Movement of Substances and Homeostasis in Biology

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to the movement of substances and homeostasis in biology.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration.

Osmosis

The net movement of water molecules from a region of higher water potential to a region of lower water potential through a selectively permeable membrane.

Active Transport

The process where cellular energy (ATP) is used to move particles against their concentration gradient.

Enzyme

A protein that functions as a biological catalyst to accelerate chemical reactions without being consumed.

Catalyst

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction and remains unchanged by the reaction.

Enzyme-Substrate Complex

The intermediate formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment in an organism.

Negative Feedback

A process whereby a system responds to a change in a way that counteracts that change.

Islets of Langerhans

Clusters of cells in the pancreas that produce hormones such as insulin and glucagon.

Insulin

A hormone that decreases blood glucose concentration by facilitating glucose uptake and converting glucose into glycogen.

Glucagon

A hormone that increases blood glucose concentration by converting glycogen back to glucose.