unit 1 aos 2 Flashcards
organism
a living thing made up of one or more cells
cell
the smallest functional unit of a living organism
tissue
a cluster of cells which
perform a shared function
organ
the combination of tissues and cells into a distinct structure that performs a specific function
system
a collection of organs and tissues that perform specific functions necessary for survival
muscle tissue
collection of animal cells that are capable of contraction. Includes skeletal, cardiac, and smooth muscle
nervous tissue collection
collection
of animal cells that sense stimuli and initiate responses. Also known as nerve tissue
connective tissue
collection of many different animal cells that bind and support the other major tissue types
epithelial tissue
one of the basic tissue types in animals that line the outer surface of organs and blood vessels
digestive system
the collection of specialised tissues and organs responsible for the breakdown of food and absorption of nutrients
excretory system
the collection of organs and tissues that removes excess fluid and waste materials from the body
endocrine system
the collection of glands in animals responsible for producing hormones that can be transported in the bloodstream to regulate distant organs/cells
physical digestion
the breakdown of food into smaller pieces by processes such as chewing
and peristalsis. Also known as mechanical digestion
chemical digestion
chemical digestion
the breakdown of food into smaller molecules by digestive enzymes and stomach acid
villus (pl. villi)
finger-like projections from the surface of membranous structures to increase the surface area
microvillus (pl. microvilli)
microscopic projections on the surface of cells that increase cellular surface area
liver
urea
the main nitrogenous product of protein breakdown in mammals. Excreted in urine
kidneys
The kidneys filter blood to remove excess and unwanted materials from the bloodstream, producing a kidney filtrate which is excreted as urine.
urine
a fluid formed by the kidneys and stored in the bladder. One of the body’s major ways to remove excess water, solutes, and waste substances from the blood
filtrate
the fluid filtered from blood that passes through the nephron
renal arteries
arteries that deliver blood from the heart to the kidneys
nephron
a functional unit of
the kidney consisting of a glomerulus and tubule system through which filtrate passes and urine is produced
vascular tissues
vascular tissues conducting tissues that transport water
and nutrients throughout a plant. An encompassing term for the xylem tissue and phloem tissue
dermal tissue
dermal tissue collection of cells that form the outer linings of a plant
leaves
the plant organs that are responsible for photosynthesis
flowers
flowers the reproductive organ of angiosperms. Grows into fruit following fertilisation
fruit
fruit the seed-bearing structures that are responsible for the protection of developing seeds and seed dispersal
stem
stem the main body of the plant that provides support and connects the whole plant
roots
roots the plant organ embedded in the ground. Absorbs water and nutrients from soil, and provides support for the plant
root system
root system organ system in plants that is responsible for providing support to the plant and water and nutrient absorption from soil
shoot system
shoot system organ system in plants made up of reproductive organs, stems, and leaves
hormone
hormone a signalling molecule released from endocrine glands that regulates the growth or activity of target cells
xylem tissue
xylem tissue transports water and minerals in one direction, from the roots to the leaves
phloem tissue
phloem tissue transports sugars and other nutrients in two directions, to all the cells of the plant
vascular bundles
vascular bundles the close arrangement of xylem and phloem tissues
root hair cell
a cell with hair-like extensions that absorbs water and minerals from the soil into the root
extracellular pathway
extracellular pathway
the pathway by which roots absorb the majority of water from the soil.
