Question

2. On a piece of paper, write the following systems:

Integumentary

Cardiovascular

Immune

Digestive

Respiratory

Excretory

Nervous

Sensory

Musculoskeletal

Endocrine

Reproductive

Then, tell me first, does this system derive from ectoderm, mesoderm or endoderm, THEN, tell me what the effect(s) are of aging on that system.

For example: Integumentary derives from ectoderm and the effects of aging are that the skin thins and loses collagen resulting in lines and sagging skin.

Answer 1

Name of system	Derived from -	Effects of aging
Integumentary	Ectoderm	The collagen content decreases, moisture holding capacity decreases, leads to sagging and wrinkles.
Cardiovascular	Mesoderm	Heart walls and muscles become weak, more energy required to pump blood through the system, since vessels are not flexible
Immune	Endoderm and extra-embryonic mesoderm	T-cells fail to recognize antigens, not enough cytokines are produced, leads to recurrent colds and cough, accumulation of phlegm
Digestive	Endoderm	Villi of intestines decrease, enzymes required for digestion are not regularly produced
Respiratory	Endoderm	ventilation, gas exchange, compliance of lungs decrease
Excretory	Mesoderm	The ureters do not change much with age, but the bladder and the urethra change. The maximum volume of urine that the bladder can hold decreases.
Nervous	Ectoderm	Loss of nerve cells, atrophy, message passage rate decreases.
Sensory	Ectoderm	vision, hearing, smell, taste, and peripheral sensation; all of them generally decline.
Musculo-skeletal	Mesoderm	density of bones begins to diminish, more prone to fractures and injuries
Endocrine	Ectoderm and endoderm	Levels of most hormones decrease. Receptors lose sensitivity.
Reproductive	Mesoderm	Atrophy and thinning of genitals, lower levels of testosterone in males.