ATI TEAS 7 Science Comprehensive Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering key human anatomy, physiology, life science, physical science, chemistry, and scientific reasoning concepts from the ATI TEAS 7 study guide.

Ventilation

The movement of air in and out of the lungs (breathing).

Perfusion

The process of delivering blood to the body's tissues, organs, and cells.

Surfactant

A fluid secreted in the alveoli that reduces surface tension to prevent alveolar collapse.

Parietal Pericardium

The tough, fibrous outer layer of the pericardium that forms a protective sac around the heart and anchors it within the chest cavity.

Myocardium

The middle layer of heart tissue composed of thick muscle responsible for cardiac contraction and pumping blood.

Sinoatrial (SA) Node

The primary pacemaker of the heart, located in the right atrium, which generates electrical impulses at 60–100 bpm.

Agglutination

The clumping of red blood cells that occurs when mismatched blood types are mixed and plasma antibodies attack foreign antigens.

Gastrin

A hormone released by the stomach that stimulates gastric glands to secrete hydrochloric acid (HCl) and digestive enzymes.

Cholecystokinin (CCK)

A hormone released by the small intestine (duodenum) in response to fats that triggers the gallbladder to release bile and the pancreas to release digestive enzymes.

Pepsin

A digestive enzyme in the stomach activated by hydrochloric acid (HCl) that breaks down proteins into peptides.

Frontal Lobe

The region of the cerebral cortex that controls voluntary movement, reasoning, problem-solving, planning, behavior, emotions, and speech at Broca's area.

Medulla Oblongata

The lower portion of the brainstem that controls vital autonomic functions including breathing, heart rate, blood pressure, and swallowing.

Afferent Neurons

Sensory neurons that transmit incoming sensory inputs from receptors toward the central nervous system (CNS).

Efferent Neurons

Motor neurons that convey outgoing signals away from the central nervous system (CNS) to effector muscles or glands.

Acetylcholine (ACh)

A key neurotransmitter responsible for triggering muscle contraction at neuromuscular junctions and mediating parasympathetic nervous system responses.

Isotonic Contraction

A type of muscle contraction in which the muscle changes length while generating force, resulting in body movement.

Isometric Contraction

A type of muscle contraction in which force is generated without changing the length of the muscle or producing movement.

Totipotent Stem Cell

An undifferentiated stem cell capable of developing into any cell or tissue in an organism, including extraembryonic tissues, to form a complete organism.

Pluripotent Stem Cell

A stem cell capable of differentiating into almost any specialized cell type across the three germ layers (ectoderm, mesoderm, endoderm), but unable to form a complete organism.

Stratum Basale

The deepest layer of the epidermis containing actively dividing stem cells, melanocytes, and Merkel touch receptors.

Melanocytes

Specialized cells in the stratum basale that synthesize melanin pigment to shield underlying tissue from ultraviolet (UV) radiation.

Endocrine Gland

A ductless gland that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream to produce systemic effects on target organs.

Exocrine Gland

A gland that secretes non-hormonal substances through ducts directly onto an epithelial surface or lumen.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

A hormone secreted by the parathyroid glands during low blood calcium levels that increases blood calcium via bone resorption, renal reabsorption, and vitamin D activation.

Calcitonin

A hormone released by the thyroid gland in response to elevated blood calcium levels that lowers blood calcium by promoting bone calcium deposition.

Nephron

The microscopic structural and functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and generating urine.

Proximal Convoluted Tubule (PCT)

The segment of the nephron directly after Bowman's capsule where approximately 65% of water, glucose, amino acids, and sodium are reabsorbed.

Helper T Cells (CD4+)

Master coordinator T-lymphocytes that detect foreign antigens and release cytokines to activate B cells, cytotoxic T cells, and macrophages.

Cytotoxic T Cells (CD8+)

Effector T-lymphocytes that directly scan cells presenting foreign antigens on MHC Class I molecules and kill infected or abnormal cells via apoptosis.

Osteoblasts

Bone-building cells that secrete bone matrix components, such as collagen and minerals, to form new bone.

Osteoclasts

Bone-resorbing cells that break down bone tissue to release calcium into the bloodstream.

Mitochondria

Membrane-bound cell organelles that generate cellular energy in the form of ATP through aerobic cellular respiration.

Glycolysis

An anaerobic metabolic pathway in the cytoplasm that breaks down one glucose molecule into two pyruvate molecules, producing a net gain of 2 ATP and 2 NADH.

Codon

A sequence of three adjacent nucleotides on mRNA that encodes a specific amino acid or stop signal during translation.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction in which two monomer molecules covalently bond together with the concurrent removal of a water molecule.

Hydrolysis

A chemical process that cleaves polymers into smaller monomer subunits by adding a molecule of water.

Cation

A positively charged ion produced when an atom, typically a metal, loses one or more electrons.

Anion

A negatively charged ion produced when an atom, typically a nonmetal, gains one or more electrons.

Ionic Bond

A chemical bond formed through the complete transfer of valence electrons from a metal atom to a nonmetal atom.

Covalent Bond

A chemical bond formed when two nonmetal atoms share one or more pairs of valence electrons.

Exothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that releases thermal energy to its surroundings, resulting in a temperature increase.

Endothermic Reaction

A chemical reaction that absorbs thermal energy from its surroundings, resulting in a temperature drop.

Dynamic Equilibrium

A state in a reversible chemical reaction where the rates of the forward and reverse reactions are equal, keeping reactant and product concentrations constant.

Osmosis

The passive diffusion of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from a region of lower solute concentration to higher solute concentration.

Hypertonic Solution

A solution containing a higher solute concentration than the fluid inside a cell, causing water to exit the cell and leading to cell shrinkage.

Hypotonic Solution

A solution containing a lower solute concentration than the fluid inside a cell, causing water to enter the cell and leading to cell swelling or lysis.

Buffer

A chemical solution containing a weak acid and its conjugate base that resists drastic shifts in pH when acids or bases are added.

Independent Variable

The experimental factor that is purposefully manipulated or altered by the investigator to observe its effect on an outcome.

Dependent Variable

The measured outcome or variable in an experiment that changes in response to manipulations of the independent variable.

Double Blind Study

An experimental trial in which neither the study participants nor the researchers administering the treatment know who is receiving the active intervention versus a placebo.