Biology Admission Exam Review - University of Medicine and Pharmacy Victor Babeş, Timișoara 2025

A complete collection of vocabulary flashcards based on the 2025 Biology admission transcript for clinical and dental medicine, covering anatomy, physiology, and pathology.

Cytologie

The study of cells and their functions.

Anatomo-pathologie

The study of structural changes in an individual from fertilization to adulthood.

Métabolisme

The sum of all chemical processes in the body, divided into catabolism and anabolism.

Catabolisme

The breakdown of organic matter resulting in energy production for cellular function.

Anabolisme

The metabolic process that consumes energy to synthesize organic matter.

Anatomical Position

A vertical position ($orthostatisme$) with upper limbs near the body and palms facing forward.

Proximal

An anatomical direction referring to a point closer to where an extremity is attached to the body.

Plan médio-sagittal

A vertical plane that divides the body into two equal halves, left and right.

Cellule procaryote

Cells that lack a nucleus and do not divide by mitosis, such as bacteria.

Cellule eucaryote

Cells with a nucleus and organelles that divide by mitosis, found in plants, animals, and humans.

Membrane plasmique

A semi-permeable structure primarily made of proteins and a phospholipid bilayer that regulates cellular transport.

Osmose

The diffusion of water molecules through a semi-permeable membrane from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration.

Solute

A chemical substance dissolved in a fluid called a solvent.

Phagocytose

The transport of solid matter into the cell via endocytosis.

Mitochondrie

The cytoplasmic organelle responsible for cellular respiration and energy production.

Interphase

The phase of the cell cycle where the cell does not divide, but $ADN$ ($acide\,désoxyribonucléique$) replication occurs.

Mitose

The phase of the cell cycle during which nuclear $ADN$ is divided between two daughter cells.

Adénosine triphosphate ($ATP$)

A molecule that releases $7.3\,kcal/mol$ of energy when its terminal phosphate group is removed; it is the cell's energy source.

Système nerveux central ($SNC$)

The central control center of the body consisting of the brain ($encéphale$) and the spinal cord ($moelle\,épinière$).

Neurone pseudounipolaire

A neuron with a single projection that divides into a dendrite and an axon.

Névroglie

Support cells of the nervous system, such as oligodendrocytes and Schwann cells, which form myelin sheaths.

Gaine de myéline

A layered membrane that isolates electrochemical reactions and speeds up the transmission of nerve impulses along axons.

Synapse

The junction between two neurons or between a neuron and an effector (muscle).

Neurotransmetteurs

Chemical substances like acetylcholine and serotonin released from synaptic knobs into the synaptic cleft ($fente\,synaptique$).

Acétylcholine

A neurotransmitter released at the neuromuscular junction to stimulate skeletal muscle contraction.

Meninges

The three protective membranes of the central nervous system: dura mater ($dure-mère$), arachnoid ($arachnoïde$), and pia mater ($pie-mère$).

Lobe frontal

The part of the brain anterior to the central sulcus, containing the primary motor area and Broca's area.

Système nerveux végétatif

The autonomic system that regulates involuntary muscles and glands, divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic components.

Rétine

The inner layer of the eye containing photoreceptors called cones and rods.

Cellules coniques

Photoreceptors concentrated in the fovéa centrale responsible for diurnal vision, color perception, and details.

Trompe d'Eustache

A tube connecting the middle ear to the nasopharynx to maintain equal pressure on both sides of the tympanum.

Otolithes

Small fragments of calcium carbonate ($CaCO_3$) in the maculae that contribute to the sense of equilibrium.

Périoste

A connective tissue membrane covering the diaphysis of long bones, absent from articular surfaces.

Osteoblastic cells

Bone-forming cells that secrete the matrix; their activity is balanced by bone-resorbing osteoclasts.

Ostéon

The structural unit of compact bone consisting of a Haversian canal surrounded by concentric lamellae.

Diarthrose

Synovial joints that allow free movement, such as the shoulder or knee.

Sarcomère

The structural unit of striated muscle, composed of actin and myosin filaments organized between two Z lines.

Myoglobine

A muscle protein that stores the oxygen ($O_2$) required for cellular respiration.

Unité motrice

A single motor neuron and all the muscle fibers it stimulates.

Émail dentaire

The hardest substance in the body, primarily composed of calcium salts in the form of hydroxyapatite.

Amylase salivaire

An enzyme secreted by salivary glands that breaks down starch into maltose.

Pepsine

A stomach enzyme secreted as pepsinogen that decomposes large proteins into peptides; it is activated by hydrochloric acid ($HCl$).

Villosités intestinales

Finger-like projections of the small intestine mucosa that increase the surface area for nutrient absorption.

Hépatocytes

Liver cells responsible for bile production and metabolic functions like glycogénogenèse.

Plasma

The liquid component of blood, making up approximately $55\%$ of total blood volume.

Hémoglobine

A protein in red blood cells consisting of four polypeptide chains (two alpha, two beta) used to transport $O_2$ and $CO_2$.

Diapédèse

The process by which white blood cells ($leucocytes$) migrate from the blood into tissues.

Groupe sanguin AB

Known as the universal receiver, it has antigens A and B on erythrocytes and no antibodies in the serum.

Nœud sino-auriculaire ($SA$)

The heart's natural pacemaker that depolarizes $70$ to $80$ times per minute.

Systole

The period of contraction of the heart chambers.

Alvéoles pulmonaires

Microscopic sacs totaling about $300\,million$ per lung where gas exchange occurs via diffusion.

Néphron

The functional unit of the kidney, which forms urine through filtration, reabsorption, and secretion.

Aldostérone

An adrenal cortex hormone that stimulates $Na^+$ reabsorption in the distal convoluted tubule.

Spermatogenèse

The process of producing male gametes (spermatozoa) in the seminiferous tubules.

Ménarche

The term for the first menstruation in a woman's life.

Zygote

An egg fertilized by the union of a sperm and an ovule.

Hormones stéroïdes

Lipid-soluble hormones derived from cholesterol, such as cortisol, estrogen, and testosterone.

Parathormone ($PTH$)

Hormone that stimulates osteoclast activity to increase blood calcium ($Ca^{2+}$) levels.

Insuline

A protein hormone composed of $51$ amino acids secreted by the beta cells of the Islets of Langerhans to lower blood glucose.

Maladie d'Addison

A condition resulting from the hyposecretion of glucocorticoids and mineralocorticoids.

Syndrome de Cushing

A condition caused by the hypersecretion of glucocorticoids, characterized by hypertension and facial plethora.