physiology final key terms Flashcards

division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the abdominal and pelvic viscera

assembly of more complex molecules from simpler molecules

standard reference position used for describing locations and directions on the human body

science that studies the form and composition of the body’s structures

describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as ventral

larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as ventral cavity

breaking down of more complex molecules into simpler molecules

describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as inferior

smallest independently functioning unit of all organisms; in animals, a cell contains cytoplasm, composed of fluid and organelles

medical imaging technique in which a computer-enhanced cross-sectional X-ray image is obtained

compares values to their normal range; deviations cause the activation of an effector

describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as superior

division of the posterior (dorsal) cavity that houses the braina

describes a position farther from the surface of the body

changes an organism goes through during its life

process by which unspecialized cells become specialized in structure and function

describes a position farther from the point of attachment or the trunk of the body

describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as posterior

posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to the posterior body cavity

posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to the posterior body cavity

two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into anterior and posterior portions

study of the larger structures of the body, typically with the unaided eye; also referred to macroscopic anatomy

process of increasing in size

steady state of body systems that living organisms maintain

describes a position below or lower than another part of the body proper; near or toward the tail (in humans, the coccyx, or lowest part of the spinal column); also referred to as caudal

describes the side or direction toward the side of the body

medical imaging technique in which a device generates a magnetic field to obtain detailed sectional images of the internal structures of the body

describes the middle or direction toward the middle of the body

sum of all of the body’s chemical reactions

study of very small structures of the body using magnification

homeostatic mechanism that tends to stabilize an upset in the body’s physiological condition by preventing an excessive response to a stimulus, typically as the stimulus is removed

range of values around the set point that do not cause a reaction by the control center

chemical obtained from foods and beverages that is critical to human survival

functionally distinct structure composed of two or more types of tissues

group of organs that work together to carry out a particular function

living being that has a cellular structure and that can independently perform all physiologic functions necessary for life

sac that encloses the heart

serous membrane that lines the abdominopelvic cavity and covers the organs found there

science that studies the chemistry, biochemistry, and physics of the body’s functions

imaginary two-dimensional surface that passes through the body

serous membrane that lines the pleural cavity and covers the lungs

mechanism that intensifies a change in the body’s physiological condition in response to a stimulus

medical imaging technique in which radiopharmaceuticals are traced to reveal metabolic and physiological functions in tissues

describes the back or direction toward the back of the body; also referred to as dorsal

posterior body cavity that houses the brain and spinal cord; also referred to as dorsal cavity

force exerted by a substance in contact with another substance

face down

describes a position nearer to the point of attachment or the trunk of the body

study of the structures that contribute to specific body regions

process by which worn-out cells are replaced

process by which worn-out cells are replaced

ability of an organisms or a system to adjust to changes in conditions

two-dimensional, vertical plane that divides the body or organ into right and left sides

in anatomy, a single flat surface of a three-dimensional structure that has been cut through

(also, receptor) reports a monitored physiological value to the control center

membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serous membrane

membrane that covers organs and reduces friction; also referred to as serosa

ideal value for a physiological parameter; the level or small range within which a physiological parameter such as blood pressure is stable and optimally healthful, that is, within its parameters of homeostasis

division of the dorsal cavity that houses the spinal cord; also referred to as vertebral cavity

describes a position nearer to the surface of the body

describes a position above or higher than another part of the body proper; also referred to as cranials

face up

study of the structures that contribute to specific body systems

division of the anterior (ventral) cavity that houses the heart, lungs, esophagus, and trachea

group of similar or closely related cells that act together to perform a specific function

two-dimensional, horizontal plane that divides the body or organ into superior and inferior portions

application of ultrasonic waves to visualize subcutaneous body structures such as tendons and organs

describes the front or direction toward the front of the body; also referred to as anterior

larger body cavity located anterior to the posterior (dorsal) body cavity; includes the serous membrane-lined pleural cavities for the lungs, pericardial cavity for the heart, and peritoneal cavity for the abdominal and pelvic organs; also referred to as anterior body cavity

form of high energy electromagnetic radiation with a short wavelength capable of penetrating solids and ionizing gases; used in medicine as a diagnostic aid to visualize body structures such as bones

compound that releases hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution

amount of energy greater than the energy contained in the reactants, which must be overcome for a reaction to proceed

nucleotide containing ribose and an adenine base that is essential in energy transfer

building block of proteins; characterized by an amino and carboxyl functional groups and a variable side-chain

atom with a negative charge

smallest unit of an element that retains the unique properties of that element

number of protons in the nucleus of an atom

compound that accepts hydrogen ions (H⁺) in solution

electrical force linking atoms

solution containing a weak acid or a weak base that opposes wide fluctuations in the pH of body fluids

