Principles of Biomedical Science Glossary
ABO System
A system of classifying human blood into four types (A, AB, B, and O) based on the presence or absence of certain antigens.
Accuracy
How close a measurement is to the true or accepted value.
Acquired Immunity
Specific immune defense mechanisms acquired over a lifetime.
Uses antibodies to respond to specific antigens.
Two forms:
Active immunity: Acquired through infection/recovery or vaccination; the body makes its own antibodies.
Passive immunity: Acquired from the mother (through the placenta or breastfeeding); antibodies are given to the child.
Adenine
A component of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) and ATP.
A purine base.
Adenosine Tri-Phosphate (ATP)
A compound that supplies energy for many biochemical cellular processes.
Agglutination
The clumping of particles.
Algor Mortis
The change in body temperature after death.
Allele
Alternative forms of a gene at the same locus on a chromosome.
Example: Genes for blood type on chromosome 9.
Amino Acid
A compound that links with other amino acids to form a protein.
Anemia
A condition where blood is deficient in red blood cells or functional red blood cells, leading to reduced oxygen levels.
Angiogram
A medical imaging technique to visualize blood vessels using an imaging dye.
Angioplasty
A surgical method to restore blood flow through an artery.
Antibody
A protein produced by B cells in the blood to impair pathogens; also called an immunoglobulin.
Anticodon
A sequence of three nucleotides in tRNA, complementary to a codon on mRNA.
Critical to protein synthesis by building an amino acid chain.
Antigen
Anything that stimulates an immune response.
Aorta
The largest artery in the body; carries oxygenated blood from the left ventricle to the rest of the body.
Aortic Valve
A heart valve separating the left ventricle and the aorta; prevents backflow into the left ventricle.
App
A software application, especially for mobile devices.
Artery
A vessel carrying blood from the heart through the body.
Part of the circulatory system.
Aseptic Technique
Practices to prevent contamination.
Atherosclerosis
The deposition of fats and/or cholesterol on artery walls, negatively impacting blood flow.
Atrioventricular Node
Part of the heart's conduction system that controls the impulse delivered by the sinoatrial node (SA); also called the AV node.
Atrium
An upper chamber of the heart where blood enters.
The heart has two atria: the left atrium connects to the lungs, and the right atrium connects to the veins.
Attribute
Nonspatial information about a geographic feature in a GIS.
Usually stored in a table and linked to the feature by a unique identifier.
Autopsy
A postmortem evaluation to determine cause of death.
Autosome
A non-sex-determining chromosome (e.g., chromosomes 1–22), as opposed to sex chromosomes X and Y.
B Lymphocyte (B Cell)
A type of lymphocyte (white blood cell) that matures in bone marrow and produces antibodies.
Bacillus
A rod-shaped (cylindrical) bacterium (plural: bacilli).
Bacteria
A single-celled, prokaryotic microorganism.
Benign
A non-cancerous tumor; generally harmless.
Bibliography
A document listing all sources used to research a given topic.
Bioactive Compounds
Substances with a biological effect (e.g., anticancer, antifungal, antibacterial).
Biodiversity
The variety of life on Earth.
Biomarker
A measurable signal or predictor of disease or injury (e.g., protein or hormone level).
Biomedical Science
A professional field combining biology and medicine, with a focus on healthcare.
Biomimicry
Designing materials/structures/systems modeled after living organisms or processes.
Biomolecule
A large molecule produced by living organisms (e.g., nucleic acids, carbohydrates, proteins, lipids).
Bioprospecting
The search for medicinal drugs and other valuable bioactive compounds from living things.
Blood Plasma
The liquid portion of blood consisting of water and dissolved substances.
Blood Pressure
The pressure blood exerts on blood vessel walls, measured with a sphygmomanometer in millimeters of mercury.
Calorie
The amount of heat energy to raise the temperature of 1 gram of water by 1 °C.
Cancer
A disease caused when cells divide uncontrollably and spread into surrounding tissue.
Carbohydrate
A compound found in foods and living tissues that can be broken down for energy.
Cardiology
The field of study focused on the function and diseases of the heart.
Cardiovascular System
The transport system of the body; composed of the heart, blood vessels, and blood.
