Cycling Matter in Living Systems

These flashcards cover vocabulary and key concepts from the lecture notes on Cycling Matter in Living Systems.

Microscope

An instrument used to see objects that are too small for the naked eye.

Eyepiece

The part of the microscope that you look through to see the specimen.

Coarse adjustment knob

Moves the stage up and down to bring the specimen into focus.

Fine adjustment knob

Makes small adjustments to sharpen the image.

Objective lenses

Lenses that gather light from a specimen and form an inverted image.

Stage

The platform on which the specimen slide is placed for observation.

Diaphragm

Adjusts the amount of light passing through the specimen.

Cell Theory

States that all living things are composed of cells, which are the basic units of life.

Spontaneous generation

The idea that life could emerge spontaneously from non-living matter.

Tropism

The growth of an organism in response to an environmental stimulus.

Phototropism

Plant growth in response to light.

Gravitropism

Plant growth in response to gravity.

Cell membrane

A protective barrier for the cell that allows the transport of materials.

Nucleus

The organelle that contains DNA and directs cellular activities.

Chloroplasts

Organelles found in plant cells where photosynthesis occurs.

Vacuoles

Storage structures within cells that hold various substances.

Xylem

Vascular tissue that conducts water and minerals from roots to leaves in plants.

Phloem

Vascular tissue responsible for the transport of carbohydrates and water.

Guard cells

Cells that control the opening and closing of stomata for gas exchange.

Stomata

Small openings on the surfaces of leaves for gas exchange.

Transpiration

The process through which plants lose water vapor from their leaves.