KK3 & 4 BIO
Glossary Terms
Adhesion: Attraction between different substances.
Antidiuretic hormone (ADH): Hormone regulating water balance in the body.
Aquaporins: Water channel proteins in cell membranes.
Arteriole: Small blood vessel leading to capillaries.
Bladder: Storage organ for urine.
Cell: Basic unit of life.
Central nervous system: Comprised of the brain and spinal cord, controlling body functions.
Cohesion: Attraction between similar substances.
Connective tissue: Tissue that supports, binds, and protects other tissues.
Core Body Temperature: Internal temperature of the body.
Cortisol: Hormone involved in stress response and metabolism.
Dermal tissue: Protective outer layer of plant organs.
Diabetes: Disorder of insulin regulation affecting blood glucose levels.
Effector: Organ or cell that acts in response to a stimulus.
Endocrine System: Glandular system that releases hormones into the bloodstream.
Epithelial tissue: Tissue that forms protective layers on body surfaces.
Excretion: Removal of waste products from the body.
Filtrate: Liquid that has passed through a filtration process.
Filtration: Process of separating solids from liquids or gases using a filter.
Gland (endocrine): Organ that produces and releases hormones.
Glomerulus: Network of capillaries in the kidney involved in filtration.
Glucagon: Hormone that raises blood glucose levels.
Glycogen: Stored form of glucose in the liver and muscles.
Ground tissue: Tissue responsible for photosynthesis, storage, and support in plants.
Homeostasis: Maintenance of stable internal conditions in an organism.
Hormone: Chemical messenger regulating physiological functions.
Hyperglycaemia: Elevated blood glucose levels.
Hyperthermia: Abnormally high body temperature.
Hyperthyroidism: Overproduction of thyroid hormones.
Hypothyroidism: Underproduction of thyroid hormones.
Hypoglycaemia: Low blood glucose levels.
Hypothalamus: Brain region controlling the endocrine system.
Hypothermia: Abnormally low body temperature.
Insulin: Hormone that lowers blood glucose levels.
Kidney: Organ involved in filtration and excretion.
Lignin: Substance providing rigidity and strength in plant cell walls.
Loop of Henle: Section of the nephron involved in urine concentration.
Meristematic tissues: Plant tissues that are responsible for growth.
Multicellular: Organisms composed of multiple cells.
Negative feedback loop: Mechanism that counteracts a change to maintain equilibrium.
Nephron: Functional unit of the kidney.
Non-vascular plant: Plants lacking specialized vascular tissues.
Organ: Group of tissues working together for a specific function.
Organism: Complete living entity.
Osmoreceptors: Cells that detect changes in osmotic pressure.
Oxytocin: Hormone involved in childbirth and lactation.
Pancreas: Organ producing digestive enzymes and hormones including insulin and glucagon.
Peritubular capillaries: Tiny blood vessels surrounding nephron tubules in kidneys.
Permanent tissues: Tissues that have differentiated and are no longer meristematic.
Phloem: Tissue responsible for transport of nutrients in plants.
Pituitary gland: Master gland regulating other endocrine glands.
Positive feedback: Mechanism enhancing change rather than counteracting it.
Positive feedback loop: Mechanism that amplifies responses or processes.
Reabsorption: Process by which the nephron reclaims water and solutes from filtrate.
Receptor: Structure that receives and responds to stimuli.
Reflex Response: Involuntary response to stimuli.
Root hairs: Extensions of root cells that increase surface area for absorption.
Root system: Part of the plant that anchors it and absorbs water/nutrients.
Secretion: Process of producing and releasing substances from cells.
Sensor: Device or cell that detects changes in the environment.
Set point: Ideal value for a physiological variable.
Shoot system: Above-ground part of the plant responsible for photosynthesis and reproduction.
Specialised cell: Cell adapted for a specific function.
Stimulus: Change in environment that elicits a response.
Stimulus-Response Model: Framework illustrating how organisms respond to stimuli.
Stomata: Pores on leaves allowing gas exchange.
System (biological): Group of components functioning together as a whole.
Target cell: Cell that is affected by a hormone.
Thermoregulation: Process by which organisms maintain their body temperature.
Type 1 diabetes: Condition where the body cannot produce insulin.
Thyroid gland: Gland that regulates metabolism through hormone production.
Thyroxine: Hormone produced by the thyroid gland.
Tissue: Group of similar cells performing a specific function.
Tracheid: Water-conducting cell in vascular plants.
Transpiration: Evaporation of water from plant surfaces.
Transpiration stream: Movement of water through plants from roots to leaves.
Tubule: Small tube-like structure, often in kidneys.
Urethra: Tube carrying urine from bladder to outside body.
Ureter: Tube carrying urine from kidneys to bladder.
Vascular plant: Plants with specialized vascular tissues for transport.
Vascular tissue: Tissue responsible for the transport of water and nutrients.
Vasoconstriction: Narrowing of blood vessels.
Vasodilation: Widening of blood vessels.
Vessel element: Cell type in xylem responsible for water transport.
Xylem: Tissue responsible for water transport and support in plants.