Cell
The smallest unit of life.
Centromere
The centralized region joining two sister chromatids.
Chemical Bond
An attractive force that holds together atoms, ions, or groups of atoms in a molecule or compound.
Chemical Indicator
A substance that changes color depending on the properties (e.g., pH) of the solution being tested.
Chemical Reaction
A process where atoms and/or molecules are rearranged to transform matter.
Cholesterol
A lipid essential for animal cell membranes and a precursor for steroid synthesis.
Chromatid
One half of a chromosome.
Chromosome
Tightly coiled DNA found in the nuclei of cells.
Chronic Traumatic Encephalopathy (CTE)
A progressive degeneration and/or death of nerve cells caused by repeated head injuries.
Citation
A reference to a specific source of information.
Coccus
A spherical, or generally round, bacterium (plural: cocci).
Codon
A sequence of three nucleotides in DNA or mRNA that codes for an amino acid or stop signal.
Compound
A substance consisting of two or more elements in a fixed ratio.
Concussion
An injury to the head that causes the brain to quickly move back and forth, hitting the inside of the skull.
Constraints
Restrictions that limit process design.
Examples: Appearance, funding, space, materials, and human capabilities.
Contagious
When a disease is transmissible by either direct or indirect contact.
Control Group
The group in an experiment where the independent variable is not applied.
Serves as a standard for comparison.
Coronary Artery Disease
The narrowing or blockage of the coronary arteries, usually caused by atherosclerosis.
Coronary Bypass
A surgical procedure to reroute blood around an obstruction in a coronary artery using a grafted vein segment.
Covalent Bond
A chemical bond in which atoms share electron pairs.
Criteria
Standards used to make judgments or decisions.
Cytosine
A component of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA); a pyrimidine base.
Decision Matrix
A tool used to compare design solutions against one another using specific criteria.
Dehydration Synthesis
A chemical reaction that results in the loss of a water molecule.
Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)
A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a deoxyribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and thymine (T).
DNA is double-stranded and helical and functions in protein synthesis and as the genome of some viruses.
Dependent Variable
The variable being measured in an experiment.
Its value is influenced by another variable.
Design Brief
A written plan that identifies a problem to be solved, its criteria, and its constraints.
Design Process
A systematic, problem-solving process with criteria and constraints.
Design Statement
A description of the anticipated design effort to address the needs of stakeholders in the problem statement.
Diagnosis
The process of determining which disease or condition explains a person’s symptoms and signs.
Diastole
The stage in a heartbeat when the heart is relaxed and the heart chambers fill with blood.
Diastolic Pressure
The pressure in arteries between heartbeats when the heart is relaxed.
Digestive System
An organ system that breaks down food to extract energy and nutrients and then evacuates remaining waste.
Disaccharide
A sugar that forms when two monosaccharides join in a dehydration reaction.
Disease
A disorder of structure or function in an organism.
Results in specific signs or symptoms.
Not a direct result of physical injury.
Documentation
A record of citations that identify resources used in writing a work.
Dominant Trait
A genetic trait is considered dominant if the associated phenotype is seen in an individual who has only one copy of the gene associated with the trait.
Electrocardiogram (EKG)
A measurement of heart electrical activity.
Electrophoresis
The separation of charged biological molecules by electrical current in a gel matrix.
Element
The building block of all matter composed of only one type of atom.
End User
A representative consumer for whom a hardware or software product is designed.
Epidemiology
A branch of medical science that deals with the incidence, distribution, causes, and control of health problems in a population.
Erythrocyte (Red Blood Cell)
Hemoglobin-rich, red blood cells that transport oxygen through a body.
Erythrocytes give the red color to vertebrate blood and do not have nuclei.
Etiology
The cause of a disease or condition.
Eukaryotic
Organisms that have membrane-bound organelles.
Experiment
A research study conducted to understand an observed phenomenon.
Experimental Design
A process used to carefully plan experiments in order to investigate scientific questions or problems.
Familial Hypercholesterolemia
An autosomal, dominant genetic disorder that disrupts the body's ability to eliminate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) from the blood, resulting in an increased risk of heart attack.
