Human Biology Exam Revision Flashcards

Flashcards for Human Biology Semester I Exam Revision

What is a metabolic pathway?

Series of interconnected biochemical reactions converting a starting molecule to a final product.

What are anabolic pathways?

Pathways that build complex molecules from simpler ones, requiring energy.

What are catabolic pathways?

Pathways that break down complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy.

What is cellular respiration?

Process by which cells break down glucose to produce energy (ATP).

What is ATP?

Adenosine triphosphate, the main energy currency of the cell.

What is ADP?

Adenosine diphosphate, formed when ATP loses a phosphate group.

What is glycolysis?

Initial breakdown of glucose into pyruvate, occurring in the cytoplasm.

What is lactic acid?

Produced during anaerobic respiration in muscles when oxygen is scarce.

What is pyruvate?

End product of glycolysis, can be further processed in aerobic respiration.

What are enzymes?

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions.

What is a substrate?

The molecule on which an enzyme acts.

What is a catalyst?

Substance that speeds up a reaction without being consumed.

What is the Krebs cycle?

Series of reactions in the mitochondria that further oxidize pyruvate.

What is the electron transport chain?

Final stage of aerobic respiration, where most ATP is produced.

What is an enzyme-substrate complex?

Temporary complex formed when an enzyme binds to its substrate.

What is activation energy?

Energy required to start a chemical reaction.

What is pH?

Measure of acidity or alkalinity.

What is temperature?

A measure of the average kinetic energy of molecules.

What is the lock and key model?

Model describing how enzymes specifically bind to their substrates.

What is the cell membrane?

Structure that controls the movement of substances into and out of the cell.

What is diffusion?

Movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

What is osmosis?

Movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from an area of high water concentration to an area of low water concentration.

What is mediated transport?

Transport across a membrane assisted by proteins.

What is a concentration gradient?

The difference in concentration of a substance across a membrane.

What are membrane proteins?

Proteins embedded in the cell membrane that facilitate transport.

What are carrier proteins?

Proteins that bind to specific molecules and transport them across the membrane.

What is active transport?

Transport that requires energy (ATP) to move substances against their concentration gradient.

What is passive transport?

Transport that does not require energy, moving substances down their concentration gradient.

What is facilitated transport?

Type of passive transport facilitated by carrier proteins.

What are alveoli?

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

What are villi?

Small, finger-like projections in the small intestine that increase surface area for absorption.

What are microvilli?

Microscopic projections on the surface of cells in the small intestine, further increasing surface area for absorption.

What is a nephron?

Functional unit of the kidney responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

What are lacteals?

Lymphatic vessels in the small intestine that absorb fats.

What is the glomerulus?

Network of capillaries in the nephron where filtration of blood occurs.

What is the diffusion rate?

Rate at which gases move across a membrane.

What is gaseous exchange?

Process where oxygen and carbon dioxide are exchanged in the lungs.

What is permeability?

The extent to which a membrane allows substances to pass through it.

What is surface area?

Total area of a surface.

What is SA:Vol?

Ratio of surface area to volume.

What is the filtration rate?

Rate at which fluid is filtered, especially in the kidneys.

What is filtrate?

Fluid that has passed through a filter, like the glomerulus.

What is urine?

Waste product excreted by the kidneys.

What is urea?

Nitrogenous waste product formed in the liver.

What are salivary glands?

Glands in the mouth that produce saliva.

What does it mean to emulsify?

To break down fats into smaller droplets, increasing surface area for digestion.

What is bile?

Fluid produced by the liver that aids in fat digestion.

What is the gall bladder?

Organ that stores and concentrates bile.

What is the pancreas?

Organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones.

What is the small intestine?

Where most digestion and absorption of nutrients occurs.

What is the stomach?

Organ where initial digestion of proteins occurs.

What is intestinal juice?

Enzymes secreted by the small intestine.

What is pancreatic juice?

Enzymes secreted by the pancreas.

What is pancreatic lipase?

Enzyme that digests fats in the small intestine.

What is intestinal protease?

Enzyme that digests proteins in the small intestine.

What is pancreatic amylase?

Enzyme that digests carbohydrates in the small intestine.

What is pepsin?

Enzyme in the stomach that breaks down proteins.

What is pepsinogen?

Inactive form of pepsin.

What is trypsin?

Enzyme that digests proteins in the small intestine.

What is glucose?

Simple sugar, the main source of energy for cells.

What are fatty acids?

Building blocks of fats.

What is triglycerol?

Main form of fat storage in the body.

What are amino acids?

Building blocks of proteins.

What are peptides?

Chains of amino acids.

What is the hepatic artery?

Vessel that carries blood from the aorta to the liver.

What is the hepatic portal vein?

Vessel that carries blood from the digestive system to the liver.

What is the pleura membrane?

Membrane lining the chest cavity.

What is the rib cage?

Bony structure protecting the lungs.

What is the diaphragm?

Muscle that contracts to expand the chest cavity during inhalation.

What are lobes?

Divisions of the lungs.

What are alveoli?

Tiny air sacs in the lungs where gas exchange occurs.

What is the trachea?

Windpipe that carries air to the lungs.

What are intercostal muscles?

Muscles between the ribs that assist in breathing.

What are primary bronchi?

Main branches of the trachea that enter the lungs.

What are secondary bronchi?

Smaller branches of the bronchi.

What is inhalation?

Process of taking air into the lungs.

What is exhalation?

Process of releasing air from the lungs.

What is diffusion?

Movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration.

What is carbon dioxide?

Waste product of cellular respiration.

What is haemoglobin?

Protein in red blood cells that carries oxygen.

What is oxygen?

Gas essential for cellular respiration.

What is heme?

Iron-containing part of hemoglobin that binds to oxygen.

What is iron?

Mineral essential for oxygen transport.

What are erythrocytes?

Red blood cells.

What are leukocytes?

White blood cells.

What are atria?

Upper chambers of the heart.

What are ventricles?

Lower chambers of the heart.

What are papillary muscles?

Muscles in the ventricles that attach to the chordae tendonae.

What are chordae tendonae?

Tendons that support the heart valves.

What are heart valves?

Structures that prevent backflow of blood in the heart.

What is lymph?

Fluid that circulates through lymphatic vessels.

What is blood transfusion?

Process of transferring blood from one person to another.

What is cardiac output?

Volume of blood pumped by the heart per minute.

What are the excretory organs?

Skin, lungs, kidneys

What is the renal cortex?

Outer region of the kidney.

What is the renal medulla?

Inner region of the kidney.

What is the renal pelvis?

Funnel-shaped structure that collects urine from the kidney.

What is the renal corpuscle?

Part of the nephron that filters blood.

What is the renal artery?

Vessel that carries blood to the kidney.

What is the renal vein?

Vessel that carries blood away from the kidney.