Week 1 - Introduction to the Human Body Flashcards
Anatomy
Science that studies the form and composition of the body’s structures
Physiology
Science that studies the chemistry, biochemistry, and physics of the body’s functions
Cell
The smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms; in animals, a cell contains cytoplasm, composed of fluid and organelles
Tissue
A group of similar or closely related cells that act together to perform a specific function
Organ
A functionally distinct structure composed of two or more types of tissues
Organ System
A group of organs that work together to carry out a particular function
Organism
A living being that has a cellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment in the face of a constantly changing external environment
Negative Feedback
A homeostatic mechanism that tends to stabilize an upset in the body’s physiological condition by preventing an excessive response to a stimulus, typically as the stimulus is removed
Positive Feedback
A mechanism that intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition in response to a stimulus
Carbohydrate
A class of organic compounds built from sugars, molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1-2-1 ratio
Monosaccharide
A monomer of carbohydrate; also known as a simple sugar
Disaccharide
A pair of carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via a glycosidic bond
Polysaccharide
A compound consisting of more than two carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via glycosidic bonds
Protein
A class of organic compounds that are composed of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds
Amino Acid
The building block of proteins; characterized by an amino and carboxyl functional groups and a variable side-chain
Lipid
A class of non-polar organic compounds built from hydrocarbons and distinguished by the fact that they are not soluble in water
Triglyceride
The lipid compound composed of a glycerol molecule bonded with three fatty acid chains
Phospholipid
A lipid compound in which a phosphate group is combined with a diglyceride
Steroid
A lipid compound composed of four hydrocarbon rings bonded to a variety of other atoms and molecules
DNA
Deoxyribose-containing nucleotide that stores genetic information
RNA
Ribose-containing nucleotide that helps manifest the genetic code as protein
ATP
Nucleotide containing ribose and an adenine base that is essential in energy transfer
Transcription
The process of producing an mRNA molecule that is complementary to a particular gene of DNA
Translation
The process of producing a protein from the nucleotide sequence code of an mRNA transcript
Hormone
The secretion of an endocrine organ that travels via the bloodstream or lymphatics to induce a response in target cells or tissues in another part of the body
ADP
A molecule that is involved in transferring and providing cells with energy
Cellular Respiration
The production of ATP from glucose oxidation via glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, and oxidative phosphorylation
Molecule
Two or more atoms covalently bonded together
