Advanced Biology Vocabulary

Anatomy

The study of the body and its parts, specifying on where they are located

Physiology

The study of how the parts of the body function and work together to make the human body the wonder that it is.

Developmental Anatomy

The study of the changes that begin in the human body at conception and proceed into adulthood.

Embryology

The subdivision of developmental anatomy that covers the first eight weeks following conception.

Surface Anatomy

Is used for diagnosis

Regional Anatomy

Analysis of specific parts of the body

Comparative Anatomy

Refers to the anatomy of nonhuman species, and it can be used to assist in the study of the human body

Integumentary System

The organ system that includes the skin, hair, and nails

Lymphatic System

The organ system that includes the lymph nodes and lymph vessels

Endocrine System

Made up of a number of oragans that secrete signal molecules called hormones. It includes the hypothalamus, pineal gland, pituitary gland, thyroid gland and more

Organ

A group of tissues specialized for a particular function

Tissues

Groups of cells forming various building materials of the body

Nervous Tissue

Makes up the brain, spinal cord, and nerves. It also has the ability to conduct electrical signals

Muscular Tissue

Comprises the muslces that enable your skeleton to move, your heart to beat, and other internal organs to push food or fluid along.

Connective Tissue

Makes up bone, cartilage, the deeper layer of the skin, and the bindings or connectors around and between organs. This includes body fat and blood.

Epithelial Tissue

Makes up the surface of your skin and the inner lining of all inner body systems. Its purpose is to protect from damage, the secretion of fluids, waste, hormones, and mucus, absorption of nutrients, and the filtration of fluids.

Histology

The study of tissues and cells under a microscope.

Receptor Proteins

Proteins in the plasma membrane that receives messages from other cells.

Glycolipids

Found in the plasma membrane, it is a lipid with a carbohydrate attached to it. These molecules help to anchor some membrane proteins in place and provide structural support to the plasma membrane.

Cholesterol

A lipid-soluble substance found among the nonpolar tails of the phospholipids, and is necessary for cell membrane as it gives the membrane the right dgree of firmness.

Lipid Solubility

The overall nature of the plasma membrane

Type 1 Diabetes

A person lacks the ability to make the hormone insulin, which signals the plasma membrane to allow glucose to enter the cells.

Type 2 Diabetes

When there is more than enough insulin in the body, yet the cells do not respond to the insulin because the receptors either do not work correctly or are reduced in number. As a result, glucose cannot enter the cells.

Selective Permeability

The ability to let certain materials in or out while restricting others

Lipids

Fats. They are nonpolar

Carrier Protein

Allows molecules of a specifc shape to enter a cell through mediated transport. The molecule with the right shape for the protein fits into the protein, and after binding together, the protein changes its shape and releases the molecule to the other side of the membrane.

Lipid-Soluble Nature

Allows the plasma membrane to allow fat-soluble molecules to travel into the cell.

Channel Proteins

There are types of these proteins that have an overall electrical change, which leads to transporting specifically charged, small ions into and out of a cell.

Interphase

The cell carries on normal life functions

Late Interphase/Early Prophase

1. The DNA and centrioles duplicate. The centrioles begin to move and form the mitotic spindle

Middle Prophase

2. Microtubules from the spindle attach to the chromosomes

Late Prophase

2.5 The chromosomes move to the equatorial plane

Metaphase

3. The chromosomes line up on the equatorial plane, and the spindle begins pulling on them.

Anaphase

4. The duplicate chromosomes and the originals split, each going toward one centriole.

Telophase

5. The plasma membrane constricts, and the chromosomes are surrounded by nuclear material.

Diffusion

The movement of ions or molecules from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration

ATP

Adenosine diphosphate, plus a phosphate. This stores energy, much like a compressed spring stores energy. When a cell needs energy, it breaks an ATP molecule back into ADP and a phosphate. That breakup releases energy for the cell to use.

Faciliated Diffusion

How glucose gets into the cell without using any ATP in the process.

Endocytosis

The process by which large molecules are taken into the cell, which can be divided into pinocytosis and phagocytosis.

Pinocytosis

Means “cell-drinking,” and is the process that allows proteins to enter into the cell. The proteins are dissolved in fluid around the cell. If a cell needs to take in a protein, the plasma membrane folds inward until it pinches off a vesicle, which can travel in the cell to where the protein is needed.

Phagocytosis

Means “cell-eating,” and is the process that is used to ingest particles rather than fluids containing dissolved proteins. The cell engulfs what it is trying to take in.

Exocytosis

Transportation of material from inside the cell to outside the cell using vesicles: also called secretion.

Gross Anatomy

The anatomy that can be studied with the unaided eye. It covers the whole organism, the organ systems, and organs.

Effector

A structure in the body that can change the value of a variable in response to a signal from a control center.