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Based on the 3rd edition biology textbook written by C.J. Clegg, Andrew Davis, Christopher Talbot
zygote
cell produced by the fusion of gametes
embryo
an organism in the earliest stages of growth when its basic structures are being formed
morphogen
a molecule present in a concentration gradient that specifies the fate of each cell along the gradient
embryonic stem
undifferentiated cell in early-stage embryo capable of continual cell division and of developing into all the cell types of an adult organism
stem cell
undifferentiated cell in embryo or adult that can undergo unlimited division and can give rise to one of many different cell types
stem cell niche
specific microenvironment in the body that either maintains the stem cells or promotes their proliferation and differentiation
ex: bone marrow » blood cell formation, osteoblasts (bone cells) & haematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) help form red and white blood cells and platelets
hair follicles » bulge hair follicle stem cells, can increase rapidly with length
totipotent
capable of giving rise to any cell type in an organism, including making more totipotent stem cells and making the cells that become the placenta
pluripotent
able to develop into many different types of cells or tissues in the body except becoming placental cells or totipotent stem cells
multipotent
can create maintain and repair the cells of one particular organ or tissue
egg/ovum
a female gamete
has necessary nutrients for the early development of the fertilized egg
sperm
motile male gamete
only made of a nucleus, mitochondria, and flagellum to help move to the egg
red blood cell
large surface area to help diffuse oxygen, small to fit through lumen of capillarities
white blood cells
when foreign matter enters the body, the cells attack and destroy it, big and few in numbers, engulf or digest pathogens
neurons
transmit electrochemical impulses through the body allowing coordination and response to stimuli to occur
striated muscle fibres
multinucleated cells that attach to muscles to allow movement, help with coordinate contraction and muscle force generation
alveolus
air sac in the lungs
pneumocyte
specialized cells that occur in the alveoli of the lungs
epithelium
sheet of cells bound strongly together, covering internal or external surfaces of multicellular organisms
surfactant
a detergent secreted by cells in the wall of alveoli which breaks surface tension and stops alveoli walls from sticking together keeping the alveoli open.
myogenic
originating in heart muscle cells themselves, as in the generation of the heartbeat
myofibril
contractile protein filament from which muscle is composed
striated
muscle tissue that is marked by alternating dark and light bands
sacrolemma
membranous sheath around a muscle fibre.
intercalated discs
link cardiac cells together and define their borders, and facilitate cell-to-cell communication, which is needed for coordinated muscle contraction
tendon
fibrous connective tissue connecting a muscle to bone
oocyte
a female sex cell in the process of a meiotic division to become an ovum
