Dr. Rob says · “The world is full of threats to our health — germs, chemicals, radiation, hard surfaces and extreme temperatures. The integumentary system is all about protecting our delicate insides from the harsh world we face every day. And yes — the skin is an organ. In fact, it is the largest organ of the entire body.”

Dr. Rob says · “Imagine your body as a small community where every home needs food and supplies. The heart is the supplier, and the blood vessels are the trucks that deliver to every organ. Let’s see how the pump and the pipes keep the whole community alive.”

Dr. Rob says · “Without oxygen, we die. When someone drowns, cells begin to die after only three to five minutes without oxygen. The respiratory system’s job is to pull air into the lungs, move oxygen into the blood, and push carbon dioxide out. Take a deep breath, enjoy it, and learn how that happens — and how diseases can take it away.”

Dr. Rob says · “The brain is the site of higher-level processes. It watches over everything happening inside the body, takes in the outside world through taste, touch, smell, hearing and sight, and coordinates a response. Memory, intelligence, emotions, thoughts — pretty much everything that makes you unique happens in the brain.”

Dr. Rob says · “The senses are how we receive and understand the world outside. Each one plays a big part in how we interact with and perceive our environment — and the central and peripheral nervous systems work together to make it happen. Take care of your sensory organs and your brain so you can enjoy all of life’s joy to the fullest.”

Dr. Rob says · “Bones are the support beams of the body — like the pillars and trusses that hold up a building and handle all of its weight and stress. Draped over the skeleton is the muscular system, and joints and connective tissues bring them together so you can walk, run, jump, throw and lift.”

Dr. Rob says · “The endocrine system is like the body’s communications system. Different parts of the body talk to each other through chemical messengers called hormones that travel in the bloodstream. Hormones make us grow up, watch the sugar and chemicals in our blood, tell us when to sleep, and so much more.”

Dr. Rob says · “The digestive system is unique because, in a way, it is an exterior system. We take in substances from the outside world, process them inside, then send the waste back out the other end. Your digestive system begins and ends at two different openings to the outside world.”

Dr. Rob says · “In the digestive lesson you saw how food becomes solid waste. The excretory system is the body’s way of turning other wastes into a liquid — urine — and getting rid of it. Think of it as the plumbing: the filters, the pipes, the storage tank and the drain.”

Dr. Rob says · “To have a baby, the male and female reproductive systems have to work together. There has to be an egg cell from the female and sperm cells from the male — and in most cases just one sperm joins the egg. From that single cell, a whole new person grows. The female reproductive system is one of the most profound biological systems there is.”

Dr. Rob says · “Our immune system is the barrier that keeps germs out — identifying, improvising, adapting and overcoming any threat from the outside. White blood cells are vigilant: they find, identify and attack infectious organisms. They make antibodies that stick to germs and call other white cells to surround, swallow and destroy the invaders.”

Dr. Rob says · “The three core ways to prevent chronic disease are a healthy diet, fitness, and avoiding substance use. Stay active. Make friends and support those relationships. Keep a regular sleep schedule. Eat less animal fat and sweets and more vegetables and lean protein. And please… don’t smoke tobacco.”