All Key Words Biology Y7

MRS GREN

The 7 characteristics of living organisms. Movement, Respiration, Sensitivity, Nutrition, Excretion, Reproduction, Growth

Habitat

The place where an organism lives

Organism

A living thing which can carry out the 7 life processes (MRS GREN)

Ecosystem

A community of organisms of different species interacting with the physical factors which make up their environment

Food Chain

The sequence of organisms in a feeding relationship, through which ENERGY flows. The arrow shows the direction of energy transfer

Food Web

A number of interconnected food chains

Energy

All energy in food chains originates from the suns and flows from producers to consumers. The direction of the arrow shows the direction of __________ Transfer.

Producer

An organism that gets its energy from the Sun e.g. plants and algae. They are the base of the food chain

Consumer

An animal that eats other organisms (plant or animal). (You should also know the difference between primary, secondary, tertiary and quaternary)

Predator

An animal that hunts and kills other animals for food

Prey

An animal that is hunted by another animal for food

Apex Predator

A predator at the top of its food chain

Adaptation

A feature of an organism that helps it to survive in its environment.

Structural Adaptation

A physical feature of an organism that helps it to survive in its environment e.g. polar bears have large paws to prevent them sinking into the snow

Behavioural Adaptation

A behaviour of an organism that helps it to survive in its environment e.g. bears often hibernate in the coldest months of the year to conserve energy

Abiotic Factor

A non-living factor which can affect organisms in an ecosystem

Biotic Factor

A living factor which can affect organisms in an ecosystem

Cell

The building blocks of life, smallest unit in living organisms.

Cytoplasm

Jelly-like substance in which chemical reactions take place

Nucleus

Controls the cell activities and stores the DNA

Ribosome

Where protein synthesis occurs

Mitochondria

Where aerobic respiration takes place (energy is released here)

Cell Membrane

Controls the movement of substances in and out of the cell

Cell Wall

Strengthens the cell – made of cellulose (a carbohydrate) *only in plant cell

Permanent Vacuole

Filled with cell sap, helps keep cell firm. *only in plant cell

Chloroplasts

Absorb light to make food in photosynthesis. Carbon dioxide + water --> Glucose + oxygen *only in plant cell

Specialised cell

A cell with specific features that help it carry out its function.

Microscope

An instrument used to magnify specimens

Eyepiece Lens

The lens you look down, on school microscopes this magnifies the specimen x10

Objective Lens

The 3 lens that rotate round, on school microscopes this magnifies the specimen x4, x10, x40

Stage

The black flat platform that we put the slide on

Cover slip

The small glass square that goes on top of a slide

Slide

The rectangular glass slide that the specimen goes on

Stage clips

Small metal clips to hold the slide in place on the stage

Tissue

A collection of cells working together to perform a specific function

Organ

A collection of tissues working together to perform a specific function

Organ System

A collection of organs working together to perform a specific function

Digestion

The process of breaking down large insoluble food molecules into small soluble food molecules

Stomach acid

The purpose of _____ is to kill bacteria, fungi or viruses that may enter the body on food

Bile

A substance released into the small intestine to neutralise stomach acid and emulsify fats (break up larger chunks of fat into smaller chunks of fat)

Digestive enzymes

A substance which chemically breaks down food into smaller molecules

Stomach

A muscular organ which contracts and churns food to mix the food with digestive enzymes and stomach acid

Small intestine

Where digested molecules of food are absorbed into the bloodstream

Large intestine

Where water is absorbed into the bloodstream

Rectum

Faeces is stored here before it exits the body through the anus

Liver

Bile is produced here (and has many other functions too)

Gall bladder

Bile is stored here

Pancreas

Produces digestive enzymes (and insulin)

Enzyme

A substance (protein) that speeds up the rate of reaction

Ovary / ovaries

There are two of these. They contain egg cells. A woman releases one egg cell a month (ovulation).

Oviduct / fallopian tube

Lined with cells that waft the egg cell down into the uterus. Fertilisation takes place here.

Uterus

A muscular bag with a soft lining, where a fertilised egg cell implants and develops into a baby. If a fertilised egg cell does not implant, the lining is broken down (a period) and then replenished.

Cervix

A ring of muscle at the top of the vagina that keeps a baby in place during pregnancy.

Vagina

A muscular tube where a man’s penis goes and where semen is deposited during sexual intercourse.

Scrotum

The pouch of skin that contains the testicles and holds them outside of the body

Testes / testicles

To produce sperm cells and the sex hormone testosterone.

Sperm duct

To carry sperm away from the testes.

glands

Produces a fluid which provides sperm cells with nutrients (sperm cells + fluid = semen).

Bladder

To store urine (NOT a reproductive organ)

Penis

Organ that allows a male to pass urine and semen from his body.

Urethra

A tube which passes urine out of the man's body and semen into the vagina of a woman during sexual intercourse.

Ejaculation

When sperm are released from the tip of the penis

Erection

When the penis is stiff due to sexual arousal

Fertilisation

When the sperm cell and egg cell join together and their nuclei fuse

Zygote

A fertilised egg cell. Straight after fertilisation.

Sperm cell

the male gamete

Egg cell

the female gamete

Fetus

The name for an unborn baby during development in the uterus, approx. 10-40 weeks

Embryo

The name for an unborn baby during EARLY development, appox 3-10 weeks.