E Flashcards
EC Coupling
Excitation contraction coupling refers to the steps between depolarization of the muscle cell membrane (excitation) and the activation of that muscle (contraction).
Eccrine Gland
A type of exocrine gland characterized by a long coiled duct that delivers secretions from the secretory region to the surface.
Ecdysis
The periodic shedding of the exoskeleton of invertebrates (molting).
Ecdysone
One of the ecdysteroid hormones of arthropods that is responsible for controlling
many aspects of development, including ecdysis.
Ecdysteroids
The general name for ecdysone and its active metabolites, such as 20-hydroecdysone.
Echolocation
Dectecting objects based on the reflection of sound waves; used by organisms such as whales and bats.
Eclosion
The process whereby an adult insect emerges from its cocoon.
Ectoderm
The outermost of the primary germ layers in a developing embryo that eventually gives rise to tissue such as the nervous system.
Ectopic Pacemaker
A pacemaker in an abnormal location.
Ectotherm
see also endotherm
An animal with body temperature determined primarily by external factors, including but not limited to ambient temperature.
Edema
Excess accumulation of fluid in a tissue.
Effective Refractory Period
The time period in which an excitable tissue cannot be stimulated due to changes in the membrane potential.
Effector
An organ or cell such as a muscle that responds to stimulation from the nervous system.
Efferent
Leading away from a structure;
e.g.,
efferent neurons carry signals from the central nervous system to the periphery;
efferent arterioles carry blood away from the glomerulus of the kidney.
Efferent Arteriole
The arteriole that emerges from the glomerulus of the kidney tubule.
Efferent Division
The part of the peripheral nervous system that consists of efferent neurons.
Efferent Neuron
A neuron that conducts impulses from an integrating center to an effector.
Efflux
Movement of a substance outward, usually in the context of movement out of a cell or tissue.
Egestion
Expulsion of undigested food (feces) from the digestive tract.
Eicosanoids
A type of short-lived chemical signaling molecule.
Elasmobranch Fish
One of two groups of cartilaginous fish, including skates, rays, and sharks. The other group of cartilaginous fish is holocephalans (ratfish).
Elastance
A measure of how readily a structure returns to its original shape after having been stretched.
Elastic Recoil
Movement as a result of the release of elastic storage energy
Elastic Storage Energy
Energy stored within a deformed object, which is released when the object regains its relaxed configuration.
Electrical Gradient
A charge gradient across a membrane arising from unequal distribution of charged particles.
Electric Organ
A trans-differentiated muscle of fish that generates electric pulses for detecting objects or defense.
Electrical Energy
The energy associated with gradients of charged particles.
Electrical Synapse
see also chemical synapse
A junction between neurons in which the signal is transmitted as an electrical charge rather than via a neurotransmitter.
Electrocardiogram (ECG, EKG)
A recording of the electrical activity of the heart.
Electrocardiograph
see electrocardiogram
An instrument that measures electrical potentials on the body surface as an indication of the electrical activity of the heart
Electrochemical Gradient
A gradient composed of the concentration gradient of an ion and the membrane potential; the driving force for the movement of that ion across the membrane.
Electrochemical Potential Difference (Δμ)
see electrochemical gradient
The driving force for movement of a substance across a membrane as a result of the electrical and chemical gradients across the membrane.
Electrogenic
A transport process that results in a change in electrical charge across a membrane.
Electrolyte
A charged solute, such as Na+, K+, and Cl−.
Electron Transport System (ETS)
A series of protein complexes with mobile carriers that produce a proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane. It builds the gradient by pumping protons as it transfers electrons from reducing equivalents to oxygen,
forming water.
Electroneutral
A transport process that does not change the electrical charge across a membrane.
Electroreceptor
A sensory receptor that responds to electric fields or discharges.
Electrotonic Current Spread
The passive conduction of charge along a cell membrane.
Elevated Postexercise Oxygen Consumption (EPOC)
A period of elevated metabolic rate thought to be necessary to allow the muscle
to recover from ionic and metabolic disturbances that arose as a result of intense exercise.
Emergence
A phenomenon in which the patterns and properties of a complex system are
the result of the interactions of the component parts of that system, and are not necessarily predictable from the operation of those components in isolation.
Emergent Properties
Traits of an organism that are the result of the phenomenon of emergence across levels of organization.
Empirical
An observation arising from direct measurement of a parameter.
Encephalization Quotient (EQ)
The ratio of actual brain size to predicted brain size based on body size; suggested as a way to compare intelligence between species.
End-Diastolic Volume (EDV)
The volume of blood in the heart at the end of diastole; the maximum volume reached during the cardiac cycle.
End-Systolic Volume (ESV)
The volume of blood in the heart at the end of systole; the minimum volume reached during the cardiac cycle.
Endergonic Reaction
A reaction that requires an input of free energy, for which G is positive.
Endocardium
The internal layer of the heart.
Endocrine
A signaling pathway in which the signaling molecule is released into the blood
and affects a distant cell of a different type.
Endocrine Disruptor
An environmental chemical (often humanmade) that alters cell signaling
by acting as an analogue or antagonist of an endocrine hormone.
Endocrine Gland
Type of gland that secretes hormones into the blood.
