Cells and Homeostasis

cellular respiration - the conversion of glucose and oxygen into carbon dioxide, water, and ATP

tissue - a group of similar cells that work together to perform a specific task

organ - a structure made up of two or more tissues working together to carry out a specific function

organ system - a group of organs working together to perform a function in the body

phospholipid - a chemical structure with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails

solute - a substance dissolved in water or some other solvent

solvent - the liquid which dissolves a solute

solution - a mixture of solute dissolved in solvent

concentration - the amount of solute dissolved in a given amount of solvent

concentration gradient - when one side of a space has more solute than the other

semipermeable - a barrier that allows some things to pass through and blocks others

active transport - the movement of substances across the cell membrane requiring energy

passive transport - the movement of substances across the cell membrane from a region of high concentration to an area of low concentration

osmosis - the diffusion of water across a membrane

hydrophobic - water fearing

hydrophilic - water loving

hypertonic - concentration of solutes outside the cell are higher than inside the cell

hypotonic - concentration of solutes outside the cell are lower than inside the cell

isotonic - an environment in which the concentration of solutes is equal inside and outside the cell

diffusion - a type of passive transport where particles move from a region of higher concentration to a region of lower concentration

facilitated diffusion - the movement of large or charged molecules across a membrane using channel proteins which do not require energy

endocytosis - an active transport process in which large particles are engulfed into the cell

exocytosis - an active transport process in which large particles are removed from the cell

cell receptor - a protein in the cell membrane that receives signals from signal molecules outside the cell

thermoregulation - the body’s ability to regulate a constant body temperature

effector - a structure that tries to help the body restore normal homeostasis conditions

receptor - a sensor that detects change and sends a signal to the control center

negative feedback - a mechanism by which the body keeps variables close to a specific level

hormone - chemical messenger/signals produced by endocrine glands

vasodilation - widening of blood vessels to allow heat to leave the body

vasoconstriction - narrowing of the blood vessels in the extremities to conserve body heat

thermogenesis - shivering to increase body temperature

dehydration - having not enough water in the body

edema - having too much water in the body

metabolic waste - a substance left over from processes such as cellular respiration, which must be removed from the body