BIOL 1005: Anatomy, Physiology, Homeostasis, and Cellular Biology

A detailed set of vocabulary flashcards covering anatomical terminology, body organization, homeostasis, chemical principles, cell structures, organelles, and membrane transport processes based on BIOL 1005 lecture materials.

Hypothesis

An idea or proposed explanation that is formulated to be tested through experimentation.

Theory

A hypothesis that has been repeatedly tested by experiments and proven to be correct.

Scientific Law

A theory in which scientists have an unusually high level of confidence.

Gross Anatomy

The branch of anatomy studying the body and its parts relying solely on the naked eye for observation.

Cytology

The branch of microscopic anatomy that studies cells.

Histology

The branch of microscopic anatomy that studies tissues.

Autopoiesis

The characteristic of living organisms being self-organizing and self-maintaining, having the ability to regulate their internal components.

Cell Theory

The fundamental concept stating that all living things are composed of one or more cells, and that the cell is the basic unit of life.

Ipsilateral

Anatomical term referring to structures located on the same side of the body.

Contralateral

Anatomical term referring to structures located on the opposite side of the body.

Supine

Positioning of the body lying flat on the back.

Prone

Positioning of the body lying face down on the stomach.

Superior

Directional term meaning toward the head, upper, or above.

Inferior

Directional term meaning toward the feet, lower, or below.

Anterior (Ventral)

Directional term meaning toward the front of the body or towards the belly.

Posterior (Dorsal)

Directional term meaning toward the back of the body.

Medial

Directional term meaning toward the midline of the body.

Lateral

Directional term meaning toward the side or away from the midline of the body.

Proximal

Directional term meaning toward or nearest the trunk, or nearest the point of origin.

Distal

Directional term meaning away from or farthest from the trunk, or farthest from the point of origin.

Superficial

Directional term referring to structures located closer to the surface of the body.

Deep

Directional term referring to structures located farther from the surface of the body.

Lumen

The inner hollow space or cavity within an organ, such as the stomach or a blood vessel.

Medullary

Anatomical description referring to the inner region or core of an organ.

Cortical

Anatomical description referring to the outer layer or outer surface of an organ.

Basal

Anatomical description referring to the base or widest part of an organ.

Apical

Anatomical description referring to the narrow tip or apex of an organ.

Visceral Layer

The thin membrane layer that directly covers the organs (viscera) located inside a body cavity.

Parietal Layer

The thin membrane layer that lines the inner wall of a body cavity.

Sensor

The receptor component of a homeostatic response pathway that identifies and responds to changes in a variable.

Integrator

The control center component of a homeostatic mechanism that detects errors by comparing sensor input against a set point.

Effector

An organ or tissue that receives signals from an integrator to directly alter physiological variables and restore homeostasis.

Negative Feedback

A primary homeostatic control mechanism that produces an action opposite to the initial change to stabilize physiological variables.

Positive Feedback

A stimulatory control process that amplifies or reinforces an occurring change until an external mechanism stops it.

Feed-Forward

A control process that enables a feedback loop to anticipate a stimulus before it takes place.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed when an atom donates electrons to another, yielding charged ions that separate in water.

Covalent Bond

The strongest chemical bond in the body, formed when atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons.

Hydrogen Bond

A weak intermolecular attraction between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom like oxygen, nitrogen, or fluorine.

Synthesis Reaction

A chemical reaction ($A + B \rightarrow AB$) where reactants combine to create a new compound, requiring energy.

Decomposition Reaction

A chemical reaction ($AB \rightarrow A + B + \text{Energy}$) in which complex compounds break down, releasing energy.

Exchange Reaction

A chemical reaction ($AB + CD \rightarrow AD + CB$) in which two compounds break bonds and exchange molecular components.

Catabolism

The metabolic process of breaking down large food molecules into smaller units, releasing energy and heat.

Anabolism

The metabolic process of joining simple compounds to synthesize complex cellular materials, requiring energy.

Electrolytes

A large class of inorganic compounds—including acids, bases, and salts—that dissociate in solution into cations and anions.

Acid

A compound that acts as a proton donor by releasing hydrogen ions ($H^+$) in solution, resulting in a pH below $7$.

Base

A compound that acts as a proton acceptor by yielding hydroxyl ions ($OH^-$) or reducing $H^+$ ions, creating a pH above $7$.

Buffer

A chemical mechanism that resists drastic pH changes by providing or removing $H^+$ ions as needed.

Rough Endoplasmic Reticulum (RER)

A membranous organelle studded with ribosomes extending from the nucleus, specialized for protein production.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (SER)

A tubular membranous organelle lacking ribosomes, responsible for lipid and carbohydrate production.

Ribosomes

Nonmembranous protein factories composed of rRNA and protein that translate genetic code to synthesize proteins.

Golgi Apparatus

A membranous organelle consisting of tiny sacs called cisternae that process and package proteins to exit the cell.

Lysosomes

Membranous sacs containing digestive enzymes that perform autophagy by digesting unneeded cytoplasmic components.

Proteasomes

Protein-destroying organelles that dismantle misfolded or excess proteins individually.

Peroxisomes

Cytoplasmic vesicles packed with peroxidase and catalase enzymes that detoxify harmful compounds in cells.

Mitochondria

Double-membrane power plants of the cell that synthesize ATP molecules and contain their own DNA.

Centrosome

A cytoplasmic organelle near the nucleus that coordinates the assembly and disassembly of microtubules.

Simple Diffusion

Passive transport where solute particles pass directly through the phospholipid bilayer down their concentration gradient.

Osmosis

Passive movement of water through a semipermeable membrane from an area of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Aquaporins (AQPs)

Transmembrane channel proteins that facilitate the rapid bulk movement of water across cell membranes.

Osmotic Pressure

The pulling force exerted by solute particles on water molecules across a semipermeable membrane.

Facilitated Diffusion

Passive transport mediated by specific channel or carrier proteins to move solutes down a concentration gradient.

Active Transport

Cellular transport requiring metabolic energy (ATP) to move substances against their concentration gradient or via vesicles.

Endocytosis

Bulk transport mechanism where the cell membrane encloses extracellular material into a vesicle for entry into the cell.

Pinocytosis

A non-specific type of endocytosis ('cell drinking') where the cell engulfs extracellular fluid and dissolved solutes.

Phagocytosis

A specialized type of endocytosis ('cell eating') where phagocytes encapsulate large solid particles like bacteria in phagosomes.

Exocytosis

Bulk transport mechanism where membrane-bound vesicles inside the cell fuse with the plasma membrane to secrete contents.

Cystic Fibrosis (CF)

A genetic disorder resulting from a defective CFTR chloride channel, leading to dense mucus buildup and salty sweat.

Allosteric Effectors

Agents such as temperature, pH, or radiation that modify enzyme activity by altering the enzyme's three-dimensional shape.

Transcription

The process in protein synthesis where a complementary strand of messenger RNA (mRNA) is formed along a segment of DNA.