The human body is made of many organs with different structures and functions. Of them, there are many hollow organs like
- Heart
- Blood vessels (arteries and veins)
- Stomach
- Small intestine
- Large intestine
- Urinary bladder
- Uterus
- Fallopian tubules
These organs are hollow internally without any solid or liquid mass. This hollow structure inside them is necessary to perform important functions.
List of Hollow Organs in the Body
Heart
The heart is the pumping organ of circulation; it is a hollow organ with muscular walls. Anatomically it can be divided into 4 chambers 2 auricles on the upper and 2 ventricles in the lower portion.
These 4 chambers are hollow and allow the fluid blood to flow through them.
On average, the heart pumps 70ml of blood for each stroke from its ventricles. So, combined with auricles, the entire volume inside the heart could be 140ml. But, this can be greatly enhanced during exercise.
Arteries and veins (Blood vessels)
These are the pipe-like structures carrying blood to different parts of the body.
Arteries are the vessels that emerge from the heart. In contrast, the veins are vessels that merge into the heart.
Due to this arrangement, arteries carry oxygenated blood away from the heart, whereas the veins bring deoxygenated blood to the heart.
Stomach
This is a major organ of the digestive system. It has an internal volume of about 1.5 liters in an adult.
It acts as a reserve for food, and here, food is stored temporarily before it is passed on to the small intestine.
This storage is necessary to treat the food with hydrochloric acid and other digestive juices.
Small intestine
This is a long pipe-like structure that is a part of the gastrointestinal tract. It starts from the stomach and ends with the large intestine.
It has 3 parts like duodenum, jejunum, and ileum. The entire length of this structure is around 5 meters in length. It is involved in the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients.
Large intestine
This is a structure which is in continuation with the small intestine. It is relatively larger and is 1.5 meters in length.
It is also a hollow organ and pipe-like, which carries the digestive mass from the small intestine to the outside of the body.
It can be divided into different parts as
- Caecum,
- ascending colon,
- transverse colon,
- descending colon,
- sigmoid colon,
- rectum and anus.
It is involved in the absorption of excess water, minerals, and vitamins. It houses friendly bacteria that help in the formation of vitamin K and Folic acid.
It temporarily contains feces before being expelled out of the anus.
Gall bladder
This is a sac-like structure attached to the posterior of the liver. It opens into the bile duct.
It acts as a reservoir for bile juice.
Urinary bladder
This is a pear-shaped hollow muscular structure present at the end of the urinary system.
The bladder temporarily stores the urine until emptied. It can hold urine up to 600ml.
It is connected to the kidney through the ureters and opens out through the urethra.
Uterus
This is a major hollow organ present only in females. It is a muscular organ located in the pelvic cavity.
It has a dimension of 7.5 cm in length and 5 cm in width with muscular walls.
It accommodates fertilized ova and can grow bigger to accommodate the growing baby. Thus, it nourishes and protects the fetus.
Fallopian tubules
These are the extensions of the uterus. There are a pair of fallopian tubules in the female reproductive system.
The infundibulum collects the ova released by the ovaries. Then these ova travel through these tubules towards the uterus.
Other hollow organs
An organ is one that is made up of a group of tissues. However, not all organs have vital functions. Of these less active organs, some are hollow inside like
a) Trachea and bronchi
b) Esophagus, pharynx
c) Ureters
d) Urethra
e) Cervix
f) Bile duct.
g) Appendix.
Hollow Organs vs. Solid Organs
| Character | Hollow organ | Solid organ |
|---|---|---|
| Size and shape | Mostly lengthy | Size is balanced in terms of length and width |
| Number | Most body organs are hollow | Solid organs are made of a mass of tissues. |
| Ability to contract and dilate | They tend to contract and dilate | Very few of them contract and dilate |
| Multiple layers | Hollow organs are made of layers of tissue | They are less regulated by the nervous system, and if controlled, they are done so by hormones and the nervous system. |
| Nervous control | They are less regulated by the nervous system, and if controlled, they are done so by hormones and the nervous system. | They are less regulated by the nervous system, and of controlled, they are done so by hormones and the nervous system. |
| Function | Mostly involved in the storage and transfer of substances. | Involved in support of the body or metabolism. |
Is the gallbladder a hollow organ?
Yes, the gallbladder is a hollow organ. It stores the bile juice and then releases it into the intestine when needed.
What muscle is found in the walls of hollow organs
In except heart, the walls of all other hollow organs have smooth muscle in them.
The heart wall is made up of cardiac muscle.
What is the primary function of hollow organs?
The primary function of hollow organs is to facilitate fluids or other material movement and storage.