Respiratory, Digestive, Urinary, and Reproductive Systems & Genetics Study Set

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering the liver, respiratory system, digestive system, urinary and reproductive pathways, diabetes, genetics, and evolutionary biology based on lecture notes.

Bile

A substance produced in the liver through the recycling of hemoglobin that help lipids dissolve and get digested.

LDLs (Low-Density Lipoproteins)

Particles produced by the liver that carry lipids and cholesterol to adipose tissue.

Urea

A compound safely converted from toxic ammonia in the liver to be excreted by the urinary system.

Respiratory System Pathway

The sequence through which air moves: Nose (nostrils) / Nasal cavity → Pharynx (throat) → Larynx (voice box) → Trachea (windpipe) → Bronchi (right and left) → Lungs.

Goblet cells

Cells that produce mucus to trap pathogens and warm/humidify air within the respiratory system.

Amylase

A digestive enzyme that breaks down complex carbohydrates such as starches.

Glycogen

The polysaccharide form used by animals to store glucose in the liver.

Protein

A functional molecule formed when a polypeptide folds into a specific shape.

Epiglottis

A structure that prevents choking by covering the opening of the trachea during swallowing, directing food into the esophagus.

Proteases

Digestive enzymes in the stomach that chop monomers off polypeptides to unfold proteins.

Pyloric sphincter

The muscular valve that regulates the movement of food from the stomach to the intestines.

Small intestine

The organ where the digestion of water-soluble proteins and carbohydrates is completed and nutrients are absorbed into the body.

Appendix

A structure acting as a nursery for E. coli (good bacteria) to maintain the normal biota and produce vitamin B12.

Colon (Large Intestine)

The organ responsible for reabsorbing water and electrolytes, and absorbing vitamins K and B12.

Bolus

A ball of food created through mechanical digestion (chewing).

Urinary System Pathway

The order of movement for urine: Kidneys → Ureters → Urinary bladder → Urethra.

Meiosis

Sexual cell division resulting in gametes (sex cells) with $23$ single chromosomes.

Infundibulum

The specific region where fertilization, the point of conception, occurs in the female reproductive system.

Vitamin A

A nutrient essential for vision and color receptors.

Glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas during the fasting state that causes the liver to catabolize glycogen into glucose to raise blood-glucose levels.

Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus

An insulin-dependent autoimmune disorder where the immune system attacks the pancreas islet cells.

Hypoglycemia

A condition where blood-glucose levels are too low, potentially leading to a diabetic coma because the nervous system lacks energy for electric impulses.

Allele

A specific version of a gene; individuals have two alleles for each gene.

Phenotype

The physical manifestation of an individual's genotype.

Mitosis

Cell division that results in two identical cells with $23$ pairs of chromosomes, used for growth and repair.

Transcription

The step in protein synthesis where DNA is converted into mRNA within the nucleus.

Sickle Cell Anemia

An autosomal recessive disorder caused by a genetic defect in hemoglobin that makes erythrocytes rigid and sickle-shaped.

Bipedal

The ability to walk on two legs, a trait signaled in humans by the Valgus Angle of the femur.

Monotremes

A type of mammal that still lays eggs instead of giving birth to live young.

Oral glucose tolerance test

A diagnostic test for diabetes where a patient fasts and then eats to see if the body regulates blood-glucose levels within $2$ hours.