Osmotic Regulation, Excretion, Nervous System, and Sensory Systems Review

Flashcards covering key vocabulary related to osmotic regulation, the urinary and nervous systems, and sensory systems from the lecture notes.

Osmoregulation

The control of water and electrolyte concentrations.

Kidneys

The organ responsible for maintaining blood water balance, blood electrolyte balance, blood pH balance, filtration of the blood, and regulation of blood pressure.

Nephrons

The functional units of kidneys that consist of renal tubules and capillaries.

Glomerular filtration

The first step in urine formation where substances get filtered out of the blood.

Tubular reabsorption

The process involving the movement of materials out of the nephron tubule into capillaries.

Filtrate

The fluid in nephron tubules after blood materials are removed but before tubular secretion.

Collecting ducts

Structures of nephrons that empty into renal papillae.

Micturition

The process of excretion of urine.

Reflex

A predictable response to a stimulus that does not involve conscious thought.

Synapse

The location where multiple neurons meet/network with one another.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers released when an action potential reaches the axon terminals.

Resting potential

The state where a neuron has high concentrations of potassium ions inside and sodium ions outside.

Myelin sheath

Insulating layer that speed up signal transmission in neurons.

Cerebrum

The largest part of the brain responsible for higher mental functions like reasoning.

Chemoreceptors

Sensory receptors involved in the senses of smell and taste.

Photoreceptors

Sensory receptors involved in vision.

Rods

Photoreceptors that primarily function in low-light vision.

Cones

Photoreceptors that allow for perception of color.