Area of Study 2 Functioning Organisms Flashcards
Adhesion
the force of attraction between water molecules and the molecules on the sides of the vessel through which the water is traveling. Also known as capillary action.
Cohesion
attraction between individual water molecules.
Companion cell
plant cell associated with and controlling neighboring sieve cell
Epidermis
Outer layer of plant leaves which is usually covered by a waxy cuticle. Epidermal cells do not contain chloroplasts.
Guard cells
a pair of cell that control the opening and closing of a stoma. Contain chloroplasts.
Palisade mesophyll
Upper photosynthetic layer of a leaf. Cells are densely acked and contain many chloroplasts.
Phloem
plant vascular tissue that transports sugars and other solutes
Plamodesmata
junctions between plant cells which allow for exchange of substances between cells.
Root hair
fine finger like projection of a root cell which is responsible for absorption of water and mineral ions.
Sieve cell
long and tubular plant cells without a nucleus that join to form sieve tubes through which sugar and other solutes travel
Spongy mesophyll
lower layer of photosynthetic tissue in a plant leaf. Less densly packed and fewer chloroplasts than spongy layer.
Stoma (pl: stomata)
a small pore that provides an opening through the epidermis and cuticle layer of a plant. Allows for the exchange of gases and water is lost through the stoma by transpiration.
Tracheid
a type of xylem vessel; they are long dead hollow cells with pointed ends and walls pitted with holes
Translocation
the movement of glucose from where it is synthesized in the plant to other parts of the plant via the phloem
Transpiration
evaporation of water from the leaves of the plant
Transpiration stream
continuous column of water that runs the length of the stem of the plant
Vascular bundle
the grouping of xylem and phloem vessels in a plant
Vascular plants
Plants containing vascular (transport) tissue. Includes ferns, conifers and flowering plants
Vascular tissue
The transport tissue of a plant; there are two types of vascular tissue – xylem and phloem.
Xylem
tissue in plants responsible for transport of water and mineral ions from roots to leaves.
Xylem vessel
plant vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots to the shoots; also provides the plant with support
Absorption
movement of digested food across the small intestine wall and into surrounding capillaries.
Amylase
digestive enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas which breaks down starch to sugar
Autotroph
organisms in which inorganic substances are converted into organic molecules through photosynthesis
Bile
produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder, it emulsifies fat causing it to break up into tiny droplets
Caecum
a pouch in the alimentary canal of vertebrates between the small and large intestine. In many herbivores it is enlarged and contains a population of bacteria which assist in the breakdown of cellulose
Carnivore
heterotroph that eats other heterotrophs
Cellulase
an enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of cellulose
Chemical digestion
break down of food molecules by digestive enzymes
Chyme
mixture of partly digested food, enzymes and hydrochloric acid which leaves the stomach
Colon
first part of the large intestine where water, minerals and vitamins are absorbed
Digestion
break down of large food molecules to a size that can be absorbed by the body
Fermentation chamber
part of the digestive system in herbivores where the breakdown of cellulose occurs through the activity of bacteria and protozoans that produce cellulase
Fore gut fermenters
the fermentation chamber is located before the stomach; includes ruminants such as cattle and sheep as well as kangaroos and wallabies
Gall bladder
storage area for bile
Gastric juice
produced by gastric glands in the stomach wall, contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin
Herbivore
heterotroph that eats autotrophs
Heterotroph
organism which relies on other organisms to provide it with the organic materials necessary for survival
Hind gut fermenters
fermentation occurs in the caecum or the first part of the large intestine; includes horses, rabbits and koalas
Illeum
final section of small intestine
Large intestine
organ of the digestive system in which water and some mineral ions are absorbed into the bloodstream
Lipase
digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas which breaks down lipids into monoglycerides and fatty acids.
Mechanical digestion
cutting, crushing, pounding or churning of food which increases the surface area over which digestive enzymes can act
Oesophagus
tube which conveys food from the mouth to the stomach.
Omnivore
heterotroph which eats both autotrophs and other heterotrophs
Pancreas
a gland located behind the stomach; produces pancreatic juice
Pancreatic juice
produced by the pancreas and secreted via the pancreatic duct into the small intestine. It contains enzymes amylase, lipase and proteases which complete chemical digestion
Pepsin
digestive enzyme produced in the stomach which breaks down protein into short polypeptide chains
Peristalsis
muscular contractions of the digestive system which move food along
Protease
protein splitting enzymes secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine
Epidermis
Outer layer of plant leaves which is usually covered by a waxy cuticle. Epidermal cells do not contain chloroplasts.
Guard cells
a pair of cell that control the opening and closing of a stoma. Contain chloroplasts.