class of organic compounds built from sugars, molecules containing carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen in a 1-2-1 ratio

substance that increases the rate of a chemical reaction without itself being changed in the process

atom with a positive charge

form of energy that is absorbed as chemical bonds form, stored as they are maintained, and released as they are broken

liquid mixture in which the solute particles consist of clumps of molecules large enough to scatter light

substance composed of two or more different elements joined by chemical bonds

number of particles within a given space

chemical bond in which two atoms share electrons, thereby completing their valence shells

type of catabolic reaction in which one or more bonds within a larger molecule are broken, resulting in the release of smaller molecules or atoms

change in the structure of a molecule through physical or chemical means

deoxyribose-containing nucleotide that stores genetic information

pair of carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via a glycosidic bond

covalent bond formed within a polypeptide between sulfide groups of sulfur-containing amino acids, for example, cysteine

subatomic particle having a negative charge and nearly no mass; found orbiting the atom’s nucleus

area of space a given distance from an atom’s nucleus in which electrons are grouped

substance that cannot be created or broken down by ordinary chemical means

protein or RNA that catalyzes chemical reactions

type of chemical reaction in which bonds are both formed and broken, resulting in the transfer of components

group of atoms linked by strong covalent bonds that tends to behave as a distinct unit in chemical reactions with other atoms

dipole-dipole bond in which a hydrogen atom covalently bonded to an electronegative atom is weakly attracted to a second electronegative atom

substance that does not contain both carbon and hydrogen

atom with an overall positive or negative charge

attraction between an anion and a cation

one of the variations of an element in which the number of neutrons differ from each other

energy that matter possesses because of its motion

class of nonpolar organic compounds built from hydrocarbons and distinguished by the fact that they are not soluble in water

large molecule formed by covalent bonding

sum of the number of protons and neutrons in the nucleus of an atom

physical substance; that which occupies space and has mass

two or more atoms covalently bonded together

monomer of carbohydrate; also known as a simple sugar

heavy subatomic particle having no electrical charge and found in the atom’s nucleus

class of organic compounds composed of one or more phosphate groups, a pentose sugar, and a base

substance that contains both carbon and hydrogen

covalent bond formed by dehydration synthesis between two amino acids

arrangement of the elements in a table according to their atomic number; elements having similar properties because of their electron arrangements compose columns in the table, while elements having the same number of valence shells compose rows in the table

negative logarithm of the hydrogen ion (H⁺) concentration of a solution

a lipid compound in which a phosphate group is combined with a diglyceride

addition of one or more phosphate groups to an organic compound

molecule with regions that have opposite charges resulting from uneven numbers of electrons in the nuclei of the atoms participating in the covalent bond

compound consisting of more than two carbohydrate monomers bonded by dehydration synthesis via glycosidic bonds

stored energy matter possesses because of the positioning or structure of its components

one or more substances produced by a chemical reaction

lipid compound derived from fatty acid chains and important in regulating several body processes

class of organic compounds that are composed of many amino acids linked together by peptide bonds

heavy subatomic particle having a positive charge and found in the atom’s nucleus

nitrogen-containing base with a double ring structure; adenine and guanine

nitrogen-containing base with a single ring structure; cytosine, thiamine, and uracil

unstable, heavy isotope that gives off subatomic particles, or electromagnetic energy, as it decays; also called radioisotopes

one or more substances that enter into the reaction

ribose-containing nucleotide that helps manifest the genetic code as protein

homogeneous liquid mixture in which a solute is dissolved into molecules within a solvent

(also, sterol) lipid compound composed of four hydrocarbon rings bonded to a variety of other atoms and molecules

reactant in an enzymatic reaction

liquid mixture in which particles distributed in the liquid settle out over time

type of anabolic reaction in which two or more atoms or molecules bond, resulting in the formation of a larger molecule

lipid compound composed of a glycerol molecule bonded with three fatty acid chains

outermost electron shell of an atom

form of transport across the cell membrane that requires input of cellular energy

describes a molecule that exhibits a difference in polarity between its two ends, resulting in a difference in water solubility

third stage of mitosis (and meiosis), during which sister chromatids separate into two new nuclear regions of a dividing cell

consecutive sequence of three nucleotides on a tRNA molecule that is complementary to a specific codon on an mRNA molecule

breakdown of cells by their own enzymatic action

lysosomal breakdown of a cell’s own components

life cycle of a single cell, from its birth until its division into two new daughter cells

membrane surrounding all animal cells, composed of a lipid bilayer interspersed with various molecules; also known as plasma membrane

