Carcinoma is a cancer arising in which tissue type?

• A. Epithelial tissues
• B. Connective tissues
• C. Nervous tissues
• D. Muscle tissues

Answer: (A)

Carcinoma denotes cancers arising from epithelial tissues—the cells that line surfaces and cavities and form glands. These tissues are the origin for most cancers, including squamous cell carcinomas and adenocarcinomas. Cancers from other tissue types have different names: connective tissue cancers are sarcomas, nervous tissue cancers are gliomas, and muscle tissue cancers are myosarcomas. So the tissue type that gives rise to carcinoma is epithelial tissue.