Tristine TEAS Study Lecture Notes

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering human anatomy, biology, chemistry, and scientific methodology based on the TEAS study transcript.

Salivary Glands

Three pairs of glands—parotid, sublingual, and submandibular—located in the cheeks, under the tongue (floor of the mouth), and under the jawbone, respectively.

Renin

A substance excreted by the kidneys to regulate blood pressure.

$$H_2O$$

The chemical formula for water.

$$M$$

The unit of length mentioned in the study notes.

Skin

The largest organ in the human body by surface area.

Ligaments

Connective tissue that attaches two bones together.

Innate immunity

Immunity present at birth that provides immediate, non-specific protection.

Adaptive immunity

Immunity acquired after exposure to pathogens.

tRNA (Transfer RNA)

The molecule responsible for carrying amino acids to ribosomes during protein synthesis.

Scientific Method

A process involving observation, hypothesis, prediction, experimentation, analysis, and conclusion.

Solids

Matter with a definite shape and volume; particles are highly ordered.

Liquids

Matter with a definite volume but no fixed shape; particles are less ordered than solids.

Diaphragm

A dome-shaped muscle in the respiratory system responsible for regulating breathing rate and depth.

Monosaccharides

Simple sugars that cannot be further broken down into simpler sugars.

Disaccharides

Carbohydrates composed of two simple sugars.

Transcription

The process by which DNA is copied into RNA.

Calcium

The ion released from the sarcoplasmic reticulum to initiate the sliding of actin and myosin filaments and which binds to the troponin complex.

Epididymis

A structure that stores and protects sperm cells until ejaculation.

Respiratory System

The system responsible for the exchange of gases between the body and the environment.

Isotonic contractions

Muscle contractions that produce movement.

Isometric contractions

Muscle contractions that produce no movement.

Frameshift mutation

A type of genetic mutation involving the insertion or deletion of one or more nucleotides in a DNA sequence.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration through a selectively permeable membrane.

Reactivity with acid

An example of a chemical property of a substance.

Physical change

A change involving the rearrangement of atoms and molecules without the formation of new substances.

Chemical change

A change involving the formation of new substances with different chemical properties.

Ectoderm

The germ layer that forms the nervous system during embryonic development.

Chlorophyll a

The primary pigment responsible for photosynthesis in plants.

Exothermic reaction

A reaction that releases heat, such as burning wood.

Vaccines

Substances that work by exposing the individual to a weakened or inactivated form of a pathogen.

Ribosomes

Organelles responsible for synthesizing proteins in the cell.

Double-blind study

A research study where both participants and researchers do not know which group participants are assigned to.

Insulin

The hormone that regulates blood sugar levels in the human body.

Erythrocytes

Red blood cells whose primary physiological function is the transportation of oxygen to body tissues.

Mitral valve

The valve that separates the left atrium and left ventricle in the heart.

$SO_2$ (Sulphur dioxide)

A molecule with a bent molecular geometry.

Down syndrome

A genetic disorder caused by the presence of an extra chromosome $21$.

Vertebral column regions

The five regions, ordered from top to bottom, are: cervical, thoracic, lumbar, sacral, and coccygeal.

Nervous system divisions

The two major parts are the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system.

Diameter

The measurement indicated by a line across the center of a cell.

Viruses

Microorganisms that lack their own metabolic pathways and can only reproduce inside a host cell.

Atomic Number

Defined by the number of protons in an atom (e.g., an atom with $12$ protons and $12$ neutrons has an atomic number of $12$).

Plasma B cells

Types of cells that produce and release antibodies.

Proteins

Organic molecules containing both an amine and carboxyl group; also includes enzymes.

Reverse transcriptase

An enzyme encoded by the AIDS virus that allows it to insert viral DNA into the DNA of a host cell.

Centrosomes

Organelles in animal cells primarily responsible for microtubule organization.

Control group

A group in an experiment that is measured against the experimental group for comparison.

Genes

Sequences of nucleotides that contain the information to make specific protein molecules and are used to determine DNA sequences.

Cytoskeleton

The structural framework of a cell comprised of proteins.