cytoplasmic pathway
cytoplasmic pathway
the pathway by which roots absorb the majority of nutrients and essential minerals from the soil
sieve cell
sieve cell the living hollow tubes of the phloem which stack end-to-end
companion cell
companion cell the cells of the phloem that ensure sieve cells remain alive and regulate entry into the phloem
sieve plates
sieve plates the porous plates separating adjacent sieve cells
stoma
stoma (pl. stomata) small pore on the leaf’s surface that opens and closes to regulate gas exchange
transpiration
transpiration the evaporation of water from leaves and movement of liquids up the xylem
translocation
translocation the movement of substances from a source to other tissues in the plant via the phloem. Also known as source and sink movement
guard cell
guard cell a pair of curved cells that surround a stoma. When hot they lose turgor pressure and become flaccid, closing the stomata to limit water loss
stomatal pore
stomatal pore the opening in the centre of a turgid stoma, where gases freely enter or exit a leaf
epidermal cell
epidermal cells the plant’s outermost cells which separate the plant from the external environment. These cells coat the leaves, fruits, stems, flowers, and roots of a plant. Also known as epidermis
physical digestion
physical digestion the breakdown of food into smaller pieces by processes such as chewing
and peristalsis. Also known as mechanical digestion
chemical digestion
chemical digestion
the breakdown of food into smaller molecules by digestive enzymes and stomach acid
digestive tract
the pathway of organs that food and liquids travel through after being swallowed, leading to digestion and elimination. Also known as
the gastrointestinal tract or alimentary canal
peristalsis
peristalsis coordinated muscular contractions and relaxations of the digestive tract wall that move food along the system
chyme
chyme mixture of partially digested food and digestive juices that passes from the stomach to the small intestine
liver
liver a large organ found in the abdomen that is involved in many metabolic processes including the breakdown of toxins
gallbladder
gallbladder bile-storing organ that releases bile into the small intestine
pancreas
pancreas an organ of the digestive and endocrine system that releases both digestive juices and hormones, namely insulin and glucagon which regulate blood glucose levels
small intestine
connects the stomach to the large intestine and is a major site of nutrient absorption during digestionmall intestine connects the stomach to the large intestine and is a major site of nutrient absorption during digestion
glomerulus
(pl. glomeruli)
a network of capillaries that deliver blood to the Bowman’s capsule
Bowman’s capsule
Bowman’s capsule the first section of the nephron which collects filtered blood from the glomerulus
proximal convoluted tubule
proximal convoluted tubule
the portion of the nephron tubule that lies between the Bowman’s capsule and the loop of Henle
loop of Henle
loop of Henle a u-shaped loop of the nephron that recovers water and salts from filtrate
distal convoluted tubule
distal convoluted tubule
the portion of the nephron tubule that lies between the loop of Henle and the collecting duct
collecting duct
collecting duct the final section of the nephron tubule that collects urine and delivers it to the bladder for excretion
ureter
ureter the tube through which urine passes from the kidney to the bladder
signalling molecule
a molecule which can interact with and initiate a response in a target cell
hormone
a signalling molecule released from endocrine glands that regulates the growth or activity of target cells
receptor
a structure (usually a protein) that detects a signal or external change
target cell
target cell a cell that will receive and respond to a specific signalling molecule
gland
gland a group of cells that secretes chemical substances to regions of the body or discharges them into the surroundings
hypothalamus
The hypothalamus a section of the brain in mammals that controls much of the body’s internal environment via hormone secretion
pituitary gland
a gland in the brain that plays a large role in maintaining bodily functions by controlling the activity of several other endocrine glands
pineal gland
a small gland in the brain which helps regulate sleep patterns
thyroid gland
a butterfly-shaped gland in the neck that produces hormones that influence metabolic rate
parathyroid glands
four small glands in the neck that control the levels of calcium in the body
adrenal glands
collection of endocrine cells located above the kidneys that produce a variety of hormones involved in the stress response, including cortisol, aldosterone, and adrenaline
positive feedback system
a stimulus–response process in which the response increases the stimulus
negative feedback system
egative feedback system a stimulus–response process in which the response counters the stimulus
receptor
r a structure that detects a signal or external change, usually a protein
modulator
location where information from receptors is sent to and compared to a set point, and where molecules altering
the functioning of an effector
are released. Also known as
the processing centre
effector
a molecule, cell, or organ that responds to a signal and produces a response
response
the action of a cell, organ, or organism caused by a stimulus
conduction
the transfer of heat through physical contact with another object
convection
the transfer of heat via the movement of a liquid or gas between areas of different temperature
thermoregulation
thermoregulation
the homeostatic process of maintaining a constant internal body temperature
glycogen
a polysaccharide of glucose that stores energy. Serves as the main storage of glucose in the body
hyperglycaemia
the state of having blood glucose levels above the normal range (>7.8 mmol/L)
hypoglycaemia
the state of having blood glucose levels below the normal range (<4.0 mmol/L)
osmoregulation
osmoregulation the homeostatic regulation of osmolality in the body via the alteration of water and solute balance
insulin
insulin a hormone secreted by beta cells of the pancreas when blood glucose levels are elevated
