Grade 10 Life Sciences Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering Grade 10 Life Sciences Term 3 and Term 4 topics including cell division, plant and animal tissues, plant support/transport, animal skeleton, and human circulatory system.

Interphase

The stage of the cell cycle during which the cell grows and replicates its DNA.

Mitotic phase (M-Phase)

The stage of the cell cycle during which the cell divides and transfers one copy of its DNA to two identical daughter cells.

Prophase

The first phase of mitosis where the nuclear membrane and nucleolus disintegrate, centrosomes form centrioles that move to opposite poles, and chromosomes become visible as two chromatids joined by a centromere.

Metaphase

The phase of mitosis in which chromosomes line up at the equator of the cell and attach to spindle fibres by their centromeres.

Anaphase

The phase of mitosis where spindle fibres contract, pulling each chromatid to the opposite pole.

Telophase

The stage of mitosis where the nuclear membrane reforms around daughter chromosomes at each pole, and chromosomes recoil to form chromatin.

Cytokinesis

The process of the cytoplasm splitting into two, occurring by cell membrane constriction in animal cells and by cell plate formation in plant cells.

Cancer

Uncontrolled cell division or growth (mitosis) causing a tumour to form.

Benign tumour

A non-cancerous tumour that cannot spread or grow, or grows very slowly, and generally does not return after surgical removal.

Malignant tumour

A cancerous tumour whose cells can grow and spread to other parts of the body.

Tissue

A group of similarly differentiated cells which are adapted to perform a particular function.

Squamous epithelium

An epithelial tissue with thin, irregular, tightly packed cells resembling pavement with large flattened nuclei, allowing materials to pass through by diffusion.

Cuboidal epithelium

An epithelial tissue with square-shaped cells and a round central nucleus, functioning in secretion and absorption.

Columnar epithelium

An epithelial tissue with elongated cells, oval nuclei at the base, and goblet cells that secrete mucous.

Ciliated columnar epithelium

Columnar epithelial cells containing hair-like cilia on their free end and goblet cells, found lining the trachea, urinary tract, and female reproductive system.

Apical meristem

Meristematic tissue located at the growing points at the tips of roots and stems that results in an increase in length.

Lateral meristem

Also known as cambium; meristematic tissue (cork cambium and vascular cambium) that divides to increase the thickness or width of roots and stems.

Parenchyma

A permanent plant tissue made of thin-walled, irregularly shaped cells with large air spaces, functioning as packing tissue and food storage.

Collenchyma

A permanent plant tissue made of thick-walled, closely packed cells that provides strength and support to the aerial parts of a plant.

Sclerenchyma

A permanent plant tissue made of dead, closely packed cells with walls thickened by lignin (including fibres and stone cells) to provide strength and support.

Xylem

Plant vascular tissue consisting of dead vessel elements and tracheids with lignified walls that transports water and mineral salts from roots to stems and leaves.

Phloem

Living plant vascular tissue consisting of sieve tube elements and companion cells that transports manufactured food from leaves to all parts of the plant.

Transpiration

The loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of the plant through the stomata of the leaf.

Guttation

The formation of drops of water around the margin of the leaves of some plants as a result of root pressure.

Translocation

The movement of organic compounds (e.g. sugars, amino acids) from sources (photosynthetic leaves) to sinks (roots, fruits, seeds) via the phloem.

Axial skeleton

The part of the human skeleton made up of all bones around the axis of the body, including the skull bones, vertebral column, and thoracic cage.

Appendicular skeleton

The part of the human skeleton comprising the upper and lower limbs, as well as the shoulder (pectoral) and pelvic girdles.

Foramen magnum

The opening at the bottom of the skull through which the spinal cord enters.

Closed Circulatory System

A circulatory system in which blood is strictly confined inside blood vessels (arteries, veins, capillaries).

Double Circulatory System

A system where blood is pumped from the heart along two circuits: the pulmonary circuit to the lungs and the systemic circuit to the rest of the body.

Sino-Atrial node (SA Node)

A group of specialized cells located on the wall of the right atrium that acts as a pacemaker to coordinate heart contractions.

Cardiac cycle

The sequence of events involving contraction (systole) and relaxation (diastole) of heart muscles that makes up one heartbeat.