Organ facts for kids

The word organ can mean a few different things! It's a word with more than one meaning, depending on how you use it. When you hear "organ," it could be talking about a part of your body that does a special job, or it could be a big musical instrument that makes sound using air.

What is an Organ in Your Body?

An organ in your body is a group of different tissues that work together to do a specific job. Think of it like a team of cells and tissues all cooperating to keep you healthy and alive. Your body has many organs, and each one plays a vital role.

How Do Body Organs Work?

Each organ has a special function. For example, your heart is an organ that pumps blood all over your body, delivering oxygen and nutrients. Your lungs are organs that help you breathe, taking in oxygen and letting out carbon dioxide. Your stomach is an organ that helps digest the food you eat.

Examples of Important Organs

• The brain is like your body's control center. It helps you think, learn, feel, and control your movements.
• The liver is a large organ that cleans your blood, helps with digestion, and stores energy.
• The kidneys are a pair of organs that filter waste from your blood and make urine.
• The skin is actually the largest organ of your body! It protects you from germs and helps control your body temperature.

These organs don't work alone. They are part of larger systems, like the digestive system or the circulatory system, where many organs work together.

What is an Organ in Music?

An organ can also be a large musical instrument. It's a type of keyboard instrument that makes sound by pushing air through pipes. Organs are often found in churches, concert halls, and sometimes even in homes.

How Does a Musical Organ Make Sound?

Musical organs have one or more keyboards, called manuals, which are played with the hands. They also have a pedalboard, which is played with the feet. When a player presses a key or a pedal, it opens a valve that allows air to flow into a specific pipe. The size and shape of the pipe determine the sound it makes. Organs can produce a huge range of sounds, from soft and gentle to loud and powerful.

Types of Musical Organs

There are different kinds of musical organs:

• Pipe organs are the most traditional type. They use actual pipes to create sound and can be very large, sometimes filling an entire room.
• Electronic organs use electronic circuits to create sounds that imitate pipe organs or other instruments. They are usually smaller and more portable than pipe organs.
• Hammond organs are a famous type of electronic organ, known for their unique, swirling sound often heard in jazz, blues, and rock music.

Musical organs have been around for a very long time. The earliest versions date back to ancient Greece, but the modern pipe organ developed over many centuries, especially in Europe. They are often used to play classical music, hymns, and even popular songs.

Images for kids

• Human anatomy organs.jpg

  A diagram showing some of the main organs inside the human body.

• Pipe organ in church.jpg

  A large pipe organ inside a church.