ch 5- biological systems Flashcards
organism
a living thing made up of one or more cells
cell
the smallest functional unit of a living organism
specialised
cells which serve a unique, particular function
tissue
a cluster of cells which
perform a shared function
organ
the combination of tissues and cells into a distinct structure that performs a specific function
system
a collection of organs and tissues that perform specific functions necessary for survival
vascular tissues
conducting tissues that transport water
and nutrients throughout a plant. An encompassing term for the xylem tissue and phloem tissue
dermal tissue
collection of cells that form the outer linings of a plant
ground tissues
an encompassing term for many different plant tissue types, which are involved in metabolism and support
leaves
the plant organs that are responsible for photosynthesis
flowers
the reproductive organ of angiosperms. Grows into fruit following fertilisation
fruit
the seed-bearing structures that are responsible for the protection of developing seeds and seed dispersal
stem
the main body of the plant that provides support and connects the whole plant
roots
the plant organ embedded in the ground. Absorbs water and nutrients from soil, and provides support for the plant
root system
organ system in plants that is responsible for providing support to the plant and water and nutrient absorption from soil
shoot system
organ system in plants made up of reproductive organs, stems, and leaves
muscle tissue
collection of animal cells that are capable of contraction. Includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle
nervous tissue
collection
of animal cells that sense stimuli and initiate responses. Also known as nerve tissue
connective tissue
collection of many different animal cells that bind and support the other major tissue types
epithelial tissue
one of the basic tissue types in animals that line the outer surface of organs and blood vessels
digestive system
the collection of specialised tissues and organs responsible for the breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients
excretory system
the collection of organs and tissues that removes excess fluid and waste materials from the body
endocrine system
the collection of glands in animals responsible for producing hormones that can be transported in the bloodstream to regulate distant organs/cells
hormone
a signalling molecule released from endocrine glands that regulates the growth or activity of target cells
skeletal system
the organ system comprised of bone and cartilage that supports the body and the muscular system to enable movement
muscular system
collection of muscle tissues that circulate blood and enable movement
integumentary system
the organs and tissues responsible for protecting the body from the external environment
nervous system
the network
of nerve tissue that receives, transmits, and responds to stimuli
immune system
collection of organs and tissues that provide resistance to and protection from infection and diseases
respiratory system
the organ system that allows an organism to breathe and exchange gases with the external environment
blood circulatory system
the network of blood vessels and the heart that pumps blood around the body
reproductive system
the sex organs responsible for sexual reproduction
vascular plants
a group of plants that contain vascular tissues
root system
organ system in plants that is responsible for providing support to the plant and water and nutrient absorption from soil
shoot system
organ system in plants made up of reproductive organs, stems, and leaves
vascular tissues
conducting tissues that transport water and nutrients within a plant. An encompassing term for the xylem tissue and phloem tissue
xylem tissue
transports water and minerals in one direction, from the roots to the leaves
phloem tissue
transports sugars and other nutrients in two directions, to all the cells of the plant
vascular bundles
the close arrangement of xylem and phloem tissues
root hair cell
a cell with hair-like extensions that absorbs water and minerals from the soil into the root
extracellular pathway
the pathway by which roots absorb the majority of water from the soil. Also known as the apoplastic route
cytoplasmic pathway
the pathway by which roots absorb the majority of nutrients and essential minerals from the soil. Also known as the symplastic route
casparian strip
the impermeable barrier between the root cells
and vascular tissue that forces water and solutes travelling by the extracellular pathway into the cytoplasm of cells cytoplasm cell wall
root hair water and minerals soil particles
vessel elements
the larger components of the xylem which stack end-to-end
tracheid
the smaller elements of the xylem whose endings overlap with one another
lignified
when a cell is strengthened by woody lignin deposits
sieve cell
the living hollow tubes of the phloem which stack end-to-end
companion cell
the cells of the phloem that ensure sieve cells remain alive and regulate entry into the phloem
sieve plates
the porous plates separating adjacent sieve cells
stoma/stomata
small pore on the leaf’s surface that opens and closes to regulate gas exchange
transpiration
the evaporation of water from leaves and movement of liquids up the xylem
capillary action
when a liquid, such as water, flows in narrow tubes due to the adhesion of the liquid to the surface of the tube
translocation
the movement of substances from a source to other tissues in the plant via the phloem. Also known as source and sink movement
source
a tissue of a plant where substances are produced or enter the plant
sink
a tissue of a plant where substances are stored
guard cell
a pair of curved cells that surround a stoma. When hot they lose turgor pressure and become flaccid, closing the stomata to limit water loss
stomatal pore
the opening in the centre of a turgid stoma, where gases freely enter or exit a leaf
epidermal cells
the plant’s outermost cells which separate the plant from the external environment. These cells coat the leaves, fruits, stems, flowers, and roots of a plant. Also known as epidermis
heterotrophs
an organism that cannot produce its own food and instead gains nutrition by eating plant or animal matter
carbohydrates
a class of biomacromolecule made from monosaccharide monomers consisting of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Also known as saccharides or sugars
lipids
the class of biomacromolecule typically made from fatty acids and glycerol monomers consisting of C, H, and O. Characterised by their nonpolar nature
proteins
a class of biomacromolecule made of amino acid monomers folded into a 3D shape, consisting of C, H, O, N, and sometimes S
vitamins
organic compounds that the body requires in small amounts to perform a variety of functions
minerals
inorganic compounds that are essential for regular growth and nutrition
digestion
the process of breaking down a substance into its basic components
digestive system
the collection of specialised tissues and organs responsible for the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients
physical digestion
the breakdown of food into smaller pieces by processes such as chewing
