Biology Leap Vocabulary

Stomata

Stomata

found in plants; exchange gases (carbon & oxygen), and release water

Vascular tissue

specialized tissue in plants that carries water and nutrients to the plants

Vascular plants

plants with vascular tissue

Nonvascular plants

does not have vascular tissues

Seed

plant embryo and a food supply encased in a protective covering

Cotyledons

structures that either store food or help absorb food for the tiny sporophyte

Cones

male or female reproductive structures of cycads and other gymnosperm plants

Annual

plant lives 1 year

Biannual

plant lives 2 years

Perennial

plant live many years

Blastula

a cell covered, fluid filled ball formed in early stage of animal embryo

Deuterostome

animal whose anus is formed from the blastopore of a blastula

Ectoderm

layer of cells on the outer surface of the gastula; develops into skin and nervous tissue

Endoderm

layer of cells on the inner surface of the gastrula; lining the digestive tract

Gastrula

the food tube; digestive

Mesdoderm

middle cell layer in the gastrula, between the ectoderm & the endoderm

Protostone

animal with a mouth that develops from the opening in the gastrula

Sessile

organism that is permanently attached to a surface

Acelomate

an animal with no body cavities

Anterior

head end of bilateral animals where sensory organs are often located

Bilateral symmetry

body plan in which only a single line can divide the body into two equal halves; halves equal but opposite

Dorsal

upper surface of bilaterally symmetric animals

Endoskeleton

internal skeleton or supporting framework in an animal

Exoskeleton

hard covering on the outside of some animals

Posterior

tail end of bilaterally symmetric animals

Radial symmetry

an animal's body plan that can be divided along any plane, through a central axis, into roughly equal halves

Ventral

lower surface of bilaterally symmetric animals

Dermis

inner, thicker layer of skin

Epidermis

outermost layer of skin

Hair Follicle

narrow, hollow opening in the dermis

Keratin

hard protein material found in the epidermis, hair, and nails

Melanin

a pigment that gives the skin its color

Appendicular skeleton

includes the bones of the shoulders, arms, hands, hips, legs, and feet

Axial skeleton

a part of the skeleton that includes the skull and the bones that support it

Bursa

fluid

Compact bone

hard bone composed of repeating units of osteon systems

Joint

found where 2 or more bones meet

Ligament

a tough band of connective tissue that attaches one bone to another

Osteoblast

potential bone cell

Red marrow

the production site for red & white blood cells, and cell fragments that are needed for blood clotting

Spongy bone

has many holes and spaces; surrounded by compact bone

Tendon

thick band of connective tissue that connects muscles to bone

Yellow marrow

consists of stored fat; found in many bones

Cardiac muscle

heart muscle

Involuntary muscle

contracts by itself; not by conscious control

Smooth muscle

made of sheets of cells that line organs

Voluntary muscle

a muscle that contracts under conscious control

Endocrine glands

glands that release chemicals directly into the bloodstream

Negative Feedback System

type of internal feedback mechanism that generally controls adjustments to the endocrine system

Receptors

the binding sites on target cells

Autonomic Nervous System

a portion of the peripheral nervous system that carries impulses from the central nervous system to internal organs

Central Nervous System (CNS)

the central control center of the nervous system made up of the brain and spinal cord

Neuron

basic unit of structure and function in the nervous system

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

the sensory and motor neurons that connect the CNS to the rest of the body

Sympathetic Nervous System

division of the autonomic nervous system that controls many the body's internal functions during times of stress;fight or flight