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Signaling Cell
A cell that releases/secretes signaling molecules
Signaling Molecule
A substance that is released by a signaling cell; acts as a carrier of information; also known as a first messenger or ligand
Receptor Protein
The molecule on the responding cell that binds to the signaling molecule
Responding Cell
The cell that receives information from the signaling molecule
Receptor Activation
The ‘turning on’ of a receptor, which often occurs when a signaling molecule binds to a receptor on a responding cell and triggers a change in the receptor’s shape
Signal Transduction
The process in which an extracellular molecule acts as a signal to activate a receptor, which transmits information to the cell through the cytoplasm
Response
A change in cell behavior, such as division, DNA replication, DNA expression, protein synthesis, change in enzyme activation, motility, etc, following a signal
Termination
In cell communication, the stopping of the response of a cell triggered by a signal
Endocrine Signaling
Long-distance signaling by molecules that travel through the bloodstream
Paracrine Signaling
Signaling by a molecule that travels a short distance to the nearest neighboring cell to bind its receptor and lead to a response
Autocrine Signaling
Signaling between different parts of the same cell; the cell is both the signaling cell and the responding cell
Contact-Dependent Signaling
Signaling that involves direct contact between two cells, typically a ligand on one cell with a receptor on the other cell
Second Messenger
An intermediate, cytosolic signaling molecule that transmits signals from a receptor to a target within the cell; produced downstream of receptor activation
Essential Nutrients
Nutrients required for life that cannot be synthesized by the organism; include vitamins, some amino acids, fatty acids, and dietary minerals
Essential Amino Acid
An amino acid that cannot be synthesized by cellular biochemical pathways and must be obtained through food instead
Dietary Minerals
In animals, a chemical element other than carbon, hydrogen, oxygen, or nitrogen that is required in the diet and must be obtained in food
Vitamins
Organic molecules that are required in very small amounts in the diet
Amylase
An enzyme that breaks down starch; produced by the salivary glands and the pancreas
Lipase
A type of enzyme produced by the tongue, stomach, and pancreas that breaks apart lipids, thus enabling their more effective digestion
Gastrin
A peptide hormone produced in the stomach that stimulates cells lining the stomach to increase their production of HCl
Pepsinogen
An enzyme produced by chief cells in the gastric pits of the stomach
Pepsin
An enzyme produced by the interaction between pepsinogen and HCl in the stomach that breaks down proteins
Trypsin
A digestive enzyme produced by the pancreas that breaks down protein
Secretin
A hormone released by cells lining the duodenum in response to the acidic pH of the stomach contents entering the small intestine and that stimulates the pancreas to secrete bicarbonate ions
Bile
A fluid produced by the liver, stored in the gallbladder, and released into the small intestine that aids in fat digestion by emulsifying lipids in food
Cholecystokinin
A peptide hormone that causes the gallbladder to contract and release bile into the duodenum
Homeostasis
The active regulation and maintenance of a stable internal physiological state in the face of a changing internal environment
Negative Feedback
A process in which the output or product of a pathway opposes the initial stimulus, so that steady conditions are maintained; often underlies homeostasis in a cell or organism
Set Point
A steady-state value in homeostatic regulation
