PMT Definitions

Amylase

An enzyme produced in the salivary glands and pancreas that breaks carbohydrates down into simple sugars

Aorta

The main artery that takes oxygenated blood away from the heart to the body

Artery

A blood vessel that carries blood at high pressure away from the heart

Benign tumour

An abnormal cell growth that is contained within one area and does not invade other areas of the body

Bile

A substance made in the liver and stored in the gallbladder which is used to neutralise stomach acid in the intestine and emulsify fats

Blood

A tissue containing red blood cells, white blood cells, platelets and plasma

Cancer

A non communicable disease caused by changes in the cell that lead to uncontrolled growth and division

Capillary

A very thin blood vessel that is used to exchange of substances

Cell

The basic building block of all living organisms

Communicable disease

A disease that can be spread between individuals either directly or indirectly

Disease

A disorder which produces symptoms

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that increase the rate of reactions in living organisms

Health

The state of physical and mental well being

Heart

An organ that pumps blood around the body in a double circulatory system

Lipase

An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas that breaks lipids down into fatty acids and glycerol

Lock and key hypothesis

A theory that describes how substrates must be the correct shape to fit the active site of an enzyme

Malignant tumour

A cancerous cell growth that invades neighbouring tissues and can spread to different parts of the body in the blood

Meristem tissue

Plant tissues containing undifferentiated stem cells

Metabolism

Sum of chemical reactions in the body

Non communicable disease

A disease that cannot be spread between individuals

Organs

Aggregations of tissues performing specific functions

Organ systems

Groups of organs that work together to form organisms

Palisade mesophyll

A tissue found in plant leaves that is specialised to carry out photosynthesis

Phloem

A transport tissue found in plants which is specialised to transport sugars from source to sink

Protease

An enzyme produced in the stomach and pancreas that breaks proteins down into amino acids

Pulmonary artery

The main artery that takes deoxygenated blood away from the heart into the lungs

Pulmonary vein

The main vein that takes oxygenated blood back to the heart from the lungs

Rate of reaction

The speed at which reactants are converted into products

Risk factor

Something that increases a persons risk of developing a disease

Spongy mesophyll

A tissue found in plant leaves thag is specialised for gas exchange

Statins

A class of drugs that are used to reduce blood cholesterol levels which slows down the rate of fatty material deposit

Stent

A tube that can be surgically implanted into blood vessels to keep them open

Tissue

A group of cells that work together to perform a specific function

Translocation

The movement of food molecules through the phloem tissue

Transpiration

The process of water evaporating from a plant

vein

A blood vessel that carries blood at low pressure back to the heart

Vena cava

The main vein that takes deoxygenated blood back to the heart from the body

Xylem

A transport tissue in plants which is specialised to transport water and dissolved minerals from the roots of the plant to the leaves