Palisade mesophyll
Upper photosynthetic layer of a leaf. Cells are densely acked and contain many chloroplasts.
Phloem
plant vascular tissue that transports sugars and other solutes
Plamodesmata
junctions between plant cells which allow for exchange of substances between cells.
Root hair
fine finger like projection of a root cell which is responsible for absorption of water and mineral ions.
Sieve cell
long and tubular plant cells without a nucleus that join to form sieve tubes through which sugar and other solutes travel
Spongy mesophyll
lower layer of photosynthetic tissue in a plant leaf. Less densly packed and fewer chloroplasts than spongy layer.
Stoma (pl: stomata)
a small pore that provides an opening through the epidermis and cuticle layer of a plant. Allows for the exchange of gases and water is lost through the stoma by transpiration.
Tracheid
a type of xylem vessel; they are long dead hollow cells with pointed ends and walls pitted with holes
Translocation
the movement of glucose from where it is synthesized in the plant to other parts of the plant via the phloem
Transpiration
evaporation of water from the leaves of the plant
Transpiration stream
continuous column of water that runs the length of the stem of the plant
Vascular bundle
the grouping of xylem and phloem vessels in a plant
Vascular plants
Plants containing vascular (transport) tissue. Includes ferns, conifers and flowering plants
Vascular tissue
The transport tissue of a plant; there are two types of vascular tissue – xylem and phloem.
Xylem
tissue in plants responsible for transport of water and mineral ions from roots to leaves.
Xylem vessel
plant vascular tissue that transports water and dissolved mineral ions from the roots to the shoots; also provides the plant with support
Absorption
movement of digested food across the small intestine wall and into surrounding capillaries.
Amylase
digestive enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas which breaks down starch to sugar
Autotroph
organisms in which inorganic substances are converted into organic molecules through photosynthesis
Bile
produced by the liver and stored in the gall bladder, it emulsifies fat causing it to break up into tiny droplets
Caecum
a pouch in the alimentary canal of vertebrates between the small and large intestine. In many herbivores it is enlarged and contains a population of bacteria which assist in the breakdown of cellulose
Carnivore
heterotroph that eats other heterotrophs
Cellulase
an enzyme that facilitates the breakdown of cellulose
Chemical digestion
break down of food molecules by digestive enzymes
Chyme
mixture of partly digested food, enzymes and hydrochloric acid which leaves the stomach
Colon
first part of the large intestine where water, minerals and vitamins are absorbed
Digestion
break down of large food molecules to a size that can be absorbed by the body
Fermentation chamber
part of the digestive system in herbivores where the breakdown of cellulose occurs through the activity of bacteria and protozoans that produce cellulase
Fore gut fermenters
the fermentation chamber is located before the stomach; includes ruminants such as cattle and sheep as well as kangaroos and wallabies
Gall bladder
storage area for bile
Gastric juice
produced by gastric glands in the stomach wall, contains hydrochloric acid and pepsin
Herbivore
heterotroph that eats autotrophs
Heterotroph
organism which relies on other organisms to provide it with the organic materials necessary for survival
Hind gut fermenters
fermentation occurs in the caecum or the first part of the large intestine; includes horses, rabbits and koalas
Illeum
final section of small intestine
Large intestine
organ of the digestive system in which water and some mineral ions are absorbed into the bloodstream
Lipase
digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas which breaks down lipids into monoglycerides and fatty acids.
Mechanical digestion
cutting, crushing, pounding or churning of food which increases the surface area over which digestive enzymes can act
Oesophagus
tube which conveys food from the mouth to the stomach.
Omnivore
heterotroph which eats both autotrophs and other heterotrophs
Pancreas
a gland located behind the stomach; produces pancreatic juice
Pancreatic juice
produced by the pancreas and secreted via the pancreatic duct into the small intestine. It contains enzymes amylase, lipase and proteases which complete chemical digestion
Pepsin
digestive enzyme produced in the stomach which breaks down protein into short polypeptide chains
Peristalsis
muscular contractions of the digestive system which move food along
Protease
protein splitting enzymes secreted by the pancreas into the small intestine
Pyloric sphincter
circular band of muscle controlling the movement of chyme between the stomach and duodenum.
Rectum
section of the digestive system in which faeces are stored
Saltatory glands
glands that produce mucus, saliva and amylase; located at the base of the tongue
Stomach
dilated part of the gut in which mechanical digestion (churning) and chemical digestion of protein by enzymes occurs
Small intestine
organ following the stomach in which chemical digestion is completed and products of digestion are absorbed into the bloodstream
Villus (pl villi)
fingerlike projections lining the wall of the small intestine which increase the surface area available for absorbing digested food
