Diversity/Animal Structure and Function

Alternation of Generations

A type of life cycle where an organism switches between two stages: one with sex cells and one without.

Autotroph

An organism that makes its own food, like plants that use sunlight.

Binomial Nomenclature

A system for naming living things with two names: genus and species.

Classification of Living Things

The way scientists organize organisms into groups based on similarities.

Cladogram

A diagram that shows how different species are related based on shared characteristics.

Dichotomous Key

A tool used to identify plants or animals by answering yes/no questions about their characteristics.

Eukaryotes

Organisms whose cells have a nucleus, like animals and plants.

Family

A group of related organisms, such as humans and chimpanzees.

Genus

above species and below family as used in the biological classification of living and fossil organisms as well as viruses.

Heterotroph

An organism that must eat other living things for energy.

Hierarchical Classification

a system that organizes things into a hierarchy, or levels and orders

Kingdoms of Life

The main groups to classify living things: Animals, Plants, Fungi, Protists, Archaea, Bacteria.

Order

A group of related families within a classification system.

Prokaryotes

Organisms whose cells do not have a nucleus, like bacteria.

Protists

A group of mostly single-celled organisms that can be plant-like or animal-like.

Species

The most specific level of classification where organisms can breed and produce offspring.

Taxonomy Levels

The system used to classify living things with levels: Kingdom, Phylum, Class, Order, Family, Genus, Species.

Absorption

The process of taking in nutrients from food into the body.

Alveoli

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

Arteries

Blood vessels that carry blood away from the heart.

Bronchi and Bronchioles

The tubes that carry air from the trachea into the lungs.

Carbohydrates

Nutrients that provide energy, found in foods like bread and pasta.

Chemoreceptors

Sensors that detect chemical changes in the body.

Digestion

The process of breaking down food into smaller parts for the body to use.

Egestion

The process of removing undigested food from the body.

Esophagus

The tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Exhalation

The act of breathing out air from the lungs.

Gas Exchange

The process of oxygen moving into the blood and carbon dioxide moving out.

Heart

The organ that pumps blood throughout the body.

Large Intestine

Part of the digestive system that absorbs water from food.

Left Atrium

The heart chamber that receives oxygen-rich blood from the lungs.

Left Ventricle

The heart chamber that pumps oxygen-rich blood to the body.

Lipids

Fats and oils that provide energy and help store vitamins.

Lung Volumes

Different amounts of air we breathe in and out.

Macromolecules

Large molecules made of smaller building blocks, important for life.

Monomers

The small building blocks that combine to form macromolecules.

Polymers

Large molecules made by joining many smaller molecules together.

Proteins

Nutrients that help build muscles and repair tissue.

Pulmonary Artery

The blood vessel carrying oxygen-poor blood from the heart to the lungs.

Simple Diffusion

The movement of molecules from high concentration to low concentration.

Small Intestine

The part of the digestive system where most digestion and absorption occur.

Stomach

The organ that breaks down food with digestive juices.

Superior Vena Cava

The large vein that carries oxygen-poor blood to the right atrium.

Trachea

The windpipe that carries air to the lungs.

Valves

Special gates in the heart and veins that ensure blood flows in one direction.

Veins

Blood vessels that carry oxygen-poor blood back to the heart.