BCS8 Chapter 2 Flashcards
organ
a group of tissues (such as heart tissues) working together to perform a task (such as pumping blood)
organ system
a system that includes one or more organs that work together to perform specific functions in the body (e.g., the circulatory system that moves blood through the body)
tissue
a group of cells that have the same structure and function (e.g., muscle tissue)
digestion
the process in which food is broken down, its nutrients are absorbed and stored, and the wastes are eliminated
excretion
the process in which liquid and gas wastes are flushed from the body
gastric juice
a mixture of hydrochloric acid, mucus, and enzymes that is secreted by the stomach lining and aids in digestion
mucus
a thick, slippery substance that lines various structures and organs in the body such as the nose, lungs, and stomach
nutrients
substances the body needs
for energy, growth, development,
repair, or maintenance
villi
fold-like structures lining the wall of the small intestine, which increase the surface available to absorb nutrients (singular: villus)
alveoli
in the lungs, tiny air sacs at the ends of the bronchioles, where gas exchange takes place (singular: alveolus)
arteries
blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart
blood
the fluid that transports substances to and from all parts of the body; consists of plasma, red blood cells, and white blood cells
capillaries
the networks of tiny blood vessels that connect arteries to venules (singular: capillary)
circulatory system
the body system that moves blood throughout the body; includes the heart, blood vessels, and blood
gas exchange
in the lungs, a process in which carbon dioxide passes into the alveoli, and oxygen passes into the capillaries
