart

Your heart pushes blood throughout your entire body. Your blood carries oxygen and nutrients to all parts of your body.

This is why your heart is protected by your sternum (chest bone) and ribs. You need it to survive.

Lungs

Your lungs pull oxygen out of the air that you breathe in and expels carbon dioxide through the air that you breathe out. That oxygen is then sent through your blood by the heart.

This is why your lungs are protected by your rib cage. The ribs wrap right around your lungs. Some people can survive with only one lung, but it is more difficult for them to breathe.

Kidneys

Your kidneys make urine to remove waste and toxins from your body. They act like a filter, removing "bad" things from your blood.

Just like the lungs, your body can survive with only 1 kidney if it has to. However, people with 1 kidney need to be a little bit more careful since their body will remove waste less efficiently.

Liver

Many people are surprised to see how large the liver actually is. The liver works to regulate chemical levels in the blood and also filters waste out of the body (much like the kidneys).

You cannot survive without your liver, but unlike most other organs if your liver is damaged you can survive with only half of it. FUN FACT - the liver is the only human organ that can regenerate!

Multiple Choice

Which of your vital organs controls all other functions in your body (including the ones that you don't even think about)?

• heart

• kidneys

• brain

Multiple Choice

Which of your vital organs is responsible for creating urine to remove waste from your body?

• kidneys

• heart

• lungs

Multiple Choice

Which of your vital organs is able to regenerate itself?

• liver

• brain

• heart

Multiple Choice

Which of your vital organs pulls oxygen out of the air that you breathe?

• kidneys

• lungs

• brain

Multiple Choice

Which of your organs pushes blood throughout your body?

• liver

• lungs

• heart

Multiple Select

How can you keep your vital organs (and all of your other organs) strong and healthy throughout your life?

• Exercise every day!

• Drink lots of water!

• Get a good night's sleep!

• Avoid drugs and alcohol.

• Eat healthy and nutritious foods!

Eat Healthy and Nutritious Foods!

Over the next few days we will talk a lot about eating a healthy, balanced diet!

That is one of the best ways that you can keep all of your organs strong and working well for your body!