CSEC Integrated Science Vocabulary

Flashcards covering key vocabulary from the CSEC Integrated Science revision course.

Matter

Anything that occupies space and has mass.

Melting Point

The constant temperature at which a solid changes state into a liquid.

Boiling Point

The constant temperature at which a liquid changes state into a gas.

Freezing Point

The constant temperature at which a liquid changes state into a solid.

Evaporation

The process by which a liquid changes to a vapour or gas at temperatures below its boiling point.

Sublimate

To change directly from a solid to a gas.

Deposition

A process in which a gas changes directly to a solid.

Plasma

An ionized gas consisting of negatively charged electrons and positively charged ions which possess very large amounts of kinetic energy.

Cell

The basic structural and functional unit of all living organisms.

Organelles

Structures found in all plant and animal cells that are specialized to carry out one or more vital functions.

Microbes/Microorganisms

Extremely small organisms that include viruses, bacteria, and some fungi.

Diffusion

The net movement of particles from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration until the particles are evenly distributed.

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane from a solution containing a lot of water molecules to fewer water molecules.

Active Transport

The movement of particles through cell membranes against a concentration gradient using energy released in respiration.

Reproduction

The process by which living organisms generate new individuals of the same kind as themselves.

Mitosis

A type of cell division where each chromosome in the nucleus of the parent cell duplicates itself.

Pollination

The process is the transfer of pollen grains from the anthers to the stigmas of flowers.

Sexually Transmitted Infections (STIs)

Infections passed on during sexual intercourse.

Growth

A permanent increase in size of an organism.

Germination

The process by which the embryonic plant in a seed grows into a seedling.

Photosynthesis

The process by which green plants convert carbon dioxide and water into glucose by using energy from sunlight absorbed by chlorophyll in chloroplasts.

Habitat

The place where a particular organism lives.

Species

A group of organisms of common ancestry that closely resemble each other and are normally capable of interbreeding to produce fertile offspring.

Population

Composed of all the members of a particular species living together in a particular habitat.

Community

Composed of all the populations of different species living together in a particular habitat.

Ecosystem

A community of living organisms interacting with each other and with their physical (non-living) environment.

Trophic Levels

Levels of feeding within a food chain

Decomposers

Microorganisms, i.e. bacteria and fungi, which feed on dead and waste organic matter causing it to decompose.

Diet

The food an animal eats.

Drug

A chemical substance that affects the functioning of the body

Digestion

The process by which food is broken down into simple, soluble food molecules for body activities.

Absorption

The process by which the soluble food molecules move into the body fluids and cells.

Assimilation

The process by which the body uses the soluble food molecules absorbed after digestion.

Egestion

The process by which undigested dietary fibre and other materials are removed from the body as faeces.

Respiration

The process by which living organisms release the energy they need from food.

Aerobic Respiration

The process takes place in all living cells, uses oxygen, and produces carbon dioxide, water, and energy.

Anaerobic Respiration

The process takes place in some cells, without oxygen, but produces less energy.

Fermentation

The process involves glucose, ethanol, carbon dioxide, and energy. Example: yeast cells ferment when making bread.

Oxygen Debt

If oxygen cannot be delivered to the muscle cells during strenuous exercise to meet the demands of aerobic respiration, and the cells begin to respire anaerobically, producing lactic acid and energy.

Pollution

The contamination of the natural environment by the release of unpleasant or harmful substances.

Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)

An emergency procedure performed on a person whose heart has stopped beating and/or who has stopped breathing.

Gaseous exchange

The process by which oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood through a respiratory surface.

Excretion

The process by which the waste that builds up from metabolism is removed.

Respiratory Surface

They have several adaptations to make them as efficient as possible: They have a large surface area so that large quantities of gases can be exchanged, They are very thin so that gases can diffuse through them rapidly, They are moist so that gases can dissolve before they diffuse through the surface, They have a rich blood supply (if the organism has blood) to quickly transport gases between the surface and the body cells.

Stimulus

A change in the internal or external environment of an organism that initiates a response.

Response

A change in an organism or part of an organism which is brought about by a stimulus

Receptor

The part of an organism that detects a stimulus.

Effector

The part of an organism that responds to a stimulus

Natural immunity

Results from a person having being exposed to a pathogenic disease caused by a virus or bacterium.

Artificial immunity

Acquired by vaccination and is used to control the spread of communicable diseases (diseases that pass from person to person).

Cardiovascular disease

Refers to a class of diseases that affect the heart and blood vessels, including hypertension, a heart attack, and a stroke.

Immunity

Is the temporary or permanent resistance to a disease

Drug

Is any chemical substance that affects the functioning of the body

Muscle tone

Is the unconscious low-level contraction of muscles while they are at rest

Respiration

Is the process by which living organisms release the energy they need to carry out life processes from the food they consume or make

Breathing

Refers to the movements that cause air to be moved into and out of the lungs, which form part of the respiratory system.

Gaseous exchange

Is the process by which oxygen diffuses into the blood and carbon dioxide diffuses out of the blood through a respiratory surface.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity

Sanitation

The practice of maintaining good health and preventing disease by maintaining health-enhancing conditions through good personal and community hygiene.

Pest

A plant or animal that has a harmful effect on humans, their food or their living conditions.

Parasite

An organism that lives in or on another living organism known as its host.

Pathogen

A parasitic microorganism that causes disease in its host.

Absorption

Is the process by which soluble food molecules are absorbed after digestion

Assimilation

Is the process by which the body uses soluble food molecules from digestion

Egestion

Is to remove undigested material and waste

Cortex

It is the outer region of the kidney

Medulla

The inner region of the kidney

Pelvis

A hollow region of the kidney

Excretion

Is the process by which metabolic wastes are removed from the body

Osmoregulation

Is the regulation of the water content (concentration) of blood plasma and body fluids

A Balanced energy intake and output

Where the amount of energy required daily from the diet depends on a person’s age, occupation and gender

Stimulus

A change in the internal or external environment of an organism that initiates a response

Receptor

The part of an organism that detects a stimulus

Central Nervous System (CNS)

Is composed of the brain and spinal cord

Nervous System

Electrical impulses transmitted to help coordinate the body's activities

Peripheral Nervous System (PNS)

Consists of cranial and spinal nerves that connect the central nervous system to all parts of the body.

Menopause

Occurs when a female reaches 45 to 50 years old, and can no longer become pregnant

Discuss

Is a balanced argument which considers points both for and against

Graphs

Used to display numerical data

SBA

Is an integral part of your CSEC exam. It assesses you in the Experimental Skills and Analysis and Interpretation involved in laboratory and field work, and is worth 20% of your final examination mark