SS2 Biology Study Guide Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards defining key biological terms and concepts from the SS2 Biology curriculum, covering plant and animal reproduction, growth, skeleton and movement, nutrition, transport, respiration, excretion, coordination, ecology, and adaptation.

Reproduction

The biological process by which living organisms produce new individuals of their own kind.

Asexual reproduction

A type of reproduction involving one parent that usually produces genetically similar offspring.

Sexual reproduction

A type of reproduction involving the fusion of male and female gametes.

Stamen

The male reproductive structure of a flower, consisting of the anther and filament.

Carpel (or Pistil)

The female reproductive structure of a flower, consisting of the stigma, style, and ovary.

Pollination

The transfer of pollen grains from the anther to the stigma.

Fertilization

The fusion of male and female gametes to form a zygote.

External fertilization

Fertilization that occurs outside the body, commonly in aquatic animals such as many fish and amphibians.

Internal fertilization

Fertilization that occurs within the female reproductive tract.

Testes

Organs in the male reproductive system that produce sperm cells and testosterone.

Ovaries

Organs in the female reproductive system that produce ova and female sex hormones.

Oviducts

Structures in the female reproductive system that receive ova.

Uterus

The structure in the female reproductive system where a developing embryo can be supported.

Growth

A permanent increase in size, dry mass, and cell number or cell size of an organism.

Development

Progressive changes in form, structure, and function as an organism matures.

Apical meristems

The root and shoot regions in plants responsible for primary growth.

Skeleton

A structure that provides support, protects internal organs, and helps movement.

Hydrostatic skeleton

A type of skeleton that uses fluid pressure for support.

Exoskeleton

A type of skeleton that occurs outside the body.

Endoskeleton

A type of skeleton that occurs inside the body.

Joint

A place where two or more bones meet.

Antagonistic pairs

Pairs of skeletal muscles that work in opposition to produce movement by contracting and relaxing, such as the biceps and triceps.

Balanced diet

A diet containing essential nutrients (carbohydrates, proteins, fats and oils, vitamins, minerals, water, and fibre) in appropriate proportions.

Digestion

The process of breaking large, insoluble food molecules into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed.

Villi

Structures in the small intestine wall that increase the surface area available for nutrient absorption.

Xylem

Vascular tissue in plants that transports water and mineral salts mainly upward from roots and provides mechanical support.

Phloem

Vascular tissue in plants that transports manufactured food, especially sugars, from sources to storage or usage regions.

Transpiration

The loss of water vapour from the aerial parts of a plant, mainly through stomata.

Plasma

The liquid medium component of blood.

Red blood cells

Blood cells responsible for carrying oxygen.

White blood cells

Blood cells that help defend the body.

Platelets

Components of blood that help blood clot.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry blood toward the heart.

Capillaries

Blood vessels that allow exchange between blood and tissues.

Double circulation

A circulation system in mammals where blood passes through the heart twice during one complete circulation, consisting of pulmonary and systemic circulation.

Respiration

The controlled release of energy from food within cells.

Aerobic respiration

Respiration that uses oxygen and releases a relatively large amount of energy, represented as: $\text{glucose} + \text{oxygen} \rightarrow \text{carbon dioxide} + \text{water} + \text{energy}$.

Anaerobic respiration

Respiration occurring without oxygen that releases less energy, producing ethanol and carbon dioxide in yeast.

Excretion

The removal of metabolic waste products from the body.

Nephron

The functional unit of the kidney responsible for urine formation through filtration, selective reabsorption, and secretion.

Neuron

A specialized nerve cell for transmitting electrical impulses, comprising a cell body, dendrites, and an axon.

Reflex action

A rapid, automatic response to a stimulus.

Reflex arc

A pathway involved in a reflex action, commonly consisting of a receptor, sensory neuron, relay neuron, motor neuron, and effector.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that travel in the blood to target organs.

Ecosystem

A system consisting of living organisms interacting together with the non-living components of their environment.

Habitat

The place where an organism lives.

Food chain

A sequence showing the transfer of food and energy from one organism to another, beginning with a producer.

Food web

A network of interconnected food chains showing several feeding relationships in an ecosystem.

Population

A group of organisms of the same species living in an area.

Community

Populations of different species living and interacting in an area.

Adaptation

A feature or characteristic that helps an organism survive and reproduce successfully in its environment.

Structural adaptation

Physical features of an organism, such as thick fur in cold environments, that aid survival.

Behavioural adaptation

Actions performed by an organism that improve survival, such as migration or living in groups.

Physiological adaptation

Internal biological processes, such as water conservation mechanisms in desert organisms, that aid survival.