Animal Biodiversity Final

Muscle fibers

basic muscular cell; multinucleate

Fascicles

cluster of muscle fibers

Fascia

thick connective tissue surrounding fascicles

Intercalated disks

junctions between cardiac muscle cells allowing for quick signal transmission

Autonomic nervous system

system that controls involuntary muscle contractions

Hormones

chemicals that can cause smooth muscle contractions

Sarcolemma

Plasma membrane surrounding muscle fibers

Myofibril

contractile muscle fibers made up of actin and myosin

Z-line

transverse structure holding actin filaments in place

Sarcomere

contractile element between z-lines

Myosin filament

long filament comprised of two polypeptide chains with a club-shaped head at both ends

Actin filament

long filament comprised of two helical strands of actin

Tropomyosin and troponin complex

actin-binding proteins; covers myosin-binding sites on actin

Acetylcholine

hormone released from neurons onto sarcolemma

T-tubules

transmitter of depolarisation from sarcolemma to sarcoplasmic reticulum

Sarcoplasmic reticulum

structure surrounding muscle fibers that releases calcium around myofilaments

Macrophages

immune cells that protect the body from pathogens

Lymphocytes

immune cells that protect the body from pathogens

Chondrocytes

releases collagen matrix that makes up the cartilage

Periosteum

dense connective tissue of the bones

Lacunae

cavities in the bone

Osteocytes

basic bone cells

Canaliculi

passages connecting lacunae

Osteons

elongated cylinder of bone

Osteoblast

creates new bones

Osteoclast

digests old bone

Homeostasis

balancing of physiological processes to maintain normal internal state

Osmotic conformers

conform to salt and water levels of their environment; low salinity range

Osmotic regulators

regulate salt and water levels; wider salinity range

Hyperosmotic regulator

maintain higher solute concentration in the body than the environment

Hypoosmotic regulator

maintain lower solute concentration in the body than the environment

Terrestrial salt and water balance

water produced from food oxidation, excretes waste as uric acid

Flame cell

specialized excretory structure in flatworms; forces water into collecting tubule

Collecting tubule

site for water and metabolite reabsorption in flatworms

Nephridium process

body fluid enters nephric tubule, water and valuable metabolites are reabsorbed, wastes are secreted into nephric tubule, wastes and excess fluid pass out of nephridiopore

Freshwater crustacean kidney process

AKA antennal glands; pressure forces fluid from blood into end sac, water and valuable solutes are reabsorbed in tubule, wastes secreted into tubule and excess fluid voided with urine

Spider/insect kidney process

salts transported into malpighian tubules, water, solutes, and salts are osmotically reabsorbed into tubule, semisolid urine passed with feces

Vertebrate kidney process

water and solutes in blood filtered into Bowman’s capsule, renal tubule → loop of Henle → convoluted tubule

Temperature compensation

adjust metabolic rate to temperature so the intensity of metabolism is unchanged

Intracellular fluid

collective fluid in all body cells

Extracellular fluid

fluid outside of and surrounding cells

Albumins

plasma component that maintains osmotic equilibrium

Globulins

plasma component that holds immune system proteins (antibodies)

Fibrinogen

plasma component that’s involved in blood coagulation

Erythrocytes

blood component that contains hemoglobin

Leukocytes

scavenger and immune cells

Thrombocytes (platelets)

blood component involved in coagulation

Pulmonary artery

carries blood out of right ventricle towards lungs

Pulmonary veins

carries blood from lungs to left atrium

Aorta

carries blood from left ventricle to the body

Systole

contracting of heart muscles

Diastole

relaxing of heart muscles

Mammalian heart action

when atria contract, ventricles relax, and vice versa

Precapillary sphincters

controls flow of blood

Cellular respiration

metabolic process that releases energy from food with oxygen

External respiration

exchange of O2 and CO2 between the environment and an organism’s respiratory surface

Tracheal system

system of branching tubes that travel through spiracles and end in tracheoles

Gills

mouth opens and operculum contracts to draw water across gills; mouth closes and contracts to push water out of gill chambers

Operculum

muscle that closes around gills to hold water there

Alveoli

small air sacs in the lungs

Plankton

tiny drifting organism

Detritus

drifting organic debris

Cirri

feather-like appendages that trap food in its bristles; found in barnacles

Gill rakers

feeding structure in herrings that strain plankton out of water

Baleen

feeding structure in baleen whales that filter fish or crustaceans out of water

Radula

feeding structure in most molluscs that scrapes food off hard surfaces

Absorbable unit (protein)

amino acid

Absorbable unit (carbs)

simple sugars

Absorbable unit (fats)

monoglycerides, glycerol, fatty acids

Absorbable unit (nucleic acid)

ribose, deoxyribose, nitrogenous bases

Segmentation (digestion)

alternate constriction of circular muscle that mixes food

Peristalsis

sweeps food down gut with waves of circular muscle contraction

Irritability

ability to respond to environmental stimuli

Effectors

muscles or glands that receive impulses from motor neurons

Nerve net

nervous system where signals spread in all directions

Hormones

chemicals released into blood in small amounts

Anterior pituitary glands releases…

TSH, ACTH, prolactin, and growth hormone

Tropic hormones

hormones that regulate endocrine glands; ex. TSH and ACTH

Thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH)

hormone that stimulates production of thyroid hormone

Adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH)

stimulates production of adrenal cortex hormones

Non-tropic hormones

hormones that act directly on tissues; ex. Prolactin and growth hormone

Prolactin

hormone that prepares mammary glands for lactation and milk production

Growth hormone

hormone that affects mitosis, mRNA/protein synthesis, and metabolism

Posterior pituitary gland releases…

oxytocin, vasopressin

Oxytocin

contraction of uterine muscles during birth, milk ejection by mammary glands

Vasopressin

increases water reabsorption in collecting ducts of kidney

Thyroid gland releases…

triiodothyronine and thyroxine

Triiodothyronine (T3) and thyroxine (T4)

hormones that promote normal growth of nervous system and stimulate metabolism

Parathyroid gland

gland buried in the thyroid gland; releases parathyroid hormone (PTH)

Parathyroid hormone (PTH)

hormone that is essential for calcium homeostasis

Adrenal cortex releases…

cortisol and aldosterone

Cortisol

hormone that decreases inflammation, promotes synthesis of glucose from amino acids and fats

Aldosterone

hormone that promotes reabsorption of sodium and secretion of potassium

Adrenal Medulla releases…

epinephrine and norepinephrine

Epinephrine and norepinephrine

hormones that control the “fight or flight” response

Ovaries release…

estrogen and progesterone

Testes release

testosterone

Estrogen

hormone that stimulates reproductive activity, primary and secondary sex characteristics, and prepares uterus for embryo

Progesterone

hormone involved in the menstrual cycle

Testosterone

hormone that promotes development of primary and secondary sex characteristics