What are the four basic types of tissue in animals?
What is homeostasis?
BREAKING NEWS! Scientists discover levels of organization
WARNING: THE FOLLOWING WILL MAKE YOU SMARTER!
THE LEVELS OF ORGANIZATION IN COMPLEX organisms, including most plants and animals, consist of cells, tissues, organs, and organ systems. A cell is the basic unit of structure and function in a living thing.
AN ORGANISMS STRUCTURE IS ITS BODY PLAN,or the way its parts are arranged. The function of a part of an organism is its job, or the process it carries out. Most cells are too small to see without a microscope. In most animal cells, a cell membrane forms the outside boundary of the cell. Inside the cell membrane is a large structure called the nucleus. The nucleus is the control center that directs the cell’s activities and contains information that determines the cell’s characteristics. The area between the cell membrane and nucleus is called the cytoplasm.
The levels of organization in complex organisms,
including most plants and animals, consist of cells,
tissues, organs, and organ systems.
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Pictured: Bone cells. Cells are the basic unit of structure and function in living things
Lots of cells together form tissue, in this case bone tissueFinally, many organ systems cooperating form organisms
Left: An 1839 illustration of plant and animal cells
A TISSUE IS A GROUP OF SIMILAR CELLS THAT perform the same function. An animal’s body contains four basic types of tissue: muscle tissue, nerve tissue, connective tissue, and epithelial tissue. Muscle tissue can contract, or shorten, and make parts of the body move. Nerve tissue carries messages back and forth between the brain and every other part of the body. It directs and controls the body. Connective tissue provides support for the body and connects all its parts. Bone, fat, and blood are all connective tissues. Epithelial tissues covers the surface of the body, both inside and outside of the body. The skin and lining of the digestive system are examples of epithelial tissue.
AN ORGAN IS A STRUCTURE THAT IS composed of different kinds of tissue. An organ’s job is usually more complex than that of a tissue. The heart is an organ that pumps blood. An organ system is a group of organs that work together to preform a major function. The heart and blood vessels are parts of an organ system called the circulatory system.
HOMEOSTASIS IS THE BODY’S TENDENCY to keep an internal balance. Homeostasis is the process by which an organism’s internal environment is kept stable in spite of changes in the external environment. For example, if you are well, your body keeps the same internal temperature whether the air around you is chilly or hot.
A STIMULUS IS SOMETHING INSIDE OR OUTSIDEan organism’s body that causes the organism to react in some way. An organism’s response is its action or change in behavior that occurs as the result of a stimulus. Stress is your body’s reaction to threatening, challenging, or disturbing events. Stress upsets homeostasis. A chemical called adrenaline is released into your bloodstream. Adrenaline gives you energy and causes other changes in your body that prepare you to take quick action.
Above left: Nerve tissue from the human spinal cord. The pale central area is the cell nucleus
surrounded by the extended finger-like
dendrites.
Above right: Specimen of a heart that has been sliced
vertically. The heart is a muscular organ
consisting of four chambers; two upper
chambers, the atria, and two lower chambers,
the ventricles.
Human nerve tissue from the spinal cord. Heart.
Running a fever, sweatingand shivering are all wayshumans maintain homeostasis.
1. The illustration below shows the levels of organization in a reptile. The levels are numbered 1-4, with 4 being the highest level of organization and 1 being the lowest level of organization. Match the fo l l ow ing i t ems w i th the numbers that represents the lowest appropriate level of organization in the illustration.
Refer back to the reading passage if
you have any trouble with the
questions.
Understanding the Main Ideas
_____________ 1.
_____________ 2.
_____________ 3.
_____________ 4.
Building Vocabulary
Fill in the blank to complete each statement
5. _______________ is the reaction of the body and mind to threatening, challenging, or disturbing events.
6. _______________ is the tendency of the body to maintain constant internal conditions in spite of changes in the external environment.
7. _______________ tissue makes up organs that are able to contract or shorten.
8. The inside of the digestive system is lined with _______________ tissue.9. The process a body part carries out is its _______________ .10. A(n) _______________ is the basic unit of structure and function in a
living thing.11._______________ tissue provides support for your body and connects all
its parts.12. A(n) _______________ is something inside or outside an organism’s
body that causes the body to react in some way.
a. Tissue
b. an object consisting of several different tissues
c. The smallest unit of the body
d. A group of organs that operate as a system.
Our bodies and minds automaticallyreact to threatening,challenging, or disturbing events.
1. The illustration below shows the levels of organization in a reptile. The levels are numbered 1-4, with 4 being the highest level of organization and 1 being the lowest level of organization. Match the fo l l ow ing i t ems w i th the numbers that represents the lowest appropriate level of organization in the illustration.
Refer back to the reading passage if
you have any trouble with the
questions.
Understanding the Main Ideas
C 1.
A 2.
B 3.
D 4.
Building Vocabulary
Fill in the blank to complete each statement
5. STRESS is the reaction of the body and mind to threatening, challenging, or disturbing events.
6. HOMEOSTASIS is the tendency of the body to maintain constant internal conditions in spite of changes in the external environment.
7. MUSCLE tissue makes up organs that are able to contract or shorten.8. The inside of the digestive system is lined with EPITHELIAL tissue.9. The process a body part carries out is its FUNCTION .10. A(n) CELL is the basic unit of structure and function in a living thing.11. CONNECTIVE TISSUE tissue provides support for your body and
connects all its parts.12. A(n) STIMULUS is something inside or outside an organism’s body that
causes the body to react in some way.
a. Tissue
b. an object consisting of several different tissues
c. The smallest unit of the body
d. A group of organs that operate as a system.
Our bodies and minds automaticallyreact to threatening,challenging, or disturbing events.
ADDITIONAL TEACHING IDEAS, MULTIMEDIA LINKS
1. Below is a class starter or warm-up activity to get students thinking about levels of organization This could also be used as a closer activity to make sure students understands the concept of levels of organization.
2. http://studyjams.scholastic.com/studyjams/jams/science/index.htmStudy jams is a great (and free) resource I use often. While they don’t have any videos specific to homeostasis or levels of organization, they have a number for body systems, which goes hand in hand with this topic.
3. http://www.brainpop.com/health/bodysystems/homeostasis/preview.wemlBrainpop does require an account with a password, but is a great resource. It pays to check back often as they always offer different videos for free.
4. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1iPndNB7mjwYouTube is an endless resource for short educational videos. The link above is to a song by “ParrMr”. There are dozens of other videos to consider, but my experience is that my students love his songs.
5. Other ideas: Have students draw and color a picture indicating levels of organization in an animal or in themselves. Have students give examples or tell stories about a time when they experienced stress. Have students tell stories or give examples when they have experienced homeostasis or have witnessed it in another (like a dog panting).