Feature
A representation of a real-world object on a map.
Field
A column in a table that stores the values for a single attribute.
Filter
A desktop geographic information system (GIS) operation used to hide (but not delete) features in a map document or attribute table.
Forensic Chemistry
A field of chemistry that tests non-biological samples to identify or quantify them.
Forensic Science
The application of scientific knowledge to resolve questions of civil and criminal law.
Fungus
Saprophytic and parasitic spore-producing eukaryotic organisms that lack chlorophyll.
Gel Electrophoresis
The separation of nucleic acids or proteins on the basis of their size and electrical charge for analytical purposes.
Gene
A sequence of nucleotides that codes for a protein, resulting in a specific phenotype.
Genetic Material
Nucleic acids (DNA and RNA) responsible for phenotypic traits and variation in organisms.
Genetics
A branch of biology that deals with the heredity and variation of organisms.
Genome
A complete set of the genes in one organism.
Genotype
All or part of the genetic constitution of an individual or group.
Glucagon
A hormone secreted by pancreatic endocrine cells that raises blood glucose levels.
An antagonistic hormone to insulin.
Glucose
A monosaccharide with the chemical formula .
Made primarily by plants.
Glucose Tolerance Test
A test of the body’s ability to metabolize glucose.
Gram’s Stain
A differential staining technique used to characterize the cellular structure of bacteria.
Gram positive bacteria stain purple, Gram negative bacteria stain pink.
Graphical Model
A pictorial representation used to convey detailed information.
Guanine
A component of nucleic acids (DNA and RNA); a purine base.
Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA)
A set of U.S. national standards that protect an individual’s privacy rights related to their personal medical information.
Heart Attack
An acute episode of heart disease that leads to damage or death of heart muscle due to insufficient blood supply to the muscle.
Heart Disease
An abnormal organic condition of the heart or circulation.
Heart Rate
A measure of cardiac activity usually expressed in number of beats per minute.
Helix
A three-dimensional spiral.
Helminth
A large, eukaryotic, multicellular, parasitic worm.
Hematocrit
The proportion, by volume, of blood that is made up of red blood cells.
Hemoglobin
A protein found in red blood cells that transports oxygen.
Hemoglobin A1c
A blood test that measures a patient’s average blood sugar level over two to three months.
Heredity
The transmission of traits from parent to offspring.
Heterozygous
Having two different alleles at one location on two homologous chromosomes.
High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)
The “good” cholesterol that helps remove the less beneficial forms of cholesterol from blood.
High-Throughput Screening
A rapid method for scientific experimentation and discovery typically used in drug discovery.
Histology
The study of the microscopic anatomy of tissues; also known as microanatomy.
Histone
A protein that DNA winds around to condense into a chromosome.
Homeostasis
The maintenance of stable internal physiological conditions.
Homologous Chromosomes
Chromosome pairs having similar gene composition, size, and structure.
Homozygous
Having two identical alleles at one location on two homologous chromosomes.
Hormone
A signaling molecule produced by glands that induces a specific effect on the activity of cells.
Host
An organism in which another organism lives.
Hydrolysis
A chemical reaction that uses water to split bonds between molecules.
Hydrophilic
Having an affinity for water.
Hydrophobic
Having an aversion to water.
Hyperglycemia
An excess of sugar in the blood.
Hypertension
An abnormally high blood pressure.
Hypertonic
When comparing two solutions, the one with a greater solute concentration.
Hypoglycemia
An abnormal decrease of sugar in the blood.
Hypothesis
A statement predicting the anticipated results of an experiment.
Hypotonic
When comparing two solutions, the one with a lower solute concentration.
Immunity
The ability to defend against a pathogen.
Immunoglobulin
A protein that functions as antibodies.
Independent Variable
The variable that the researcher intentionally changes to determine its influence on the dependent variable in an experiment.
Infection
The establishment of a disease-causing microorganism within a host.
Inferior Vena Cava
The largest vein in the human body; returns blood to the right atrium of the heart from body parts below the diaphragm.
Innate Immunity
Non-specific immune defense mechanisms present at birth.
Innovation
A new idea, method or device.
