ATI TEAS Science Vocabulary Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering the key science terms from Unit 3 of the ATI TEAS Study Manual.

acid

A substance with a pH less than $7$.

activation energy

The minimum energy needed to initiate a chemical reaction.

active immunity

Protection against a specific pathogen resulting from the production of antibodies in response to the presence of specific antigens.

active transport

Movement across a cell membrane that travels against the concentration gradient and thus requires energy.

adaptive defense

A specific response by the immune system to a given pathogen.

adaptive immune system

A kind of passive or active immunity in which antibodies to a particular antigen are present in the body.

adhesiveness

A measure of how well dissimilar particles or surfaces cling to one another.

adrenal

A gland above the kidney that produces hormones to regulate heart rate, blood pressure, and other functions.

aldosterone

A hormone secreted by the adrenal gland that increases reabsorption of sodium ions.

allele

A specific copy of a gene.

allergies

An immune response to a foreign agent that is not a pathogen.

alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place.

amino acids

The monomers that make up proteins.

anaphase

The stage in mitosis in which the chromosomes are pulled apart to the poles and cell division begins.

anaphase I

The stage in meiosis I in which homologous chromosomes move to opposite ends of the cell.

anaphase II

The stage in meiosis II in which sister chromatids separate and move to opposite ends of the cell.

anatomical position

Standard positioning of the body as standing; feet together; arms to the side; with head, eyes, and palms of hands forward.

angiotensin II

A secretion that acts to restore blood volume and blood pressure by constricting blood vessels, stimulating thirst, and stimulating production of aldosterone and antidiuretic hormone.

anion

A negatively charged ion.

antagonist

The relaxed muscle in the pair of muscles that is involved in a given movement.

antibody-mediated immunity

A defense that employs B cells to create antibodies that tag pathogens for later destruction. Also known as humoral immunity.

antibody

A blood protein that counteracts a specific antigen.

antidiuretic hormone

A secretion from the pituitary gland that increases the amount of water able to be reabsorbed from a collecting duct.

antigen-presenting cell

A cell that displays foreign antigens with major histocompatibility complexes on their surfaces.

antigens

Substances on the surfaces of agents that act to identify them, to the body, as being native or foreign.

antimicrobial

A substance that kills or inhibits growth of microorganisms with minimal damage to the host.

anus

The opening of the rectum from which solid waste is expelled.

apocrine sweat gland

Accessory structures of the dermis that are in physical association with hair follicles, producing a secretion with an odor (possibly a sex pheromone to humans).

appendicular skeleton

The portion of the skeleton made up of our appendages—the bones of our arms, legs, hands, and feet.

arteries

Vessels that carry blood away from the heart toward other body parts.

asthma

A lung disease characterized by inflamed, narrowed airways and difficulty breathing.

atom

The fundamental constituent of matter that retains the properties of an element. It is the smallest unit that has a unique identity.

atomic mass

The sum of the masses of protons and neutrons in one atom of an element.

atomic number

The number of protons in the nucleus of an atom.

autoimmune disease

A pathology that results from the immune system mistaking part of the body as a pathogen.

autonomic nervous system

The part of the peripheral nervous system that regulates unconscious body functions such as breathing and heart rate.

axial skeleton

The portion of the skeleton consisting of the skull, ribs, sternum, and spinal column.

axon

A nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse away from the neuron cell body.

bacteria

Unicellular organisms that are capable of causing disease.

B cells

Lymphocytes that mature in bone marrow and make antibodies in response to antigens.

ball and socket joints

Point of articulation that allows for abduction, adduction, circumduction, and rotation (e.g., the hip socket).

base

A substance with a pH greater than $7$.

bolus

A mass of food that has been chewed and swallowed.

bone marrow

A soft material within spongy bone and medullary cavity of long bones.

bone

Hard, calcified material that makes up the skeleton.

