Key Concepts in Biology and Physiology

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key definitions and concepts from biology and physiology lectures.

Homeostasis

Stable internal environment.

Negative feedback

Response opposes stimulus (e.g., temperature regulation).

Positive feedback

Response amplifies stimulus (e.g., childbirth).

Intracellular fluid (ICF)

Fluid inside cells.

Extracellular fluid (ECF)

Fluid outside cells, includes plasma and interstitial fluid.

Plasma

Fluid portion of blood contained within blood vessels.

Interstitial fluid

Fluid between cells.

Passive transport

Movement across a membrane without the use of ATP (e.g., diffusion, osmosis).

Active transport

Movement across a membrane that requires ATP (e.g., pumps, endocytosis).

Ligand-gated receptors

Ion channels that open when bound by a ligand.

G-protein coupled receptors (GPCR)

Receptors that activate a second messenger when bound by a ligand.

Equilibrium potential (Eₓ)

Voltage where an ion has no net movement across a membrane.

Nernst equation

A formula used to calculate the equilibrium potential for an ion: Eₓ = 61/z × log([outside]/[inside]).

Resting membrane potential

Electrochemical gradient across a membrane at rest, typically around -70 mV.

Action potential

Rapid change in membrane potential that transmits signals along neurons.

Neurons

Cells responsible for transmitting sensory and motor information.

Glial Cells

Cells supporting neurons, with various functions in the nervous system.

Frontal lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex associated with motor control and reasoning.

Parietal lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex responsible for sensory integration.

Temporal lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex involved in auditory processing and memory.

Occipital lobe

Part of the cerebral cortex that processes visual information.

Diencephalon

Brain region including the thalamus and hypothalamus, involved in relaying signals and regulating homeostasis.

Talk about baroreflex

Reflex that helps regulate blood pressure by adjusting heart rate and vessel diameter.

Micturition

Reflexive action of bladder contraction in response to stretch.

Digestion phases

Includes mastication, deglutition, and motility processes.

Renin

Hormone released by kidneys in response to low blood pressure.

Acid-base interpretation

Understanding changes in pH and bicarbonate levels in relation to metabolic and respiratory functions.

Henderson-Hasselbalch equation

pH = 6.1 + log([HCO₃⁻]/(0.03 × pCO₂)), relates pH to bicarbonate and carbon dioxide.