Insulin
A protein hormone secreted by the pancreas; essential for the metabolism of carbohydrates and the regulation of glucose levels in the blood.
Ionic Bond
A bond between atoms that results from the attraction between oppositely charged ions.
Isotonic
Solutions that have solutes of equal concentration.
Iterative
Repeating a series of steps over and over until the desired outcome is obtained.
Karyotype
An image of the chromosome pairs of a cell arranged by size and shape.
Leukocyte (White Blood Cell)
One of the many cells in the blood that lack hemoglobin but have a nucleus and are active in the immune response.
Lipid
One of a family of compounds, including fats, phospholipids, and steroids, that is insoluble in water.
Livor Mortis
Pooling of the blood following death that causes a purplish red discoloration of the skin; also referred to as lividity.
Locus
A location on a chromosome (plural: loci).
Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)
The “bad” cholesterol that can build up in the arteries and help form plaques, which can cause coronary artery disease.
Macromolecule
A type of large molecule formed by joining smaller molecules.
Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI)
A medical imaging technique that uses magnetic fields and radio waves to take pictures of the soft tissues of the body.
Malignant
A cancerous tumor which will grow and spread to invade other tissues or parts of the body.
Measurable
Able to be measured.
Medical Examiner
A physician who performs an autopsy when a death might have been caused accidentally or intentionally.
Medical History
A record of information about a patient’s past and current health.
Medical Surge
A situation in which an influx of new patients challenges or exceeds a hospital's ability to serve them.
Meiosis
The cellular process that results in the number of chromosomes in gamete-producing cells being reduced by half.
Messenger RNA (mRNA)
A type of RNA that is transcribed from DNA and translated by ribosomes in the cytoplasm to produce proteins.
Metabolic Syndrome
A group of concurrent diseases that can result in heart disease, stroke, and Type 2 Diabetes.
Metabolism
The chemical reaction processes of breaking down molecules for energy and of using simple building blocks to build up more complex molecules needed for growth and repair.
Metacognition
Metacognition is the mental process that learners use to understand and monitor their learning.
Metastasis
The spread of cancerous cells to other tissues or parts of the body.
Microbiology
The study of microorganisms.
Mitosis
A process that takes place in the nucleus of a dividing cell.
Mitral Valve
A valve in the heart that prevents the blood in the ventricle from returning to the atrium; also called bicuspid valve.
Model
An accurate representation of an object or phenomenon.
Molecule
A group of atoms held together by chemical bonds.
Monomer
A type of molecules that are the building blocks of polymers.
Monosaccharide
The simplest type of sugar that cannot be broken down into other types of sugars.
Morgue
A place where the bodies of dead persons are kept temporarily pending identification or release for burial or autopsy.
Mutation
A rare change in genetic material, which ultimately creates genetic diversity within a species.
Negative Control
In an experiment, the group in which the conditions produce a negative outcome.
Negative Feedback
A mechanism of homeostasis in which a change in a physiological variable triggers a reduction in another variable.
Nervous System
The body system in vertebrates that is made up of the brain and spinal cord, nerves, ganglia, and parts of the receptor organs.
Nondisjunction
An accident during mitosis or meiosis, in which members of a pair of homologous chromosomes or sister chromatids fail to move apart properly.
Nosocomial Infection
An infection acquired in a hospital; also known as a hospital-acquired infection or HAI.
Nucleotide
A building block of DNA that consists of a five-carbon sugar covalently bonded to a nitrogenous base and a phosphate group.
Nutrient
A substance that the body needs to maintain life and health.
Organ
A collection of tissues in an organism that performs a specific function.
Organ System
A group of organs that work together to perform one or more functions.
Organelle
Tiny structures that perform a function in a cell.
Osmosis
The movement of water across a membrane from an area of higher concentration to an area of lower concentration.
Pacemaker
A device implanted under a person’s skin that works to correct irregular heart rhythm.
Pathogen
A disease-causing organism.
Pedigree
A diagram that shows the occurrence of phenotypes through several generations of genetically related individuals.
Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)
Specialized clothing or equipment that a person wears for protection against laboratory hazards.
Phagocyte
A type of cell within a multicellular organism that consumes and digests foreign material.
