Part 4 Flashcards
Interstitial space
tissue space between cells
Intrinsic (intergral) protein
membrane protein spanning the membrane from one surface to the other
Ion channel (leakage, voltage-dependent, ligand-dependent)
pore enabling passage of ions through the membrane; it is formed by intrinsic membrane proteins and is either continuously open (leakage) or opened by a change of membrane potential or by the binding of a ligand (signal) molecule
Ion pump
active transport process moving ions through the membrane using energy stored in ATP molecules
Isometric (isovolumic) concentration (in the heart)
contraction of the ventricles while valves are closed and volume is constant
Isometric (isovolumic) relaxation
relaxation of the ventricles while valves are closed and volume is constant
Isometric contraction
contraction of muscles at constant length when only tension changes
Isotonic contraction
contraction of muscles at constant tension when only length changes
Isotropic
optically homogenous material, transmission is independent of the plane of the polarized light
Keto-sugar
sugar containing a ketone group (e.g. fructose)
Lactose
disaccharide formed by glucose and galactose molecules
Laminar flow
movement of a fluid or air, during which layers are sliding smoothly on each other
Ligand
signal molecule that can specifically bind to a receptor
Lipids
compounds soluble in nonpolar solvents
Lipoprotein
protein molecules containing lipid groups
Long term potentiation (LTP)
long lasting increase of efficacy in a synapse following strong stimulation in some parts of the CNS
Lymphocyte
white blood cell responsible for the production of antibodies
Maximal ejection
part of the heart cycle following the opening of the semilunar valves during systole
Mean electrical axis
direction of the electrical vector of the heart at the peak of the R-wave
Memory cell
lymphocyte specialized for the long-term storage of the code to synthesize an antibody
Metarteriole
vessel connecting arterioles and venules from which true capillaries originate
Microvilli
small, fingerlike protrusions of the apical membrane increasing the surface of some epithelial cells
Miniature end-plate potential
small depolarizations of the postsynaptic terminal caused by the release of a single vesicle into the synaptic clef
Mitral valve
bicuspid valve between the left atrium and ventricle
Monocyte
large white blood cell with phagocyte function
Monosaccharide
simple sugar
Multipolar neuron
nerve cell with many processes
Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor
ACh receptor at which muscarine mimics the effect of acetylcholine
Muscle twitch
contraction and relaxation caused by a single action potential in the muscle
Myelin sheet
insulation around axons formed by Schwann cells or oligodendrocytes wrapping the axon into 50-100 layers of membrane
Myofibril
a longitudinal unit of a muscle fiber, made up of sacromeres and surrounded by sarcoplasmic reticulum
Myoglobin
iron-containing oxygen-binding protein molecule in the muscles resembling hemoglobin
NAD
nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide, a coenzyme
Nerst equation
equation for calculating electrochemical equilibrium conditions
Neurit
processes of neuronal cells
Neurocrine communication
communication in which the signal reaches the target cell through the synaptic cleft
Neuromodulator
signal molecule changing neuronal functions; it usually has a broader and longer lasting effect than the neurotransmitters
Neuromuscular endplate
synapse between the motorneuron and the muscle fiber
Neurotransmitter (mediator)
signal molecule interacting with receptors in the postsynaptic membrane and usually modifying the membrane potential of the postsynaptic cell
Neutrophil granulocyte
white blood cell containing vesicles stained by neutral stains
Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor
ACh receptor at which nicotine mimics the effect of acetylcholine
Nissl substance
characteristic component of nerve cells corresponding to rough endoplasmic reticulum
Node of Ranvier
periodic gap between two Schwann cells along an axon
Non-covalent bonds or weak forces
supplemental, but important interactions between and within biological molecules: electrostatic (ionic) bond, H-bond, van der Waals interaction
