Part 2 Flashcards
Cellulose
polysaccharide built up of glucose molecules forming straight chains
Choroid plexus
plexus of cells that produces the cerebrospinal fluid in the ventricles of the brain.
Cis and trans position
on the same or on the opposite side
CoA, coenzyme A
coenzyme built around the adenine nucleotide
Collagen
protein, main component of the collagen fibers
Collateral processes
branches of an axon terminating in locations other than the major target location
Colloid osmotic pressure
osmotic pressure generated by blood proteins unable to penetrate through the capillary wall
Colocalization
simultaneous presence of two transmitters or a transmitter and a neuromodulator in the same synaptic vesicle
Compartmentalization
division of a space with limiting surfaces into subspaces with limited exchange of materials
Compensatory pause
longer than normal pause between two heart beats following an extrasystole
Competitive inhibition
reversible inhibition caused by a molecule that can bind to the same active site of an enzyme, receptor or transporter as the inhibited molecule
Complement system
protein molecules responsible for the elimination of the antigen-antibody complex
Concentration gradient
the gradual difference in concentration of a dissolved substance in a solution between a region of high density and one of lower density.
Conductance
the greater the resistance, the less the conductance, and vice versa
Conformational change
transient, reversible change in the spatial structure of a protein molecule
Contractility
ability for shortening
Convection
bulk flow, movement of substances caused by pressure differences
Covalent bond
a chemical bond that involves the sharing of electron pairs between atoms.
Decremental transmission
electrical signal transmission in which signals are conducted with exponentially decreasing amplitude in space
Denaturation
usually irreversible change in the conformation of protein molecules
Dendrite
fine process of a neuron that typically provide the main receptive area for synaptic inputs from other neurons
Depolarization
a change within a cell, during which the cell undergoes a shift in electric charge distribution, resulting in less negative charge inside the cell.
Depressor area (center)
collection of neurons located caudally and medially from the pressor area in the medulla decreasing blood pressure by the inhibition of the pressor area and by the excitation of the vagal efferents running to the heart
Diaphragm
dome-shaped muscle separating the thoracic and abdominal cavities in mammals
Diastole
the phase in the heartbeat during which the myocardium is relaxed and the ventricles are filling with blood
Diffusion
random thermal movement of atoms, molecules and ions from sites with higher concentration toward sites with lower concentration
Dipole
a molecule having separate regions of net negative and net positive charge
Disaccharides
double sugar molecule formed by two single sugars
Disulfide linkage
a bond between two sulfide groups (side chains of cystein amino acids) determining the structure of proteins
Donnan equilibrium
electrochemical equilibrium that develops when two solutions are separated by a membrane permeable to only some of the ions in the solutions
Dorsal root ganglion
a cluster of nerve cell bodies (a ganglion) in a posterior root of a spinal nerve. The dorsal root ganglia contain the cell bodies of sensory neurons (afferent).
Dyspena
labored, difficult breathing
Edema
accumulation of fluid in the interstitial space
Effector protein
protein transmitting the effect of G-protein activation in the cell
Einthoven leads
standard way of electrode positioning for recording ECG in humans
Electrical synapse
alternate name for gap junctions between excitable cells through which small molecules, thus ions carrying excitation can pass
Electrochemical potential
combined effect of the electrical and concentration gradients on an ion
Electronegativity
describes the tendency of an atom or a functional group to attract electrons towards itself
Electrostatic interaction
attraction between oppositely charged ions or parts of larger molecules
Electrotonic transmission
responsible for increasing the voltage of the nerve cell body enough to reach threshold and trigger an action potential
Elimination
inactivation of a signal molecule
Embolism
blockade of a vessel by an air bubble or blood clot originating at a different part of the circulatory system
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
Large internal store of Ca++ ions in the muscle fiber
Saturation
Characteristic feature of protein mediated transport processes - by increasing the concentration of the molecules to be transported the transport speed decreases as most of the transporter molecules tend to be occupied after a certain concentration
Sarcoplasmic reticulum
large internal store of Ca++ ions in the muscle fibers
Saturation
characteristic feature of proten mediated transport processes - by increasing the concentration of the molecules to be transported the transport speed decreases as most of the transporter molecules tend to be occupied after a certain concentration
