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Human Systems Definitions Flashcards

1
Q

digestion

A

breakdown of food into a form that can be used by an animal. It includes both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.

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2
Q

mechanical digestion

A

digestion that uses physical factors such as chewing with the teeth

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3
Q

chemical digestion

A

the chemical reactions changing food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body

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4
Q

Alimentary Canal

A

passage from the mouth to the anus. Digestion of food occurs as it moves through the canal.

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5
Q

Enzymes

A

special chemicals that speed up reactions but are themselves not used up in the reaction

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6
Q

Saliva

A

watery substance in the mouth that moistens food before swallowing

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7
Q

Salivary Glands

A

glands in the mouth that produce saliva

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8
Q

Bolus

A

round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier

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9
Q

Oesophagus

A

part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth with the stomach

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10
Q

Peristalsis

A

the process of pushing food along the oesophagus or small intestine by the action of muscles

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11
Q

Stomach

A

a large muscular organ that churns and mixes food with gastric juice to start to break down protein

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12
Q

Small Intestine

A

the part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine, where much of the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients takes place

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13
Q

Absorption

A

the taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries

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14
Q

Villi

A

tiny finger-like projections from the wall of the intestine that maximise the surface area of the structure to increase the efficiency of nutrient absorption. Singular = villus.

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15
Q

Nutrient

A

substances that provide energy and chemicals that living things need to stay alive, grow and reproduce

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16
Q

Bile

A

a substance produced by the liver that helps digest fats and oils

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17
Q

Gall Bladder

A

a small organ that stores and concentrates bile within the body

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18
Q

Lipids

A

type of nutrients that include fats and oils

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19
Q

Lipases

A

enzymes that break fats and oils down into fatty acids and glycerol

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20
Q

Amylases

A

an enzyme in saliva that breaks starch down into sugar

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21
Q

Proteases

A

enzymes that break proteins down into amino acids

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22
Q

Pancreas

A

a large gland in the body that produces and secretes the hormone insulin and an important digestive fluid containing enzymes

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23
Q

Colon

A

the part of the large intestine where a food mass passes from the small intestine, and where water and other remaining essential nutrients are absorbed into the body

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24
Q

Large Intestine

A

the penultimate part of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from the waste before it is transported out of the body

