BIOL 1104 Exam 3 Learning Objectives.docx

Protein Hormones

Signaling molecules made of amino acids that bind to cell surface receptors to initiate a cellular response.

Steroid Hormones

Lipid-based hormones derived from cholesterol that can pass through cell membranes to bind to intracellular receptors.

Endocrine Glands in Sex Differences

Glands like the testes and ovaries that produce hormones influencing sexual characteristics and reproductive functions.

Bone Remodeling

The continuous process of bone resorption and formation, crucial for maintaining bone strength and mineral balance.

Muscle Fiber Structure

The basic unit of a muscle consisting of sarcomeres, responsible for muscle contraction through the sliding filament theory.

Sex Differences in Body Fat

Variances in fat distribution, storage, and metabolism between males and females.

Alcohol Metabolism Sex Differences

Variations in how males and females metabolize alcohol, affecting tolerance levels and health outcomes.

Early Development Stages

From fertilization to tissue differentiation, the sequential steps leading to the formation of an organism.

Menstrual Cycle Events

Hormonally regulated phases involving the ovary, uterus, and hormonal fluctuations leading to menstruation or pregnancy.

Birth Control Methods

Approaches utilizing estrogen and progesterone to prevent pregnancy by inhibiting ovulation or altering the uterine environment.

Hormonal Controls in Pregnancy

Regulatory mechanisms involving hormones like hCG, estrogen, and progesterone to support pregnancy and childbirth.

Labor and Delivery Stages

The progression from contractions to birth, involving stages like dilation, expulsion, and placental delivery.

Nervous System Components

The CNS (brain and spinal cord) and PNS (nerves outside the CNS) responsible for sensory input, integration, and motor output.

Neuron Structure

Specialized cells transmitting nerve impulses, comprising a cell body, dendrites, and axon with myelin sheath.

Reflexes

Involuntary responses to stimuli mediated by neural circuits in the spinal cord, bypassing the brain for rapid reactions.

Brain Regions

Cerebrum, thalamus, hypothalamus, cerebellum, and brain stem, each with distinct functions in processing sensory information and coordinating responses.

Action Potential Generation

The process of depolarization and repolarization in neurons, leading to the propagation of electrical signals.

Synaptic Transmission

The relay of signals between neurons across synapses through neurotransmitter release and receptor activation.