Phenotype
The physical and physiological traits of an organism.
Polymer
A large molecule consisting of many repeating monomers linked together.
Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR)
A laboratory technique for amplifying DNA in-vitro.
Polysaccharide
A polymer of monosaccharides formed by dehydration synthesis.
Positive Control
In an experiment, the group that the researcher expects to have a positive result, to show that the experimental setup was capable of producing results.
Positive Feedback
A mechanism of homeostasis in which a change in a physiological variable triggers an increase in another variable.
Precipitate
Cause (a substance) to be deposited in solid form in a solution.
Precision
The degree to which repeated measurements show the same result.
Prion
Any of various infectious proteins that are abnormal forms of normal cellular proteins.
Problem Statement
A clear and concise identification and description of a design problem or opportunity.
Prognosis
The likely course a disease will take over an individual’s lifetime.
Prokaryotic
Lacking membrane-bound organelles.
Protein
A three-dimensional polymer made of amino acid monomers.
Protein Synthesis
The creation of a protein from a DNA template.
Prototype
A working model used to test a design concept by making observations and necessary adjustments.
Protozoan
Any eukaryotic protist of the phylum or subkingdom Protozoa.
Pulmonary Artery
The large blood vessels that carry deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.
Pulmonary Circulation
Part of the circulatory system in which deoxygenated blood moves from the right ventricle of the heart to the lungs to become oxygenated and then returns to the left side of the heart.
Pulmonary Valve
A one-way valve by which blood leaves the heart through arteries.
Pulmonary Vein
The blood vessels that carry oxygenated blood from the lungs to the left atrium.
Pulse
The rhythmic expansion and recoil of arteries resulting from heart contraction.
Punnett Square
A simple, graphical way to discover all potential combinations of an offspring’s genotypes, given the parents’ genotypes.
Purine
An aromatic, heterocyclic organic compound that consists of a pyrimidine ring fused to an imidazole ring.
Pyrimidine
An aromatic, heterocyclic organic compound.
Qualitative
A description of the qualities of something; color, shape, texture.
Quantitative
A description of the amount of something; how much, how often.
Recessive Trait
A trait that is evident only when an organism inherits two copies of a recessive allele for a specific gene.
Recognition Sites
A sequence of DNA where a restriction enzyme cuts.
Regenerative Medicine
A scientific field that combines tissue engineering and molecular biology to replace or “regenerate” human cells, tissues, or organs to restore or establish normal function.
Respiratory Rate
The number of breaths an organism takes per minute.
Respiratory System
A system of organs that functions in the process of gas exchange between the body and the environment.
Restriction Digestion
The process of cutting DNA molecules into smaller pieces using restriction enzymes.
Restriction Enzyme
A degradative enzyme that recognizes specific nucleotide sequences and cuts DNA at these sequences called restriction sites.
Restriction Fragment Length Polymorphisms (RFLPs)
Variations in DNA fragment sizes produced when DNA is cut with restriction enzymes.
Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)
A type of nucleic acid consisting of nucleotide monomers with a ribose sugar and the nitrogenous bases adenine (A), cytosine (C), guanine (G), and uracil (U).
Ribosome
A cell organelle that functions as the site of protein synthesis in the cytoplasm and in the rough endoplasmic reticulum.
Rigor Mortis
The stiffening of joints and muscles after death.
Risk Factor
A behavioral, environmental, genetic, psychological, or demographic attribute that increases risk or susceptibility.
Sex Chromosome
One of the pair of chromosomes that determines the sex of an individual.
Sickle Cell Disease
A disease characterized by the destruction of red blood cells and by episodic blocking of blood vessels when sickle cells adhere to the vascular endothelium.
Simulation
A representation that uses varying sets of values to reflect the changing state of a phenomenon.
Sinoatrial Node
Part of the heart’s conduction system that is responsible for heart rate; also called the SA node.
Solute
The substance that is dissolved in another substance.
Solution
A liquid that is a homogeneous mixture of two or more substances.
Solvent
The dissolving agent of a solution.
Somatic Cell
Any cell in the human body that is not a sex cell (egg or sperm).
Spatial
Relating to, occupying, or having the character of space.
