BIOL 291 Exam Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards generated from BIOL 291 exam practice material covering tissue types, body cavities, organ systems, cellular structures, transport mechanisms, and metabolic reactions.

Four Principal Tissue Types

The four fundamental tissue classifications in the body: epithelial, connective, muscle, and nervous tissue.

Visceral Peritoneum

The serous membrane that covers abdominal organs such as the liver.

Extrinsic Regulation

A type of physiological regulation that originates from outside the target tissue or body.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

A hormone that raises blood calcium when blood $Ca^{2+}$ levels are too low, including by increasing calcium reabsorption/absorption.

Homeostasis

Maintaining a relatively stable internal environment within normal limits.

Vasodilation

The widening of blood vessels that increases blood flow when a tissue needs more oxygen.

Oxytocin

A hormone that causes smooth-muscle contraction in the uterus.

Pleural Serous Membranes

Membranes surrounding each lung; a javelin passing through both lungs above the pericardial cavity creates 4 pleural membrane holes (parietal + visceral pleura for each lung).

Diaphragm

The muscular structure positioned directly below the lungs.

Supine

An anatomical position describing lying down face up.

Olecranal Region

Anatomical region of the elbow, positioned superior relative to the crural region of the lower leg.

Epigastric Region

The abdominopelvic region containing most of the stomach, with some stomach extending into the left hypochondriac region.

Ventral Cavity Subdivisions

The nested structural sequence of body spaces: pericardial cavity $\subset$ mediastinum $\subset$ thoracic cavity $\subset$ ventral cavity.

Rectum

An organ located within the pelvic cavity.

Mesentery

A double layer of peritoneum that suspends the intestines from the posterior abdominal wall.

Retroperitoneal Space

An anatomical space located behind the peritoneum that is not normally a serous-fluid-filled cavity.

Frontal (Coronal) Plane

An anatomical plane that divides the body into anterior and posterior portions.

Cytosol

The liquid fluid inside cells where most body water is found.

Amphipathic Phospholipids

Molecules with hydrophobic and hydrophilic properties that make up cell membranes and form bilayers.

Lipolysis

The metabolic breakdown of fat, which is an exergonic reaction.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary energy currency of the cell that is continuously produced and used rather than stored in large amounts.

Kinase

An enzyme that commonly catalyzes ATP formation from ADP ($ADP \rightarrow ATP$) via phosphate transfer.

Adenosine Diphosphate (ADP)

A nucleotide precursor to ATP containing 2 phosphate groups.

Triglycerides

Lipids composed of glycerol plus three fatty acids.

Peptide Bonds

Covalent chemical bonds that connect amino acids in proteins.

Concentration Gradient Maintenance

A cellular process that requires energy to keep ion or molecule concentrations unequal across a membrane.

Cellular Respiration

A metabolic process producing ATP; describing glucose as directly entering mitochondria is an oversimplified or incorrect statement.

Functional Protein Conformation

The specific 3-dimensional folded shape required for a functional protein to operate.

Prion Diseases

Uniformly fatal, progressive neurodegenerative diseases caused by misfolded proteins.

Protein Binding Sites

Specific regions on proteins designed to bind their specific ligands.

Enzyme Catalysis

The acceleration of metabolic chemical reactions by lowering activation energy without consuming the enzyme itself.

Chronic Regulation

Long-term metabolic regulation that operates by changing gene expression to alter enzyme levels.

Pepsin

The active gastric enzyme that breaks down proteins in the stomach (converted from pepsinogen).

Protein Breakdown Reactions

Catabolic reactions that degrade proteins into smaller units, which are generally exergonic.

Somatic Cells

Body cells other than germ or reproductive cells.

Cell Membrane Functions

Structures providing structural integrity and regulating the movement of substances across the cell boundary.

Cytosolic Potassium ($K^+$)

The cation that is more concentrated inside cytosol compared to $Na^+$, $Ca^{2+}$, or $Cl^-$.

Non-Cytoplasmic Cell Contents

Intracellular structures remaining if all cytoplasm is removed, including the nucleus, ER, and mitochondria.

Calcium Ion ($Ca^{2+}$) Influx

The general movement of $Ca^{2+}$ into the cell when calcium channels open.

Chloride Ion ($Cl^-$) Entry Effect

The entry of negative chloride ions into a cell, causing the cell charge to become more negative.

Anion Efflux Effect

The movement of concentrated negative ions out of a cell through open channels, making the cell charge more positive.

Transcription and Translation Locations

Transcription occurs in the nucleus; translation occurs in the cytoplasm/ribosomes.

Mitochondrial Protein Synthesis Site

Proteins intended for mitochondria are made on free ribosomes, not on ribosomes attached to the rough ER.

Biceps Muscle Glycogen Storage

Tissue that stores large amounts of glycogen strictly for its own metabolic use.

Vesicle Membrane Composition

Biological membranes made of phospholipids that enclose cellular transport vesicles.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum ($Ca^{2+}$ Storage)

The primary organelle within the cell where intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ is stored.

Hepatic Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum

Organelle in liver cells whose dysfunction results in an inability to release/process glucose normally, affecting energy availability.

Metabolism

All chemical processes in an organism or cell, including both catabolism and anabolism.