Which term describes a collection of tissues performing a common function?

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

Answer: (B)

Think about how the body is organized from small to larger structures. Cells group into tissues that share a job, and when several different tissues come together in one structure to carry out a specific function, that structure is an organ. An organ like the heart combines muscle tissue to contract, connective tissue for support, and nervous tissue to coordinate, all working as a unit to pump blood. A tissue on its own is just a single tissue type doing its job, not a multi-tissue structure. An organ system is a higher level where multiple organs collaborate to support a broad function, such as circulation or digestion. A cell is the basic unit of life, and many cells form tissues. So a collection of tissues performing a common function is an organ.