CSEC Human and Social Biology Vocabulary

A comprehensive vocabulary review deck covering core terminology and concepts from CSEC Human and Social Biology.

Autotrophs

Organisms, such as green plants, that make their own food through the process of photosynthesis.

Heterotrophs

Organisms, such as animals, that obtain ready-made food from their environment.

Aerobic respiration

The process by which energy is released from food by living cells using oxygen.

Anaerobic respiration

The process by which energy is released from food by living cells without using oxygen.

Excretion

The process by which waste and harmful substances produced by the body's metabolism are removed from the body.

Irritability (sensitivity)

The ability of living organisms to detect and respond to changes in their environment or within themselves.

Tissue

A group of cells of the same type that are specialised to carry out a particular function.

Organ

A structure formed by different tissues grouped together to perform one or more specific functions.

Virus particle

A microscopic agent that lacks a cellular structure and can only reproduce inside other living cells.

Diffusion

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

Osmosis

The movement of water molecules through a partially permeable membrane from a dilute solution to a more concentrated solution.

Active transport

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

Photosynthesis

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

Trophic level

The specific position or level that an organism occupies in a food chain.

Decomposers

Microorganisms, such as bacteria and fungi, that feed on dead and waste organic matter, causing it to decompose.

Digestion

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

Enzymes

Biological catalysts produced by living cells that speed up chemical reactions without being changed themselves.

Peristalsis

The wave-like muscular contraction that moves food through the oesophagus and alimentary canal.

Egestion

The process by which undigested food material is removed from the body as faeces.

Assimilation

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

Gaseous exchange

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

Vital capacity

The maximum volume of air that can be exhaled from the lungs after inhaling as deeply as possible.

Serum

Blood plasma from which fibrinogen and other clotting factors have been removed.

Atherosclerosis

A condition in which fatty deposits containing cholesterol build up inside the walls of arteries, narrowing their lumen.

Homeostasis

The maintenance of a constant internal environment within the body.

Osmoregulation

The regulation of the water content of blood plasma and body fluids.

Reflex action

A rapid, automatic, and involuntary response to a stimulus by a muscle or gland.

Accommodation

The process of changing the shape of the lens in the eye to focus light coming from different distances onto the retina.

Endocrine glands

Ductless glands that secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.

Mitosis

The type of cell division that results in two daughter cells, each with the same number and kind of chromosomes as the parent cell.

Meiosis

The type of cell division that results in four daughter cells, each containing half the number of chromosomes of the parent cell.

Genotype

The specific combination of alleles present within the cells of an organism.

Phenotype

The observable characteristics of an individual organism, determined by its genotype and environment.

Mutation

A change in the structure of a single gene, a chromosome, or in the total number of chromosomes in a cell.

Allele

Either of a pair or series of alternative forms of a gene occupying corresponding positions on homologous chromosomes.

Dominant allele

An allele that produces its phenotype whether its paired allele is identical or different.

Recessive allele

An allele that only shows its effect on the phenotype if its paired allele is identical.

Genetic engineering

Technology that involves changing the traits of an organism by inserting genetic material from a different organism into its DNA.

Health

A state of complete physical, mental, and social wellbeing, and not merely the absence of disease and infirmity.

Disease

A condition that impairs the normal functioning of part or all of an organism, leading to a loss of good health.

Vector

An organism that carries pathogens in or on its body and transmits them from one host to another without being harmed itself.

Sterilisation

The complete destruction of all microorganisms present in a specified region or on an object.

Disinfection

The use of chemicals to reduce the number of microorganisms present to a level that cannot cause infection.

Antigen

A substance recognised as foreign to the body that stimulates lymphocytes to produce specific antibodies.

Antibody

A specific protein produced by lymphocytes in response to the presence of a specific antigen.

Pollutant

A harmful substance or form of energy released into the environment that causes unfavourable changes.

Eutrophication

An overgrowth of aquatic plants and algae caused by excess plant nutrients in water, leading to oxygen depletion when decomposers break them down.

Potable water

Water that is safe for human consumption and food preparation.

Sewage

Liquid waste consisting of human faeces, urine, household and industrial wastewater, and rainwater.

Biodegradable waste

Waste material that can be broken down by microorganisms into harmless materials that recycle back into the environment.