Pennsylvania Esthetician State Board Practice Exam

Groups of similar cells are referred to as what?

1. Organ Systems

2. Tissues

3. Structures

4. Organs

The correct answer is: Tissues

The term that refers to groups of similar cells working together to perform a specific function is "tissues." In biological terminology, tissues are classified based on the type of cells they contain and their particular functions. For example, muscle tissue is made up of muscle cells and is responsible for movement, while epithelial tissue is composed of closely packed cells that cover surfaces and line cavities. Organ systems, on the other hand, are made up of multiple organs that work collaboratively to carry out broad biological functions. Structures would not provide the specificity needed to describe a collection of cells performing a function, and organs refer specifically to collections of different types of tissues that work together for a common purpose, such as the heart or lungs. Thus, the correct term for the grouping of similar cells is indeed tissues.