Living Connections Flashcards
Molecule
two or more atoms joined (bonded) together, forming a small particle
Organelle
small structure in a cell with a special function
Cells
the smallest unit of life. Cells are the building blocks of living things.
System
group of organs working together
Cellular respiration
the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP
Respiratory system
is responsible for getting oxygen into your body and carbon dioxide out. This occurs when you inhale (breathe in) and exhale (breathe out
Circulatory system
is responsible for transporting oxygen and nutrients to your body’s cells, and wastes such as carbon dioxide away from them
Blood
the red liquid that circulates around the body.
Blood vessels
the veins, arteries and capillaries through which the blood flows around the body
Heart
a muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system so that oxygen and nutrients can be transported
Arteries
hollow tubes (vessels) with thick walls carrying blood pumped from the heart to other body parts
Capillaries
minute tubes carrying blood to body cells. Every cell of the body is supplied with blood through capillaries.
Veins
blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart.
Digestive system
a complex series of organs and glands that processes food to supply the body with the nutrients it needs to function effectively
Excretory system
the body system that removes waste substances from the body
Musculoskeletal system
consists of the skeletal system (bones and joints) and the skeletal muscle system (voluntary or striated muscle).
Reproductive system
the body system involving the reproductive organs, which differ between males and females
Nervous system
the system of nerves and nerve centres in an animal in which messages are sent
Erythrocytes
Red blood cells
Leucocytes
white blood cells
Plasma
the yellowish, liquid part of blood that contains water, minerals, food and wastes from cells
Red. Blood cells
living cells in the blood that transport oxygen to all other living cells in the body
Haemoglobin
the red pigment in red blood cells that carries oxygenated
Oxyhaemoglobin
haemoglobin with oxygen molecules attached
White blood cell s
living cells that fight bacteria and viruses as part of the human body’s immune system
Platelets
small bodies involved in blood clotting. They are responsible for healing by clumping together around a wound.
Oxygenated blood
a gas in the air (and water) that animals need to breathe in; made up of particles with two oxygen atoms
Deoxygenated blood
describes blood from which some oxygen has been removed
Left atrium
upper right section of the heart where deoxygenated blood from the body enters
Right atrium
upper right section of the heart where deoxygenated blood from the body enters
Left ventricle
lower left section of the heart, which pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body
Right ventricle
lower right section of the heart, which pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs
Lub dub
the sound made by the heart valves as they close
Valve s
flap-like folds in the lining of a blood vessel or other hollow organ that allow a liquid, such as blood, to flow in one direction only
Blood pressure
measures how strongly the blood is pumped through the body’s main arteries
Diastolic pressure
the lower blood pressure reading during relaxation of the heart muscles
Systolic pressure
the higher blood pressure reading during contraction of the heart muscles
Heart beat
contraction of the heart muscle occurring about 60–100 times per minute
Pulse
alternating contraction and expansion of arteries due to the pumping of blood by the heart
Pace maker
Electronic device inserted in the chest to keep the heart beating regularly at the correct rate
Cardiac muscle
special kind of muscle in the heart that never tires. It is involved in pumping blood through the heart.
Electrocardiogram
graph made using the tiny electrical impulses generated in the heart muscle, giving information about the health of the heart
Oxygen
a gas in the air (and water) that animals need to breathe in; made up of particles with two oxygen atoms
Carbon dioxide
a gas in the air produced by respiration and used by plants as part of photosynthesis.
Epiglottis
leaf-like flap of cartilage behind the tongue that closes the air passage during swallowing
Digestion
breakdown of food into a form that can be used by an animal. It includes both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion.
Mechanical digestion
digestion that uses physical factors such as chewing with the teeth
Chemical digestion
the chemical reactions changing food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body
