Anat and Phys Unit 1

Anatomy

The study of structure.

Physiology

The study of function.

Homeostasis

Maintaining a relatively constant internal environment.

Cell Theory

All organisms are composed of cells and cell products; a cell is the simplest structural unit of life.

Gradients

A difference in chemical concentration, charge, temperature, or pressure between two points.

Osmosis

The net flow of water through a selectively permeable membrane.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that breaks down glucose into two pyruvic acids.

Aerobic Respiration

Biochemical pathways used when oxygen is present; generates more ATP.

Anaerobic Fermentation

The process that generates ATP without oxygen by converting pyruvate into lactate.

Citric Acid Cycle

A series of reactions that collect high energy electrons for the electron transport chain.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The primary energy carrier in biological systems.

Mitochondria

Organelles where aerobic respiration and the citric acid cycle occur.

Transcription

The process of copying genetic instructions from DNA to mRNA.

Translation

The process that converts mRNA into a protein.

Enzyme

A protein that acts as a catalyst to accelerate a chemical reaction.

Phagocytosis

The process of 'cell eating' where a cell engulfs large particles.

Pinocytosis

The process of 'cell drinking' where a cell takes in extracellular fluid.

Glycogenesis

The synthesis of glycogen from glucose.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen to release glucose.

Gene

An information-containing segment of DNA that codes for RNA or protein synthesis.

Mutation

Changes in DNA structure due to replication errors or environmental factors.

Cyclins

Proteins that regulate the cell cycle.

Introns

Segments of pre-mRNA that must be removed before translation.

Exons

Segments of pre-mRNA that are translated into protein.

Endocytosis

The process by which cells internalize molecules from the extracellular environment.

Exocytosis

The process of discharging material from the cell.

Cytoskeleton

The network of protein filaments that helps maintain cell shape and organization.

Epithelial cells

Non-dividing cells that may perform specialized functions but do not continually replicate.