Artistic Gymnasium A' Biology Complete Examination Notes 2025-2026
Institutional Framework and Curricular Overview for Biology
The academic syllabus for Biology during the school year 2025-2026 at the Artistic Gymnasium with Lyceum Classes (ΚΑΛΛΙΤΕΧΝΙΚΟ ΓΥΜΝΑΣΙΟ ΜΕ Λ.Τ.) is based on the primary textbook "Biology A' Gymnasiou," authored by GE. Mavrikaki, M. Gkouvra, and A. Kampouri. Under the supervision of Professor Dougalis Charalambos, the curriculum focuses on fundamental biological processes, ranging from cellular mechanics to complex human physiological systems. This study guide encapsulates the exhaustive material required for examination, encompassing the organization of life, nutritional processes, circulatory transport, and respiratory mechanisms.
Chapter 1: The Structural and Functional Organization of Life
Section 1.1, spanning pages 18 through 20, delineates the essential characteristics that define all living organisms. Every organism, from simple unicellular forms to complex multicellular entities, exhibits a set of core biological functions including movement, the intake of nutrients (nutrition), the release of energy through respiration, the excretion of metabolic waste, the ability to sense and respond to environmental stimuli (irritability or sensitivity), the capacity for reproduction to ensure species continuity, and the process of growth. These characteristics collectively differentiate biotic factors from abiotic matter.
In Section 1.2, titled "Cell: the unit of life" (pages 21-25), the focus shifts to the microscopic foundation of biology. The cell is established as the smallest unit of life capable of performing all vital functions independently. The material covers the structural components of the cell, including the cell membrane (controlling substance entry and exit), the cytoplasm (a jelly-like substance where many chemical reactions occur), and the genetic material (DNA) often housed within a nucleus. Differentiation is made between animal cells and plant cells, noting that plant cells possess additional structures such as a rigid cell wall, a large central vacuole for storage, and chloroplasts containing chlorophyll for energy production.
Section 1.3 examine the organization of multicellular organisms on pages 25, 26, and 28. In these complex organisms, cells do not function in isolation but are organized hierarchically. Similar cells group together to form tissues; different tissues collaborate to form organs (such as the leaf in plants or the heart in animals); organs work together in organ systems; and multiple organ systems constitute the integrated whole known as the organism. This section highlights how specialization allow for greater efficiency in biological function. Associated exercises for this chapter are found on pages 29 and 33.
Chapter 2: Substance Intake and Digestive Processes
The introduction to nutritional intake is found on page 38, setting the stage for Section 2.1 which explores the production of nutrients in plants through photosynthesis (pages 39-41). Photosynthesis is the biochemical process by which autotrophic organisms convert light energy into chemical energy. This occurs primarily in the chloroplasts of leaves where carbon dioxide and water are transformed into glucose (sugar) and oxygen, facilitated by the pigment chlorophyll. The chemical representation of this process follows the general equation: . The glucose produced serves as the primary energy source for the plant and, subsequently, for the entire food chain.
Section 2.4 focuses specifically on the human digestive system, covering pages 45, 46, and 48. The material describes the intake of substances and the mechanical and chemical breakdown of food. Page 48 specifically details the "Human Digestive System," outlining the pathway of food through the alimentary canal: the mouth (where amylase begins carbohydrate breakdown), the esophagus, the stomach (where gastric juices process proteins), and the small intestine (the primary site for nutrient absorption). It also includes the role of accessory organs such as the liver and pancreas, which provide essential enzymes and bile. Practical application and assessment of these concepts are found through exercises on pages 47, 50, 52, and 53.
Chapter 3: Mechanisms of Internal Transport and Excretion
Chapter 3 begins with an introduction on page 60 regarding the necessity of transport systems to move nutrients and oxygen to cells and remove metabolic wastes. Section 3.1 (page 60) addresses how transportation and excretion occur in unicellular organisms. In these simple life forms, the high surface-area-to-volume ratio allows substances to move directly across the cell membrane via diffusion, eliminating the need for complex vascular structures.
Section 3.4 (pages 61-68) details substance transport and excretion in humans. The examination material excludes tables and sidebars, focusing strictly on the narrative text regarding the circulatory system. This system includes the heart—a muscular pump—and a vast network of blood vessels (arteries, veins, and capillaries). The blood serves as the medium for transporting oxygen from the lungs and nutrients from the digestive tract to every cell in the body, while simultaneously collecting carbon dioxide and urea to be delivered to the lungs and kidneys for excretion. Review exercises for this extensive section are located on pages 69, 70, and 73.
Chapter 4: Respiratory Systems and Gas Exchange
The study of respiration begins with the introductory content and Exercise 1 on page 78, followed by Exercise 1 on page 80. These sections introduce the concept of cellular respiration, which is the process of releasing energy from glucose. Section 4.4, specifically page 87, focuses on "The Respiratory System of Man." This section details the anatomy of the human respiratory tract, including the nasal cavity, pharynx, larynx, trachea, and bronchi, leading to the lungs.
Within the lungs, the material highlights the alveoli as the critical site of gas exchange, where oxygen enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide leaves it based on concentration gradients. The mechanics of breathing—inhalation and exhalation—are governed by the diaphragm and intercostal muscles. The chapter concludes with specific evaluative tasks, notably Exercises 3 and 6 on page 93.