Thermoregulation, Osmoregulation & Reproduction

These flashcards cover key terminology and concepts from the topics of thermoregulation, osmoregulation, and reproduction, helping to prepare for an exam.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that reverses changes to return a system to its set point.

Endotherm

Organisms that generate heat from within, like birds and mammals.

Ectotherm

Organisms that rely on external sources for body heat, like reptiles.

Thermoregulation

The process by which animals maintain their body temperature within certain boundaries.

Heat Gain

Mechanisms by which organisms acquire heat, including metabolism and sunlight.

Heat Loss

Methods by which organisms lose heat, such as radiation and evaporation.

Torpor

A short-term drop in metabolism and body temperature.

Hibernation

A long-term seasonal torpor during winter.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a membrane from low solute concentration to high.

Osmoconformers

Organisms whose body fluids match their environment.

Osmoregulators

Organisms that actively maintain internal solute concentrations different from their environment.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, involved in filtering blood and forming urine.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

A hormone that regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Ammonia

A very toxic metabolic waste that requires large amounts of water for excretion.

Urea

A less toxic form of waste that saves water, produced by mammals and amphibians.

Uric Acid

The least toxic waste requiring minimal water, produced by birds and reptiles.

Hypertonic

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes compared to another.

Hypotonic

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another.

Isotonic

A solution with an equal concentration of solutes compared to another.

Asexual Reproduction

A form of reproduction involving one parent that creates genetically identical offspring.

Sexual Reproduction

A form of reproduction involving two parents and the fusion of gametes, leading to genetic diversity.

Monoecious

An organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

Dioecious

An organism with separate male and female individuals.

Internal Fertilization

Fertilization occurring inside the female's body.

External Fertilization

Fertilization occurring outside the female's body in water.

Developmental Stages

The sequence of stages from zygote to morula to blastula to gastrula.

Amniota

A group of animals that lay eggs or give birth to live young, characterized by amniotic membranes.

Oviparous

Organisms that lay eggs that develop outside the body.

Viviparous

Organisms that give live birth after developing the embryo inside with a maternal connection.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining stable internal conditions despite external changes.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism that reverses changes to return a system to its set point.

Endotherm

Organisms that generate heat from within, like birds and mammals.

Ectotherm

Organisms that rely on external sources for body heat, like reptiles.

Thermoregulation

The process by which animals maintain their body temperature within certain boundaries.

Heat Gain

Mechanisms by which organisms acquire heat, including metabolism and sunlight.

Heat Loss

Methods by which organisms lose heat, such as radiation and evaporation.

Torpor

A short-term drop in metabolism and body temperature.

Hibernation

A long-term seasonal torpor during winter.

Osmosis

The diffusion of water across a membrane from low solute concentration to high.

Osmoconformers

Organisms whose body fluids match their environment.

Osmoregulators

Organisms that actively maintain internal solute concentrations different from their environment.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney, involved in filtering blood and forming urine.

ADH (Antidiuretic Hormone)

A hormone that regulates water reabsorption in the kidneys.

Ammonia

A very toxic metabolic waste that requires large amounts of water for excretion.

Urea

A less toxic form of waste that saves water, produced by mammals and amphibians.

Uric Acid

The least toxic waste requiring minimal water, produced by birds and reptiles.

Hypertonic

A solution with a higher concentration of solutes compared to another.

Hypotonic

A solution with a lower concentration of solutes compared to another.

Isotonic

A solution with an equal concentration of solutes compared to another.

Asexual Reproduction

A form of reproduction involving one parent that creates genetically identical offspring.

Sexual Reproduction

A form of reproduction involving two parents and the fusion of gametes, leading to genetic diversity.

Monoecious

An organism that has both male and female reproductive organs.

Dioecious

An organism with separate male and female individuals.

Internal Fertilization

Fertilization occurring inside the female's body.

External Fertilization

Fertilization occurring outside the female's body in water.

Developmental Stages

The sequence of stages from zygote to morula to blastula to gastrula.

Amniota

A group of animals that lay eggs or give birth to live young, characterized by amniotic membranes.

Oviparous

Organisms that lay eggs that develop outside the body.

Viviparous

Organisms that give live birth after developing the embryo inside with a maternal connection.

Positive Feedback

A mechanism that amplifies a change, moving the system further from its set point.

Conduction

The direct transfer of heat between two physical bodies in contact.

Convection

The transfer of heat by the movement of fluid (liquid or gas).

Cleavage (biology)

The rapid series of cell divisions in the early embryo, converting the zygote into a multicellular blastula without significant growth.

Gastrulation

A process in embryonic development where the single-layered blastula is reorganized into a multi-layered structure called the gastrula, forming the germ layers.

Germ Layers

The primary layers of cells that form during gastrulation and give rise to all tissues and organs in an animal.