Video Transcript
Put the following structures in the
order in which they are organized in the human body from smallest to largest:
tissues, cells, organ systems, organs.
This question is asking us to place
these four key terms, tissues, cells, organ systems, and organs, in order from
smallest to largest. The four terms in question
represent four of the levels of biological organization. We’re being asked to rank them from
smallest to largest or from least complex to most complex. In order to rank these terms, we’ll
use this chart and this definition. A blank is a group of blank that
work together to perform a specific function.
The only term that doesn’t fit this
definition is the cell, which we know is the basic unit of life. And since that means it’s the
smallest thing that can be considered to be independently alive, we know that the
term cell goes in the smallest spot on our chart. Now, we have three more terms to
place. Next, let’s try to place the term
tissues. A tissue is a group of cells that
work together to perform a specific function. So, we know where to place tissue
in our levels of biological organization chart, directly above cells.
Next, let’s try organ systems. An organ system is a group of
organs that work together to perform a specific function. Since we didn’t say it’s a group of
tissues, we’ll go ahead and skip a space and put it at the top of our levels of
biological organization chart. Let’s go ahead and define our last
term organs. An organ is a group of tissues that
work together to perform a specific function. Since we know that tissues make
organs and organs make organ systems, we know exactly where to place the term organ
in our levels of biological organization chart.
Using the definition of each term
and this handy organizational chart, we’re ready to answer our question. The order of these structures from
smallest to largest is cells, tissues, organs, organ systems.
