Life Processes Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the Life Processes chapter.

Life Processes

The processes which together perform maintenance job for living organisms.

Nutrition

A process to transfer a source of energy from outside the body of the organism to the inside.

Respiration

The process of acquiring oxygen from outside the body, and to use it in the process of break-down of food sources for cellular needs.

Excretion

A process where waste by-products are removed from the body and discarded outside.

Autotrophs

Organisms that use simple food material obtained from inorganic sources in the form of carbon dioxide and water

Photosynthesis

The process by which autotrophs take in substances from the outside and convert them into stored forms of energy using carbon dioxide, water, sunlight, and chlorophyll.

Heterotrophs

Organisms that utilize complex substances broken down into simpler ones with the help of enzymes and depend directly or indirectly on autotrophs.

Stomata

Tiny pores present on the surface of the leaves that facilitate massive amounts of gaseous exchange.

Guard Cells

The cells that control the opening and closing of stomatal pores by swelling when water flows into them and shrinking when water is lost.

Parasitic Nutrition

A nutritive strategy where some organisms derive nutrition from plants or animals without killing them.

Food-vacuole

Temporary finger-like extensions of the cell surface used by Amoeba to take in food.

Enzyme

A biological catalyst that aids in breaking down complex food into smaller molecules.

Salivary Amylase

An enzyme in saliva that breaks down starch into simple sugar.

Peristaltic Movements

Rhythmic contractions of the muscles in the lining of the alimentary canal that push food forward.

Gastric Glands

Glands present in the wall of the stomach that release hydrochloric acid, pepsin, and mucus.

Pepsin

A protein-digesting enzyme released by the gastric glands.

Bile Salts

Breaks down fats into smaller globules, increasing the efficiency of enzyme action

Pancreatic Juices

Enzymes secreted by the pancreas.

Trypsin

Enzymes for digesting proteins.

Lipase

Enzymes for breaking down emulsified fats.

Villi

Finger-like projections in the inner lining of the small intestine that increase the surface area for absorption

Dental Plaque

Masses of bacterial cells together with food particles stick to the teeth.

Glycolysis

Break-down of glucose, a six-carbon molecule, into a three-carbon molecule called pyruvate, taking place in the cytoplasm.

Anaerobic Respiration

Break-down of pyruvate without using oxygen.

Aerobic Respiration

Break-down of pyruvate using oxygen, which takes place in the mitochondria.

ATP

A molecule synthesized during cellular respiration and used to fuel all other activities in the cell.

Energy currency

The energy currency for most cellular processes.

Alveoli

Balloon-like structures at the end of the passage into the lungs where the exchange of gases can take place.

Respiratory Pigments

Takes up oxygen from the air in the lungs and carries it to tissues which are deficient in oxygen before releasing it.

Haemoglobin

A respiratory pigment in human beings that has a very high affinity for oxygen.

Blood Pressure

The force that blood exerts against the wall of a vessel.

Plasma

The fluid medium of the blood in which cells are suspended and transports food, carbon dioxide, and nitrogenous wastes in dissolved form.

Arteries

Carry blood away from the heart to various organs of the body.

Veins

Collect the blood from different organs and bring it back to the heart.

Capillaries

The smallest vessels that have walls which are one-cell thick and are called capillaries

Platelets

Circulate around the body and plug these leaks by helping to clot the blood at these points of injury.

Lymph

Another type of fluid also involved in transportation that drains into lymphatic capillaries from the intercellular spaces

Xylem

Moves water and minerals obtained from the soil to the plant.

Phloem

Transports products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Transpiration

Loss of water in the form of vapor from the aerial parts of the plant.

Translocation

The transport of soluble products of photosynthesis from leaves to other parts of the plant.

Excretion

The biological process involved in the removal of harmful metabolic wastes from the body.

Nephrons

The basic filtration unit in the kidneys.

Bowman’s Capsule

A cup-shaped end of a coiled tube associated with each capillary cluster in the kidney that collects the filtrate.