Chapter 1-4 (A&P)

chapters 1,2,3,4 anatomy n physiology thompson

Acid:

Any substance that releases hydrogen ions in solution

Amino acids

: Organic compounds containing an amino (NH2) group and a carboxyl (COOH) group that are the building blocks of proteins

Anabolism: The constructive phase of metabolism during which cells use nutrients and energy for growth and repair

Anion:

An ion with a negative electrical charge

Atom:

The smallest part of an element; consists of a nucleus containing protons and neutrons surrounded by electrons

Atomic number:

The number of protons in the nucleus of an element

Atomic weight

: The number of protons and neutrons added together

ATP (adenosine triphosphate)

: Stores energy released from the breakdown of nutrients and provides it to fuel cellular reactions

Base

: Any substance that combines with hydrogen ions

Carbohydrates

: Group of organic compounds known as starches or sugars that serves as the body’s primary source of energy

Catabolism:

Phase of metabolism during which complex substances are converted to simpler ones, resulting in the release of chemical energy

Cations:

An ion with a positive electrical charge

Cellular respiration:

The production of energy within cells

Colloid

: Usually a mixture of protein and water; can change from liquid to a gel

Compound:

Chemical combination of two or more elements

Covalent bond:

Bond formed between two atoms when the atoms share one or more pairs of electrons

Electrolyte:

A compound that dissociates in water to create a solution capable of conducting electricity

Electron:

Minute particle with a negative electrical charge that revolves around the nucleus of an atom

Element: A substance that cannot be separated into substances different from itself

Energy:

The capacity to do work

Enzymes:

Substances that change the rate of chemical reactions without being changed themselves

Essential amino acids:

Amino acids that must be obtained through food

Glucose:

Monosaccharide that serves as the primary source of energy for most of the body’s cells

Hydrogen bond:

A weak attraction between a slightly positive hydrogen atom in one molecule and a slightly negative oxygen or nitrogen atom in another

Ion:

Electrically charged atom

Ionic bond:

Bond formed when one atom transfers an electron from its outer shell to another atom

Ionization:

Process whereby ionic bonds break when dissolved in water, creating a solution that’s capable of conducting electricity

Isotope:

One of a series of chemical elements that have nearly identical chemical properties but different atomic weights and electrical charges; many are radioactive

Kinetic energy:

Energy in motion

Lipid:

Group of fats characterized by their insolubility in water

Matter:

Anything that has mass and occupies space

Metabolism:

The sum of all the chemical reactions in the body

Mixture:

Substance that results when two or more substances blend rather than chemically combine

Molecule:

A combination of two or more atoms held together by chemical bonds

Neutron

: Particle without an electrical charge contained in the nucleus of an atom (along with protons)

Nonessential amino acids:

Amino acids that the body can manufacture and therefore do not need to be obtained through food

Nucleic acids:

Complex organic substances, especially DNA and RNA

Peptide bonds:

The type of bond through which amino acids link together

pH:

A measure of the hydrogen ion concentration of a solution

Proteins:

Very large molecules consisting of smaller chemical subunits called amino acids

Proton:

Particle with a positive electrical charge contained in the nucleus of an atom (along with neutrons)

Potential energy:

The energy stored in the bonds of molecules

Solution:

A liquid mixture in which the minor component (the solute) is evenly distributed within the more abundant substance (the solvent)

Steroids

: Diverse group of lipids that fulfill a variety of roles in the human body

Suspension:

Mixture containing large particles that tend to settle when left undisturbed

Triglyceride:

Most abundant lipid that functions as a source of energy in the body

Anatomy:

The study of the structure of the body

Anterior:

Toward the front of the body

Distal:

Farthest from the point of origin

Dorsal cavity:

Located at the back of the body; contains the cranial and spinal cavities

Frontal plane:

Divides the body lengthwise into anterior and posterior portions

Homeostasis:

The state of dynamic equilibrium of the internal environment of the body

Inferior:

Beneath or lower

Lateral

: Away from the body’s midline

Medial:

Toward the body’s midline

Negative feedback:

When the effector opposes the stimulus and reverses the direction of change

Organ:

Structures of two or more tissue types that work together to carry out a particular function

Organelle:

Metabolic units (or “tiny organs”) within a cell that perform a specific function necessary to the life of the cell

Pathophysiology:

Functional changes resulting from disease

Physiology:

The study of how the body functions

Positive feedback:

When the effector reinforces the stimulus and amplifies the direction of change

Posterior:

Toward the back of the body

Proximal:

Closest to the point of origin

Sagittal plane:

Divides the body into right and left sides

Superficial:

At or near the body’s surface

Superior:

Situated above something else

Tissue:

Specialized groups of cells with similar structure and function

Transverse plane:

Divides the body into upper (superior) and lower (inferior) portions

Ventral cavity

: Located at the front of the body; consists of the thoracic and abdominopelvic cavities

Active transport:

Transport process in which solutes move from areas of lesser to greater concentration; requires energy in the form of ATP

Centrioles:

Bundles of microtubules that reside outside the cell’s nucleus, where they play a role in cell division

Chromatin:

Thread-like structures composed of DNA and protein that extend throughout the cell nucleus

Cilia:

Hair-like processes on the surface of the cell that propel materials across a surface

Cytoplasm:

Gel-like substance surrounding the nucleus and filling the cell

Cytoskeleton:

Supporting framework of the cell

Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA):

Large polymer of a nucleotide that carries the genetic information of a cell

Diffusion:

A passive transport mechanism that involves the movement of particles from an area of higher to lower concentration

Endocytosis

: Form of vesicular transport that brings substances into the cell

Endoplasmic reticulum:

Network of membranous tubules within the cytoplasm of a cell; usually has ribosomes attached that synthesize proteins

Exocytosis:

Form of vesicular transport that releases substances outside the cell

Facilitated diffusion:

Transport process involving diffusion of a substance through a channel protein

Flagella:

Thread-like structure that has a whip-like motion that helps move a cell; exist as the tail on a sperm cell

Filtration:

Transport process in which water and dissolved particles are forced across a membrane from an area of higher to lower pressure

Genome:

The complete set of genes or genetic material within a cell

Golgi apparatus:

Prepares proteins and packages them for export to other parts of the body

Hydrostatic pressure:

Pressure exerted by water

Hypertonic:

Pertains to a solution that contains a higher concentration of solutes compared with the fluid within the cell

Hypotonic

: Pertains to a solution that contains a lower concentration of solutes compared with the fluid within the cell

Isotonic:

Pertains to a solution in which the concentration of solutes is the same as in the cell

Lysosomes:

Membranous vesicles that contain enzymes that help break down protein the cell doesn’t need

Microvilli:

Folds of a cell membrane that greatly increase the surface area of a cell to facilitate absorption

Mitochondria:

Organelle that converts organic compounds into ATP

Mitosis:

Type of cell division in which the “mother” cells splits into two identical daughter cells

Nuclear envelope:

Double-layered membrane surrounding the cell nucleus

Nuclear pores:

Perforations that regulate the passage of molecules into the nucleus

Nucleolus:

The center of the nucleus

Nucleus:

The cell’s “control center” that contains a complete set of 46 chromosomes

Organelles:

Structures within the cell that perform specific tasks in cellular metabolism