Polarity

The property of water molecules that explains its ability to act as a solvent for certain substances.

Sodium bicarbonate

A substance released by the pancreas to neutralize the acidity of chyme.

Osteoporosis

A condition resulting from a decline in osteoblast activity while osteoclast activity continues at expected levels.

Ovulation

The process in which an ovarian follicle matures and releases a reproductive egg.

$$-55\,mV$$

The approximate threshold value for mammalian neurons.

Diffusion

The process by which most carbon dioxide moves from the blood into the alveoli, following a concentration gradient.

Coronary vessels

The blood vessels of the heart affected by a myocardial infarction.

Efferent arteriole

The structure through which blood exits the glomerulus.

Corpus luteum

A mass within the ovary that secretes hormones to maintain the uterine lining during pregnancy.

Urea

A substance excreted by sweat glands in response to the breakdown of proteins and formation of ammonia.

Hypothalamus

The gland responsible for synthesizing antidiuretic hormone.

pH Scale acidity

A substance with a pH of $3$ is $10$ times more acidic than a substance with a pH of $4$.

Triple covalent bonds

The structural feature that makes nitrogen gas ($N_2$) an extremely stable molecule.

Melanin

The substance that protects the skin from ultraviolet radiation.

Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

The hormone that causes an increase in water reabsorption in the collecting duct.

Pleura

A connective tissue sheath that covers the lung.

Pulmonary vein

The vessel that carries oxygenated blood.

Totipotent cell

A type of cell that has the ability to develop into any kind of cell.

Triple point

The specific temperature and pressure where the solid, liquid, and gaseous states of a substance exist simultaneously.

Catalyst

A substance that allows a chemical reaction to be completed in a shorter amount of time.

Carbonic acid

The substance responsible for donating $H^+$ ions to act as a buffer when blood pH rises.

Electrophoresis

A laboratory method used to separate genomic DNA fragments by size.

Myelin sheath

A structure that performs insulation for a nerve cell.

Oxidation reaction

A chemical reaction characterized by the removal of electrons.

Emphysema

A disease caused by damage to the alveoli that results in difficulty exchanging oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Motor neuron

An efferent neuron responsible for releasing neurotransmitters that stimulate muscle cells to contract.

Apocrine gland

A component of the integumentary system that secretes pheromones.

Lacteal vessels

The structures in the small intestine where lipids are first absorbed.

Epidermis

The layer of skin that lacks blood vessels.

Perforins

Immune system molecules that create holes in target cell membranes to destroy them.

Peptide bonds

The covalent bonds between the monomers of an enzyme macromolecule.

Fibrinogen

A protein present in blood plasma.

Germ cell

The type of cell that, if it contains mutated DNA, can pass the mutation to offspring.

Thylakoid

The membrane in chloroplasts that carries out the same function as the mitochondrial inner membrane.

Diastole

The term describing the relaxation of the heart chambers during the cardiac cycle.

Kidney

The organ responsible for filtering excess solutes and removing nitrogenous waste from the blood.

Erythropoietin

A substance that aids in raising hemoglobin levels in the blood.

Cytokines

Chemicals released by one type of immune cell to directly activate another type of immune cell.

Cecum

The region of the large intestine from which the vermiform appendix extends.

Renal vein

The structure that drains oxygen-depleted blood from the kidneys.

Endocrine glands

Glands that are distinguished by the absence of ducts.

Melanocytes

Cells that transfer pigment granules to adjacent epidermal cells.

Fallopian tube

The typical location where fertilization of an egg cell occurs.

Ball-and-socket joint

The type of joint exemplified by the hip.

Endocardium

The tissue that lines the interior structures and surfaces of the heart.

Lysosomes

The organelles that serve as the site of intracellular digestion.

Helper T-Cells

Immune cells that stimulate other immune cells to attack and destroy foreign agents.

Uracil

The nucleotide found only in RNA.

Specific heat capacity

The property of water that explains why coastal areas experience less dramatic temperature changes.

Mitochondria

The part of the eukaryotic cell responsible for making ATP.

Intercalated discs

Structures present in cardiac muscles but absent in skeletal muscles.