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Organ

An organ is a collection of tissues that provide a function or functions. In conventional terms the organ contains tissues that are in such close proximity to one another that the organ can be taken out from one place.

However a functional definition of an organ would include things like the immune system where the cells that make up the organ are widely scattered throughout the body.

Examples of organs include

Organs may be subdivided into `solid' and `hollow'. Solid organs are organs like the liver and hollow organs would be parts of the gastro-intestinal tract. Another name for a `hollow' organ would be a viscus.



Adrian P. Ireland 2004-02-17