Unit 5: Chordata Vocab and Root Words

Bio 2

Chordata

A phylum of animals that have a flexible support structure along their back at some point in development

Chordate

An organism that belongs to the phylum Chordata

Chord / Chorda

String or cord

Vertebrate

A chordate with a backbone

Vertebra

An individual bone of the backbone

Vertebral column

The backbone or spine

Backbone

A series of bones that support the body and protect the spinal cord

Endoskeleton

An internal skeleton that supports and protects the body

Centralized nervous system

A nervous system with a brain and spinal cord

Cephalization

The concentration of the brain and sense organs in the head

Cranium

The part of the skull that protects the brain

Embryo

An early stage of development before birth or hatching

Notochord

A flexible rod that supports the embryo and later becomes the backbone in vertebrates

Dorsal nerve cord

A hollow nerve cord along the back that becomes the brain and spinal cord

Pharyngeal slits

Openings in the throat region of embryos that become gills or parts of the ear and throat

Postanal tail

A tail that extends beyond the anus during embryonic development

Segmented body

A body divided into repeating sections

Bilateral symmetry

A body plan with matching left and right sides

Digestive tract (complete)

A digestive system with both a mouth and an anus

Closed circulatory system

A system where blood stays inside vessels and is pumped by a heart

Heart

A muscular organ that pumps blood through the body

Blood vessels

Tubes that carry blood throughout the body

Subphylum

A classification level below phylum

Urochordata

Simple marine chordates also called tunicates

Cephalochordata

Simple marine chordates also called lancelets

Vertebrata

The subphylum that includes animals with backbones

Myomeres

Segmented muscle blocks used for movement, especially in fish

Coelomate

An organism with a body cavity

Triploblast

An organism with three tissue layers

Deuterostome

An organism whose anus forms before the mouth during development

Fish

Aquatic vertebrates with gills

Amphibians

Vertebrates that live both in water and on land

Reptiles

Ectothermic vertebrates with dry, scaly skin

Birds (Aves)

Vertebrates with feathers

Mammals

Vertebrates with hair or fur and mammary glands