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25
Vitamin D
a nutrient that regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream and promotes the healthy growth and remodelling of bone
26
Cellulose
a natural substance that keeps the cell wall of plants rigid
27
Rectum
the final section of the digestive system, where waste food matter is stored as faeces before being excreted through the anus
28
Anus
the final part of the digestive system, through which faeces are passed as waste
29
Emulsify
combine two liquids that do not normally mix easily
30
Denatured
describes the condition of proteins after they have been overheated
31
Substrate
substance acted upon by an enzyme
32
Product
new chemical substance that results from a chemical reaction
33
Burping
release of swallowed gas through the mouth
34
Heartburn
burning sensation caused by stomach acid rising into the oesophagus
35
Flatulence
release of gas through the anus. This gas is produced by bacteria in the large intestine.
36
Diarrhoea
excessive discharge of watery faeces
37
Vomiting
the forceful ejection of matter from the stomach through the mouth
38
musculoskeletal system
consists of the skeletal system (bones and joints) and the skeletal muscle system (voluntary or striated muscle). Working together, these two systems protect the internal organs, maintain posture, produce blood cells, store minerals and enable the body to move.
39
skeletal system
consists of the bones and joints
40
skeletal muscle system
voluntary or striated muscle
41
skeleton
the bones or shell of an animal that support and protect it as well as allowing movement
42
bones
the pieces of hard tissue that make up the skeleton of a vertebrate
43
bone marrow
a substance inside bones in which blood cells are made
44
cartilage
a waxy, whitish, flexible substance that lines or connects bone joints or, in some animals such as sharks, replaces bone as the supporting skeletal tissue. The ears and tips of noses of people are shaped by cartilage.
45
calcium
an element occurring in limestone, chalk, also present in vertebrates and other animals as a component of bone, shell etc. It is necessary for nerve conduction, heartbeat, muscle contraction and many other physiological functions.
46
phosphorus
a substance that plays an important role in almost every chemical reaction in the body. Together with calcium, it is required by the body to maintain healthy bones and teeth.
47
ossification
hardening of bones
48
brittle
breaks easily into many pieces
49
joint
region where two bones meet
50
ligaments
band of tough tissue that connects the ends of bones or keeps an organ in place
51
synovial fluid
the liquid inside the cavity surrounding a joint that helps bones to slide freely over each other
52
pivot joint
joint that allows a twisting movement
53
hinge joints
joints in which two bones are connected so that movement occurs in one plane only
54
ball and socket joints
joints where the rounded end of one bone fits into the hollow end of another
55
immovable joints
joints that allow no movement except when absorbing a hard blow
56
muscles
tissue consisting of cells that can shorten
57
involuntary muscles
muscles not under the control of the will; they contract slowly and rhythmically. These muscles are at work in the heart, intestines and lungs.
58
voluntary muscles
muscle attached to bones; it moves the bones by contracting and is controlled by an animal’s thoughts
59
tendons
tough rope-like tissue connecting a muscle to a bone
60
greenstick fracture
a break that is not completely through the bone, often seen in children
61
fracture
a break in a bone
62
stem cells
undeveloped cells found in blood and bone marrow
63
osteoporosis
loss of bone mass that causes bones to become lighter, more fragile and easily broken
64
sprains
injury caused by tearing a ligament
65
arthritis
a condition in which inflammation of the joints causes them to swell and become painful
66
tennis elbow
an injury due to strain or overuse that causes the elbow’s lining to become inflamed and painful
67
torn hamstrings
a common sporting injury caused by overstretching the hamstring muscle, which joins the pelvis to the knee joint
68
oxygen
a gas in the air (and water) that animals need to breathe in; made up of particles with two oxygen atoms. Plants produce oxygen as part of photosynthesis.
69
cellular respiration
the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP.
70
glucose
a simple carbohydrate and the simplest form of sugar
71
carbon dioxide
a gas in the air produced by respiration and used by plants as part of photosynthesis. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide.
72
epiglottis
the leaf-like flap of cartilage behind the tongue that closes the air passage during swallowing
73
respiratory system
the body system involving the lungs and associated structures, which take in air and supply the blood with oxygen to deliver to the body’s cells so they can carry out their essential functions; it also performs gas exchange to remove the waste gas carbon dioxide
74
trachea
narrow tube from the mouth to the lungs through which air moves
75
lungs
the organ for breathing air. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs.
76
bronchi
the narrow tubes through which air passes from the trachea to the smaller bronchioles and alveoli in the respiratory system. Singular = bronchus.
77
bronchioles
small branching tubes in the lungs leading from the two larger bronchi to the alveoli
78
alveoli
tiny air sacs in the lungs at the ends of the narrowest tubes. Oxygen moves from alveoli into the surrounding blood vessels, in exchange for carbon dioxide.
79
Pulmonary vein
the vessel through which oxygenated blood travels from your lungs to the heart
80
aorta
a large artery through which oxygenated blood is pumped at high pressure from the left ventricle of the heart to the body
81
arterioles
vessels that transport oxygenated blood from the arteries to the capillaries
82
venules
small veins
83
pulmonary artery
the vessel through which deoxygenated blood, carrying wastes from respiration, travels from the heart to the lungs
84
diaphragm
flexible, dome-shaped, muscular layer separating the chest and the abdomen. It is involved in breathing.
85
vital capacity
the largest volume of air that can be breathed in or out at one time
86
breathing
movement of muscles in the chest causing air to enter the lungs and the altered air in the lungs to leave. The air entering the lungs contains more oxygen and less carbon dioxide than the air leaving the lungs.
87
asthma
narrowing of the air pipes that join the mouth and nose to the lungs
88
carcinogens
chemicals that cause cancer
89
emphysema
condition in which the air sacs in the lungs break open and join together, reducing the amount of oxygen taken in and carbon dioxide removed

Altior Science (5 decks)

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