Which statement correctly characterizes an organ system?

Which statement correctly characterizes an organ system?

• A. It is a living thing
• B. It is a single organ
• C. It is a group of organs working together to perform a function
• D. It is a cell

Answer: (C)

An organ system is a group of organs working together to perform a function. This combined action is what enables the body to carry out complex tasks essential for survival, not just a single organ in isolation. For example, the digestive system includes several organs like the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas that coordinate to break down food, absorb nutrients, and manage waste. The heart and blood vessels participate in the circulatory system, coordinating to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body. The other statements don’t fit because a living thing is the entire organism, not just a system; a single organ isn’t an organ system; and a cell is far smaller and not an assembly of multiple organs.

An organ system is a group of organs working together to perform a function. This combined action is what enables the body to carry out complex tasks essential for survival, not just a single organ in isolation.

For example, the digestive system includes several organs like the stomach, intestines, liver, and pancreas that coordinate to break down food, absorb nutrients, and manage waste. The heart and blood vessels participate in the circulatory system, coordinating to transport oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.

The other statements don’t fit because a living thing is the entire organism, not just a system; a single organ isn’t an organ system; and a cell is far smaller and not an assembly of multiple organs.