Unit 0 test (background info)

bio and chem

Medical Terminology: Root

Gives the core meaning, usually a body part or system.

Medical Terminology: Prefix

Comes first to add detail like location, number, or status.

Medical Terminology: Suffix

Comes last to show a condition, test, or procedure.

CHNOPS Elements

The six elements that make up the majority of the human body.

Iodine Deficiency

Causes the thyroid gland to enlarge and fail to produce hormones.

Iron Deficiency

Prevents the body from producing enough red blood cells, causing anemia.

Acids and Bases (pH)

Acids have a pH less than 7; bases have a pH greater than 7.

Bicarbonate Buffer System

A mixture of chemicals using bicarbonate (HCO3-) to maintain blood pH.

Polymers and Monomers

Polymers are large organic compounds made of repeating individual monomer units.

DNA Structure

A spiraling double helix with a sugar-phosphate backbone and nitrogenous base rungs.

RNA vs. DNA

RNA is single-stranded, uses ribose sugar, and contains uracil instead of thymine.

Carbohydrate Classifications

Monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides used for short or long-term energy.

Phospholipids

Molecules with a hydrophilic polar head and hydrophobic nonpolar fatty acid tails.

Protein Structure Levels

Four levels (Primary, Secondary, Tertiary, Quaternary) where sequence dictates shape and function.

Enzymes and Lock-and-Key Theory

Proteins that speed up reactions, where each enzyme only fits a specific substrate.

Biology in Anatomy & Physiology

A branch of science that deals with living organisms and their vital processes.

Organization (Characteristic of Life)

The structural levels of life including cells, tissues, and organs.

Metabolism (Characteristic of Life)

Chemical reactions in the body that require and release energy.

Responsiveness (Characteristic of Life)

The ability of an organism to sense environmental changes and react to them.

Growth and Development

Growth is an increase in body size and repair; development includes body changes and differentiation.

Homeostasis Set Point

The optimal value or normal range around which physiological conditions fluctuate.

Sensors and Effectors

Sensors detect internal conditions, while effectors (muscles or glands) respond to deviations from the set point.

Negative Feedback Loop

A control mechanism that counters changes to maintain homeostasis, such as insulin lowering blood sugar.

Positive Feedback Loop

A mechanism that amplifies or increases events, such as oxytocin during childbirth or suckling for milk production.