Semester Exam Study Guide: Body Systems and Functions

Flashcards covering the foundational vocabulary and concepts of the urinary, lymphatic, circulatory, respiratory, digestive, integumentary, and reproductive systems as discussed in the lecture notes.

Nephron

The basic working unit of the kidney that filters waste products such as urea, creatinine, and uric acid from the blood.

Filtration

Step 1 of nephron function where cells, proteins, and other large molecules are filtered out in the glomerulus.

Reabsorption

The movement of water and dissolved substances (solutes like sodium and glucose) from the filtrate back into the blood in the renal tubules.

Secretion

The active movement of toxic materials and cell metabolism by-products (like urea and drugs) from the blood into the tubules to be excreted as urine.

Innate Immunity

A non-specific defense system consisting of the 1st and 2nd lines of defense with a rapid response time of $0-96\,hr$.

Adaptive Immunity

Specific to pathogens and the 3rd line of defense, this acquired system uses B cells and T cells with a response time of $> 96\,hr$.

Humoral Immunity

Also known as antibody-mediated immunity, it involves B lymphocytes producing antibodies to fight extracellular targets in bodily fluids.

Mitosis

The process of cell division that makes identical copies of somatic cells, producing identical diploid body cells.

Meiosis

The process of cell division that produces haploid sex cells (gametes) in the gonads.

Systole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscles contract.

Diastole

The phase of the cardiac cycle when the heart muscles relax.

External Respiration

The exchange of gases between the lungs and the bloodstream, taking place within the alveoli.

Internal Respiration

The exchange of gases between the blood and body tissues, occurring at the cellular level.

Mechanical Breakdown

Physically breaking down food to increase surface area for absorption and mixing it with enzymes for chemical digestion.

Chemical Digestion

The process of using water and digestive enzymes (hydrolysis) to break down complex macromolecules into simpler monomers.

Chyme

The semi-liquid form of food created in the stomach by the secretion of acid and digestive enzymes.

GERD

Gastroesophageal reflux disease; a condition where stomach content flows back into the esophagus causing a burning sensation.

Epidermis

The outermost layer of skin made of epithelial tissue that receives its nutrients from the dermis.

Dermis

The majority of the skin, made of dense connective tissue and embedded with blood vessels, glands, hair follicles, and nerves.

Hypodermis

The layer mainly made of adipose tissue (fat) that provides insulation against heat loss and serves as energy storage.

Apocrine Sweat Glands

Glands that activate during puberty and empty into hair follicles in the armpits and groin, producing thicker sweat associated with body odor.

Oogenesis

The production of eggs in the ovaries.

Spermatogenesis

The production of sperm in the testes.

Zygote

The cell produced by the combination of an egg and sperm cell during fertilization.

Blastocyst

A group of cells in the stage of early embryonic development that will implant in the endometrium of the uterus.

Embryo

The stage of development that lasts approximately from week 3 to week 8 of gestation.

Placenta

An organ that provides nutrient and waste exchange, produces pregnancy hormones, and protects the fetus from certain infections.

Menopause

The permanent end of menstrual cycles for 12 consecutive months.