science term 3 2024

Nervous System

A system that collaborates with the endocrine system to regulate vital functions like heart rate, digestion, and metabolism.

Endocrine System

A system that uses glands to secrete hormones regulating various bodily processes, including metabolism and growth.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a stable internal environment in the body, crucial for overall health.

Hormones

Chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands that communicate with target cells to regulate bodily functions.

Hypothalamus

A brain region that links the nervous and endocrine systems, regulating behaviors like hunger and stress responses.

Pituitary Gland

Known as the master gland, it controls other endocrine glands and releases hormones affecting growth and reproduction.

Type 1 Diabetes

An autoimmune disease where the immune system attacks insulin-producing cells in the pancreas, leading to little or no insulin production.

Type 2 Diabetes

A condition characterized by insulin resistance and inadequate insulin production, often linked to lifestyle factors.

Immune System

A system that coordinates with other body systems to detect and respond to pathogens, maintaining health.

Lines of Defence

The body's mechanisms to fight disease, including physical barriers, non-specific white blood cells, and the adaptive immune system.

First Line of Defence

Physical and chemical barriers, such as skin and saliva, that prevent pathogen entry.

Second Line of Defence

Involves inflammation and fever responses when pathogens breach the first line of defence.

Third Line of Defence

The adaptive immune response involving lymphocytes that target specific antigens.

Insulin

A hormone that decreases blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake in cells and glycogen production in the liver.

Glucagon

A hormone that increases blood glucose levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen in the liver.

Lifestyle Diseases

Non-infectious diseases caused by lifestyle choices, such as diet and exercise habits.

Infectious Diseases

Diseases caused by pathogens that can spread between individuals, such as the common cold.

Plant Hormones

Chemicals that regulate plant growth and responses, including auxins and gibberellins.

Autoimmune Disease

A condition where the immune system mistakenly attacks the body's own cells, as seen in Type 1 diabetes.

Glycemic Index

A measure of how quickly foods raise blood glucose levels, important for managing diabetes.