[Campbell Biology P.925] The text highlights the pancreas as an organ that produces enzymes ... | Practice Question

The text highlights the pancreas as an organ that produces enzymes for the digestive system and also regulates blood sugar levels as part of the endocrine system. What key concept of biological organization does this example best illustrate?

  • A: Organs are composed of specialized tissues and cells.
  • B: Different organs can have more than one physiological role and belong to multiple organ systems.
  • C: Organ systems work together to provide additional levels of organization and coordination.
  • D: The body's organization can be viewed from a 'bottom-up' perspective revealing emergent properties.

Explanation

The text explicitly states: 'Many organs have more than one physiological role. If the roles are distinct enough, we consider the organ to belong to more than one organ system. The pancreas, for instance, produces enzymes critical to the function of the digestive system but also regulates the level of sugar in the blood as a vital part of the endocrine system.' This perfectly illustrates that a single organ can be part of multiple organ systems due to its diverse functions.