Which term describes the organization of several different kinds of tissues arranged to perform a special function?

• A. Organ
• B. Cell
• C. Tissue
• D. Organ System

Answer: (A)

The idea being tested is how biological levels of organization fit together to perform a function. When several different kinds of tissues come together and work as a unit to carry out a specific task, that structure is an organ. Tissues consist of similar cells organized to perform a common function, but an organ brings multiple tissue types together to handle more complex roles—like pumping blood or digesting food. A good example is the heart, which contains muscle tissue to contract, connective tissue for structure, and nervous tissue to coordinate activity, all coordinating to move blood. In contrast, a tissue is a group of similar cells, a cell is the basic unit of life, and an organ system is a group of organs working together for a major physiological function. So the term that describes the organization of several different kinds of tissues arranged to perform a special function is an organ.