Body Parts That Help Plants and Animals Survive

Hi explorer, I am Atlas! Here is a helpful question to keep in your pocket: 'What does this body part DO?' Whenever you feel stuck, ask that question — it always leads you to the answer. Now let's look closely at living things. Every plant and animal has special body parts called structures. Some structures are on the outside of the body, where you could touch them on the surface. We call those external structures — 'external' means on the outside of the body, even if we cannot always see them easily. A plant's leaves are external structures that catch sunlight to make food. A plant's roots grow down into the soil, but they are still on the outside surface of the plant body — they are external structures that soak up water and hold the plant steady. A rabbit's long ears are external structures that help it hear danger coming. Other structures are on the inside of the body. We call those internal structures. Your heart is an internal structure inside your body that pumps blood so every part gets the oxygen it needs. A plant has tiny tubes inside its stem that carry water up from the roots to the leaves — those are internal structures too. Animals have a stomach inside their body, an internal structure that breaks down food so the body can use it for energy. Here is the big idea: every structure, whether external or internal, helps a living thing survive, grow, and meet its needs — things like getting food, water, and air, and staying safe.