and peristalsis. Also known as mechanical digestion
chemical digestion
the breakdown of food into smaller molecules by digestive enzymes and stomach acid
digestive tract
the pathway of organs that food and liquids travel through after being swallowed, leading to digestion and elimination. Also known as
the gastrointestinal tract or alimentary canal
oral cavity
beginning of the digestive tract where food is prepared for the stomach. Also known as the mouth
salivary gland
collection of cells that produce saliva and secrete it into the oral cavity
oesophagus
muscular tube lined with mucus that connects the mouth and stomach
peristalsis
coordinated muscular contractions and relaxations of the digestive tract wall that move food along the system
stomach
a muscular organ
that receives food from the oesophagus and temporarily stores it, where it is broken down by stomach acids, enzymes and peristaltic movements
chyme
mixture of partially digested food and digestive juices that passes from the stomach to the small intestine
liver
a large organ found in the abdomen that is involved in many metabolic processes including the breakdown of toxins
gallbladder
bile-storing organ that releases bile into the small intestine
pancreas
an organ of the digestive and endocrine system that releases both digestive juices and hormones, namely insulin and glucagon which regulate blood glucose levels
small intestine
connects the stomach to the large intestine and is a major site of nutrient absorption during digestion
large intestine
the final area of absorption along the digestive tract and the site of faeces production
appendix
a small sac of tissue that sits at the junction between the small and large intestines
rectum
the final section of the large intestine that delivers faeces to the anus
anus
the opening at the end of the digestive tract that releases faeces
lumen
the inside space of a tubular structure
epithelial tissue
one of the basic tissue types in animals that lines the outer surface of organs and blood vessels
villus/villi
finger-like projections from the surface of membranous structures to increase the surface area
microvillus/microvilli
microscopic projections on the surface of cells that increase cellular surface area
herbivore
an animal that almost exclusively feeds on plant material
omnivore
an animal that eats a variety of food from plants to other animals
carnivore
an animal that almost exclusively eats meat
excretory system
the collection of organs and tissues that remove excess, waste materials from
the body
excrete
to separate and eliminate waste from the body
liver
a large organ found in the abdomen that is involved in many metabolic processes including the breakdown of toxins
urea
the main nitrogenous product of protein breakdown in mammals. Excreted in urine
kidneys
a pair of bean-shaped organs that are responsible for removing waste substances from the blood and the production
of urine
urine
a fluid formed by the kidneys and stored in the bladder. One of the body’s major ways to remove excess water, solutes, and waste substances from the blood
urinary tract
the series of channels in which urine is produced and excreted from the body
filter
to pass a substance through a porous material
reabsorb
to absorb a substance that has undergone filtration
filtrate
the fluid filtered from blood that passes through the nephron
secrete
to discharge a substance from a cell or tissue
renal arteries
arteries that deliver blood from the heart to the kidneys
nephron
a functional unit of
the kidney consisting of a glomerulus and tubule system through which filtrate passes and urine is produced
afferent capillary
incoming capillaries that deliver blood to the glomeruli of nephrons
efferent capillary
outgoing capillaries that carry blood away from the glomeruli of nephrons
glomerulus/glomeruli
a network of capillaries that deliver blood to the Bowman’s capsule
bowmans capsule
the first section of the nephron which collects filtered blood from the glomerulus
proximal convoluted tubule
the portion of the nephron tubule that lies between the Bowman’s capsule and the loop of Henle
loop of henle
a u-shaped loop of the nephron that recovers water and salts from filtrate
distal convoluted tubulue
the portion of the nephron tubule that lies between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct
collecting duct
the final section of the nephron tubule that collects urine and delivers it to the bladder for excretion
ureter
the tube through which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder
bladder
the hollow muscular organ that receives urine from the kidney and stores it for excretion
urethra
the duct through which urine is excreted from the bladder and out of the body
lungs
a pair of organs situated within the rib cage responsible for the process of oxygenation and excretion of carbon dioxide in humans
skin
the thin layer of tissue covering the outer region of the body of vertebrates
digestive tract
the pathway
of organs that food and liquids travel through after being swallowed, leading to digestion and elimination. Also known as the gastrointestinal tract or alimentary canal
signalling molecule
a molecule which can interact with and initiate a response in a target cell
hormone
a signalling molecule released from endocrine glands that regulates the growth or activity of target cells
receptor
a structure (usually a protein) that detects a signal or external change
target cell
a cell that will receive and respond to a specific signalling molecule
endocrine system
the collection of glands in animals responsible for producing hormones that can be transported in the bloodstream to regulate distant organs/cells
gland
a group of cells that secretes chemical substances to regions of the body or discharges them into the surroundings
blood circulatory system
the network consisting of blood vessels and the heart that pumps blood around the body
hypothalamus
a section of the brain in mammals that controls much of the body’s internal environment via hormone secretion
pituitary gland
a gland in the brain that plays a large role in maintaining bodily functions by controlling the activity of several other endocrine glands
pineal gland
a small gland in the brain which helps regulate sleep patterns
thyroid gland
a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones that influence metabolic rate
parathyroid glands
four small glands in the neck that control the levels of calcium in the body
thymus
a gland found between the lungs that plays a role in the body’s endocrine and immune systems
pancreas
an organ of the digestive and endocrine system that releases both digestive juices and hormones to regulate blood glucose
adrenal glands
collection of endocrine cells located above the kidneys that produce a variety of hormones involved in the stress response, including cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline
placenta
an organ that develops during pregnancy and provides oxygen and nutrients to a foetus
ovaries
female reproductive organ in which both egg cells and hormones such as oestrogen are produced
testes
male reproductive organ in which both sperm cells and hormones such as testosterone are produced
