Review Flashcards for Biology - Excretion and Sensitivity

Flashcards for key concepts from biology regarding excretion in living organisms, sensitivity in plants, and the structure and function of the nervous system.

What is the process by which living organisms get rid of waste products formed during metabolic processes?

Excretion.

Why is excretion crucial for living organisms?

It helps remove harmful metabolic waste products that would accumulate and cause problems or diseases.

In which form do aquatic animals excrete nitrogenous waste?

Ammonia.

What is the form of nitrogenous waste excreted by birds and reptiles?

Uric acid.

Which organs are primarily responsible for excretion in humans?

Skin, lungs, kidneys, and liver.

What are the key components of the skin that contribute to its role in excretion?

Sweat glands, sebaceous glands, and blood vessels.

What happens to the skin's sweat secretion rate in hot weather?

It increases to help regulate body temperature.

What is the role of the nephron in the kidneys?

It is the functional unit that filters blood and forms urine.

What are the two main processes involved in urine formation in the kidneys?

Filtration and selective reabsorption.

What is the name of the structure that connects the kidney to the urinary bladder?

Ureter.

What is the role of auxins in plants?

They regulate growth responses, such as phototropism and geotropism.

What does 'phototropism' refer to in plants?

The growth response of plants to light, typically causing stem bending towards light.

How do plants generally control water loss?

Through transpiration and guttation.

What causes a faster response in myelinated nerve fibers?

The presence of a myelin sheath which insulates and speeds up impulse transmission.

What is a synapse?

The junction between the terminal arborizations of one neuron and the dendrites of another.

Why is the brain region referred to as the 'control center' for many voluntary and involuntary actions?

It coordinates the activity of multiple body systems.