Sphygmomanometer
An instrument for measuring blood pressure, especially arterial blood pressure.
Spirillum
A spiral-shaped bacterium.
Stakeholder
An individual, group, or organization who may affect, be affected by, or perceive itself to be affected by a decision, activity, or outcome of a project.
Standard Curve
A graph that plots known values which then allows the same properties to be determined for unknown samples by interpolation on the graph.
Stem Cells
A type of cell that has the ability to develop into many different types of cells.
Stenting
A surgical procedure to insert a stent into a patient.
Stroke
The sudden loss or reduction of blood supply to the brain resulting in tissue damage, disability, or death.
Superior Vena Cava
The second largest vein in the human body.
Surge Capacity
The ability of a health facility to evaluate and care for a markedly increased volume of patients.
Symptom
Any subjective evidence of disease that a patient perceives
System
A group of organs in a body that work together to perform a specific function.
Systemic Circulation
The series of vessels that bring oxygenated blood from the heart to tissues and return deoxygenated blood from the tissues back to the heart.
Systole
The stage in a heartbeat when contraction of the heart pushes blood out of the chambers and into the aorta and pulmonary artery.
Systolic Pressure
The pressure generated by the heart’s left ventricle during systole.
T Lymphocyte (T Cell)
A type of white blood cell produced by the thymus and involved in the immune response.
Team
A collection of individuals, each with his or her own expertise, brought together to benefit a common goal.
Therapeutic
The ability of a treatment, drug, or therapy to cure or reduce the effects of disease.
Thrombocyte (Platelet)
A minute, colorless, anucleate disk-like body of mammalian blood that assists in blood clotting by adhering to other platelets and damaged epithelium.
Thymine
A component of the nucleic acid, DNA; a pyrimidine base.
Tissue
An integrated group of cells with a common function and/or structure.
Tissue Typing
A process where surface antigens, the HLA, of the tissues of a prospective donor and recipient are tested to determine compatibility for transplantation.
Toxicant
Manufactured and extracted chemicals such as pesticides, cleaning agents, industrial emissions or by-products, mining by-products, etc. that are in our environment and produce adverse biological effects of any nature.
Toxin
A naturally occurring poison produced by living organisms.
Trace Evidence
Tiny fragments of physical evidence.
Transcription
The synthesis of RNA from a DNA template.
Transfer RNA (tRNA)
An RNA molecule that transfers specific amino acids from cytoplasm onto a growing protein chain.
Translation
The synthesis of protein using the genetic information encoded in mRNA.
Transmission
The movement of a microorganism from one host to another.
Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
A brain dysfunction caused by an outside force to the head.
Triage
The sorting and prioritization of patients based on the urgency of their need for care.
Tricuspid Valve
The valve situated at the opening of the right atrium of the heart into the right ventricle.
Tumor
A lump or mass of cells caused by uncontrolled cell division; categorized as benign or malignant.
Type 1 Diabetes
A form of diabetes that usually develops during childhood or adolescence.
Type 2 Diabetes
A form of diabetes that develops especially in adults, most often obese individuals.
Uracil
A component of the nucleic acid, RNA; a pyrimidine base.
User Interface
The visual display of a computer app or operating system, through which an end user interacts with the computing device or software.
Vaccine
A substance used to stimulate an immune response with the goal of creating antibodies and providing immunity to specific infections.
Valve
A body structure that temporarily closes a passage or orifice, or permits movement of fluid in only one direction.
Vein
A vessel that returns blood—typically deoxygenated—to the heart.
Ventricle
A lower chamber of the heart where blood exits.
Vessel
A tube—a blood vessel or lymph vessel—in which a body fluid is transported through the body.
Virulent
An infectious agent that is likely to cause disease when it enters a host.
Virus
Any of a large group of nonliving, submicroscopic infective agents that typically comprise an RNA or DNA core of genetic material surrounded by a protein coat.
Vital Signs
Measurements—specifically pulse rate, temperature, respiration rate, and blood pressure—that indicate the state of a patient’s essential body functions.
Xenotransplantation
The transplantation of cells, tissues, or organs from a different species into a human for the purpose of improving health or extending life of the human.