Organ Function Quiz

Estimated Completion Time
2 min
Organ Function Quiz
Image: BananaStock/Thinkstock

About This Quiz

If there's one thing we all know about our bodies, it's that they need healthy organs for us to exist comfortably. Organs are collections of tissues, nerves and blood vessels, each with their own role to perform in the functioning of our biology. When multiple organs work in a similar way, they then form organ systems. But before we go too far, we want to know how much you know about the body's organs.

We all know that the heart pumps blood, but do you know why it does that? The brain is the control center, but do you know just how many things it's in charge of? The stomach receives our food, but do you know what it does with it? We know the kidneys are our filtration system, but do you know what else they do?

If you didn't pay attention in biology class or weren't a pre-med major in college, you'll have to have quite the knowledge of the body to ace this quiz. If you're up to the challenge, who are we to stop you? Go ahead and prove to us that you know all about the human body and its organs in this quiz.

Which organ is responsible for secreting insulin into the bloodstream?
Spleen
Pancreas
Small intestine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pancreas releases insulin into the bloodstream, helping regulate blood sugar levels.

What is the largest organ of the human body?
Liver
Skin
Lungs
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Skin is classified as an organ and is the largest organ of the human body. For an adult, skin can weigh eight pounds and measure 22 square feet.

How many chambers does the human heart use to pump blood?
Two
Four
Six
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The human heart uses four chambers to circulate blood through the body: the left atrium, right atrium, left ventricle and right ventricle.

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Humans can live without a spleen.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While the spleen does function to filter blood and manage the immune system, humans can live without it. Other organs (e.g., the liver) take on the functions of a spleen when it is removed.

Which human organ is responsible for production of eggs?
Fallopian tube
Uterus
Ovary
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Ovaries are almond-size organs in the female pelvic cavity that produce eggs.

Which organ stores bile until it is needed for digestion?
Liver
Gall bladder
Appendix
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The gall bladder is located under the right lobe of the liver and stores bile for digestion. Bile is a yellow-green fluid that is excreted into the small intestine to break down fatty foods.

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Which organ filters blood as it circulates through the human body?
Lungs
Liver
Pancreas
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to filtering blood, the liver produces important proteins like albumin.

Which sensory organ contains three semicircular canals that assist with balance by detecting movement of the head?
Ears
Eyes
Nose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The semicircular canals are located in the inner ear and contain hair cells that are activated by movement of fluid within each canal.

Which human organ system includes ganglia and neurons?
Endocrine
Respiratory
Nervous
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The nervous system includes ganglia and neurons and responds to internal as well as external stimuli.

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Which organ controls the "fight or flight" response?
Thyroid
Gall bladder
Adrenal gland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The adrenal glands produce hormones that trigger the "fight or flight" response. These hormones (adrenaline and noradrenaline) increase blood pressure, heart rate and oxygen intake and prepare the body for action.

Which organ is approximately 73 percent water and weighs about three pounds?
Brain
Stomach
Heart
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The human brain weighs an average of three pounds and is approximately 73 percent water. Attention, memory and other cognitive skills are affected by as little as a 2 percent drop in hydration.

Which muscular female organ can stretch to the size of a watermelon?
Uterus
Stomach
Bladder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The uterus is a muscular female organ located in the pelvis. It has a pre-pregnancy size of a pear, but during pregnancy can stretch to the size of a watermelon.

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The trachea, bronchi and alveoli are parts of which human organ system?
Integumentary
Respiratory
Nervous
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The trachea, bronchi and alveoli are all parts of the respiratory system.

The organ that regulates metabolism and maturation of the human body is called what?
Adrenal gland
Thyroid gland
Prostate gland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The thyroid gland regulates metabolism and maturation of the human body.

How many layers does the integumentary system have?
One
Three
Five
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The integumentary system, commonly known as skin, is made up of three main layers: the epidermis, dermis and the hypodermis.

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Kidneys are part of which organ system?
Reproductive
Biliary
Urinary
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

As part of the urinary system, kidneys filter blood and produce urine.

Which sensory system contains an organ called the cochlea?
Ear
Eye
Nose
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The cochlea is an organ that translates sound into nerve impulses which are sent to the brain. Humans have two cochlea. They are snail-shaped caverns in the mastoid bones behind each ear.

Which human organ is responsible for extracting moisture from and then excreting residual food particles?
Large intestine
Small intestine
Stomach
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The large intestine extracts moisture from food particles and excretes the unusable waste. The portion of the large intestine between the cecum and the rectum is called the colon.

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The human small intestine is the longest part of the digestive system.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

At a length of approximately 20 feet, the small intestine is indeed the longest part of the digestive system.

Which organ stores liquid waste in the human body?
Bladder
Kidneys
Gall bladder
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The bladder is a muscular organ that stores urine before expelling it through the urethra.

The organ that breaks down old as well as damaged red blood cells is called?
Kidneys
Pancreas
Spleen
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The spleen filters out old as well as damaged red blood cells. The spleen can recycle useful components, such as iron, when the old cells are broken down.

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Rod and cone cells are a crucial part of which sensory organ?
Ears
Nose
Eyes
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rod and cone cells are the two photoreceptors of the human eye. Rods are most sensitive to light and dark transitions as well as movement. Cones are sensitive to color.

What is the smallest organ in the human body?
Spleen
Appendix
Pineal gland
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The pineal gland is the smallest human organ, and it is located near the center of the brain. The pineal gland produces a hormone called melatonin, which affects how humans sleep.

What is the term for being born with only one kidney?
Pyelonephritis
Kidney dysplasia
Unilateral renal agenesis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Unilateral renal agenesis is a condition in which a person is missing a kidney at birth. Most people experience no symptoms or complications.

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Which organ system sends chemical messages through the bloodstream to target specific organs?
Endocrine
Integumentary
Circulatory
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The endocrine system is made up of glands and secretes hormones to regulate a number of body functions.

Which lung is larger?
Left
Right
Neither
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The right lung is larger and heavier than the left. The left lung is smaller because of the position of the heart.

Which bean-shaped organ is located between the esophagus and small intestine?
Liver
Pancreas
Stomach
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The stomach is a bean-shaped organ about the size of a fist. Food is swallowed through the esophagus and churned by the stomach before passing on to the small intestine.

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A group of tissues that perform a specific function or set of functions is called?
Organ
Skeleton
System
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

An organ is defined as a group of tissues that perform a specific function or group of functions.

The duodenum, jejunum and ileum are parts of which organ?
Small intestine
Stomach
Large intestine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

The small intestine contains the duodenum, jejunum and ileum. The primary functions of the small intestine are to digest food and absorb nutrients.

Oxygen and carbon monoxide gas exchange takes place in the lungs.
True
False
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Carbon dioxide (not monoxide) and oxygen are exchanged in the lungs. Oxygen is inhaled into the lungs and carbon dioxide is exhaled.

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You Got:
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