Bowman's capsule

A cup-like structure that surrounds and collects filtrate from the glomerulus.

brittle bone disease

A group of diseases that affect collagen and result in fragile bones.

bronchi

The main passageways directly attached to the lungs.

bronchioles

Small passages in the lungs that connect bronchi to alveoli.

buffer

A solution of a weak acid and its conjugate base or a weak base and its conjugate acid that maintains body pH.

canaliculi

Microscopic canals in ossified bone.

capillaries

Small vessels that connect arterioles to venules and carry out gas exchange.

carbohydrates

Sugars and starches, which the body breaks down into glucose.

cardiac muscle

Involuntary muscle found in the heart.

cardiovascular system

The system comprised of the heart and blood vessels.

cartilage

Tough, flexible connective tissue found in parts of the body such as the ear.

catalyst

A substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction by lowering the activation energy without undergoing permanent change.

cation

A positively charged ion.

cell-mediated immunity

A type of adaptive immunity in which T lymphocytes attack parasitic worms, cancer cells, transplanted tissues, or cells containing pathogens.

cell (plasma) membrane

A cell organelle that maintains its environment through selective permeability.

cells

The basic structural unit of an organism from which living things are created.

cellular functions

Processes including growth, metabolism, replication, protein synthesis, and movement.

central nervous system

The part of the nervous system consisting of the brain and the spinal cord that acts as the command center.

ceruminous glands

Accessory structures in the dermis of the ear canal that produce ear wax.

cervix

The passage that forms the lower part of the uterus.

chemical equation

Mathematical representation of a chemical reaction.

chromatid

One of the two duplicates of a chromosome formed during the cell cycle.

chromosome

A structure made of protein and one molecule of DNA that contains genetic information.

chyme

The semifluid mass of partly digested food moving from the stomach to the small intestine.

codons

Triplets of nucleotides that code for amino acids.

cohesion

The tendency of similar molecules to stick to each other or group together.

collagen

The primary structural protein of connective tissue.

commensal microorganisms

Microscopic organisms that live in or on the human body without causing harm.

compact (dense) bone

Bone containing densely packed osteons making up the peripheral layer of bone.

complementary strand

A molecule of RNA (or DNA) synthesized from a complementary template strand.

compound

A substance made of two or more elements.

concentration of a solution

The quantity of solute in a given quantity of solution.

contraction

The process leading to shortening and/or development of tension in a muscle.

controlled variable

The condition that is kept the same in an experiment.

covalent bond

A chemical bond in which electron pairs are shared between atoms.

cutaneous vasoconstriction

A decrease in the diameter of blood vessels in the dermis that reduces blood flow through the skin.

cutaneous vasodilation

An increase in the diameter of blood vessels in the dermis that reduces blood flow through the skin.

cystic fibrosis

A genetic disorder affecting the lungs characterized by breathing difficulty, coughing up sputum, and infections.

cytokines

Cell signaling molecules released primarily by helper T-cells and macrophages; some activate cytotoxic T-cells.

cytoplasm

Material within a eukaryotic cell that supports structures and transfers materials for cellular processes.

cytotoxic T cells

A category of lymphocyte that attacks foreign cells.

dehydration reaction

Reaction between two molecules where a water molecule is released and a covalent bond forms to build polymers.

dendrite

A nerve fiber that carries a nerve impulse towards the neuron cell body.

dendritic cells

Antigen-presenting cells that process antigen material and present it to T cells.

density

The ratio of mass to volume.

deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA)

Material containing genetic information responsible for directing protein synthesis.

deoxyribose sugar

The sugar portion of a deoxyribose nucleotide.

dermis

The middle layer of skin.

diabetes

High blood sugar levels resulting from a pancreatic hormone regulation malfunction.

diastole

The portion of the cardiac cycle in which the heart refills with blood.

diffusion

Passive movement of a substance from high to low concentration.

dihybrid cross

A cross between parents heterozygous at two specific genes.

dilution

Adding solvent to decrease the concentration of solute in a solution.

directional terminology

Words used to explain relationships of anatomical locations (e.g., distal, posterior, medial).

disease

A condition that deteriorates the normal functioning of cells, tissues, and/or organs.