Biology: How Life Works Unit 3: Challenges of Life

A collection of vocabulary flashcards based on key concepts related to the challenges of life, homeostasis, metabolism, and physiological processes in biology.

Surface Area-to-Volume Ratio

The ratio of the surface area of a cell to its volume, which affects the efficiency of nutrient transport and waste removal.

Homeostasis

Maintaining a relatively stable internal state in an organism.

Negative Feedback Loop

A process in which a system's output serves as input to the same system, aiming to stabilize the system.

Ectothermic Organisms

Organisms that rely on external sources to regulate their body temperature.

Endothermic Organisms

Organisms that generate heat through internal metabolic processes to maintain body temperature.

Insulin

A hormone released by the pancreas that helps lower blood glucose levels.

Glucagon

A hormone that raises blood glucose levels by promoting the conversion of stored glycogen to glucose.

Receptor

A protein molecule that receives chemical signals from outside a cell.

Hormone

Chemical messengers produced by glands in the endocrine system that regulate physiological processes.

Effector

A component of a biological system that produces a response to a stimulus.

Osmoregulation

The process by which organisms regulate the concentration of water and salts in their body.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical processes that occur within a living organism to maintain life.

Thermoregulation

The ability of an organism to maintain its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when surrounding temperatures are different.

Chemical Signaling

The process of communication between cells via hormones or other chemical substances.

Pheromones

Chemical signals released by an organism into the environment to communicate with others of the same species.

Digestion

The process by which food is broken down into smaller components that can be absorbed by the body.

Foregut

The initial part of the digestive tract where food is stored and initial digestion occurs.

Midgut

The part of the digestive tract where most absorption and digestion occur.

Hindgut

The final part of the digestive system where water and nutrients are reabsorbed before waste elimination.

Cellulase

An enzyme capable of breaking down cellulose into glucose.

Feedback Loop

A system structure that helps maintain homeostasis through circular causal processes.

Amplification of Hormone Signals

The process by which a small amount of hormone results in a large response by the target organs.

Nervous System

The system of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body.

Corticosteroid

A class of steroid hormones produced in the adrenal cortex that among other functions, help regulate metabolism and immune response.

Physiological Homeostasis

The maintenance of stable internal conditions through both physiological and behavioral adjustments.