Chemistry, Cells, and Tissues Review

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing core concepts in general chemistry, biochemistry, cellular structures, and primary tissue classifications.

Hydrogen

The chemical element that commonly has only a proton as its nucleus.

Squamous Cells

Cells characterized by being flat and thin.

Tissue Level of Organization

The structural level of biological organization situated between cells and organs.

Simple Cuboidal Epithelium

A type of epithelial tissue whose primary functions are absorption and secretion.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The product formed from the phosphorylation of adenosine diphosphate (ADP).

Simple and Stratified

The two major types of epithelial cell layers.

Four Main Tissue Categories

The primary categories of animal tissue: epithelial tissue, neural tissue, muscle tissue, and connective tissue.

Proteins

Biological macromolecules whose diverse functions include support, metabolic regulation, buffering, and defense.

Guanine

The nucleic acid base that complementarily pairs with cytosine.

Epithelial Tissue

The tissue category that always possesses an apical surface and a basal surface.

Phosphate Group

The functional group represented by the formula $-PO_4$.

Simple Columnar Epithelium

The epithelial tissue that lines the stomach and the small intestine.

Organic Compounds

Chemical compounds that always contain carbon.

Adipocytes

Specialized cells that store fat.

Amino Acids

The monomer building blocks of proteins.

Disaccharide

A sugar formed when two monosaccharides undergo a dehydration synthesis reaction.

Transitional Epithelium

Epithelial tissue found lining the ureters and the urinary bladder.

Saturated Fatty Acid

A fatty acid chain that has no double bonds between carbon atoms.

Triglyceride

A lipid molecule formed from 1 glycerol molecule and 3 fatty acid molecules.

Glucose

The most important metabolic fuel molecule in the human body.

Glycogen

The storage polysaccharide form of glucose in the body.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that are reusable and not consumed during a chemical reaction.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction in which monomers are bonded together through the removal of a water molecule.

Hydrophilic Molecules

Molecules that readily associate with water molecules.

Neutral Solution

A solution that contains an equal number of hydrogen ions ($H^+$) and hydroxide ions ($OH^-$).

Mast Cells

Cells in areolar connective tissue that release histamine to stimulate inflammation.

Anion

An ion carrying a negative charge, such as chloride ($Cl^-$).

Cation

An ion carrying a positive charge.

Activation Energy

The minimum energy needed to start a chemical reaction.

Buffer

A substance that can remove or release hydrogen ions into a solution to stabilize pH.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction in which compounds react with water, causing decomposition.