small, self-replicating organelle that provides the origin for microtubule growth and moves DNA during cell division

region of attachment for two sister chromatids

cellular structure that organizes microtubules during cell division

membrane-spanning protein that has an inner pore which allows the passage of one or more substances

progress point in the cell cycle during which certain conditions must be met in order for the cell to proceed to a subsequence phase

substance consisting of DNA and associated proteins

condensed version of chromatin

small appendage on certain cells formed by microtubules and modified for movement of materials across the cellular surface

contractile ring that forms around a cell during cytokinesis that pinches the cell into two halves

consecutive sequence of three nucleotides on an mRNA molecule that corresponds to a specific amino acid

difference in the concentration of a substance between two regions

one of a group of proteins that function in the progression of the cell cycle

one of a group of enzymes associated with cyclins that help them perform their functions

final stage in cell division, where the cytoplasm divides to form two separate daughter cells

internal material between the cell membrane and nucleus of a cell, mainly consisting of a water-based fluid called cytosol, within which are all the other organelles and cellular solute and suspended materials

“skeleton” of a cell; formed by rod-like proteins that support the cell’s shape and provide, among other functions, locomotive abilities

clear, semi-fluid medium of the cytoplasm, made up mostly of water

movement of a substance from an area of higher concentration to one of lower concentration

condition marked by the presence of a double complement of genetic material (two sets of chromosomes, one set inherited from each of two parents)

enzyme that functions in adding new nucleotides to a growing strand of DNA during DNA replication

process of duplicating a molecule of DNA

difference in the electrical charge (potential) between two regions

import of material into the cell by formation of a membrane-bound vesicle

cellular organelle that consists of interconnected membrane-bound tubules, which may or may not be associated with ribosomes (rough type or smooth type, respectively)

export of a substance out of a cell by formation of a membrane-bound vesicle

one of the coding regions of an mRNA molecule that remain after splicing

fluid exterior to cells; includes the interstitial fluid, blood plasma, and fluid found in other reservoirs in the body

diffusion of a substance with the aid of a membrane protein

appendage on certain cells formed by microtubules and modified for movement

phase of the cell cycle, usually entered from the G₁ phase; characterized by long or permanent periods where the cell does not move forward into the DNA synthesis phase

first phase of the cell cycle, after a new cell is born

third phase of the cell cycle, after the DNA synthesis phase

functional length of DNA that provides the genetic information necessary to build a protein

active interpretation of the information coded in a gene to produce a functional gene product

entire complement of an organism’s DNA; found within virtually every cell

coating of sugar molecules that surrounds the cell membrane

protein that has one or more carbohydrates attached

cellular organelle formed by a series of flattened, membrane-bound sacs that functions in protein modification, tagging, packaging, and transport

enzyme that functions to separate the two DNA strands of a double helix during DNA replication

family of proteins that associate with DNA in the nucleus to form chromatin

describes two copies of the same chromosome (not identical), one inherited from each parent

describes a substance or structure attracted to water

describes a substance or structure repelled by water

describes a solution concentration that is higher than a reference concentration

describes a solution concentration that is lower than a reference concentration

membrane-associated protein that spans the entire width of the lipid bilayer

type of cytoskeletal filament made of keratin, characterized by an intermediate thickness, and playing a role in resisting cellular tension

entire life cycle of a cell, excluding mitosis

fluid in the small spaces between cells not contained within blood vessels

fluid in the cytosol of cells

non-coding regions of a pre-mRNA transcript that may be removed during splicing

describes a solution concentration that is the same as a reference concentration

region of a centromere where microtubules attach to a pair of sister chromatids

molecule that binds with specificity to a specific receptor molecule

membrane-bound cellular organelle originating from the Golgi apparatus and containing digestive enzymes

nucleotide molecule that serves as an intermediate in the genetic code between DNA and protein

second stage of mitosis (and meiosis), characterized by the linear alignment of sister chromatids in the center of the cell

linear alignment of sister chromatids in the center of the cell, which takes place during metaphase

the thinnest of the cytoskeletal filaments; composed of actin subunits that function in muscle contraction and cellular structural support

the thickest of the cytoskeletal filaments, composed of tubulin subunits that function in cellular movement and structural support

one of the cellular organelles bound by a double lipid bilayer that function primarily in the production of cellular energy (ATP)

division of genetic material, during which the cell nucleus breaks down and two new, fully functional, nuclei are formed

phase of the cell cycle in which a cell undergoes mitosis

network of microtubules, originating from centrioles, that arranges and pulls apart chromosomes during mitosis

describes the condition of being able to differentiate into different types of cells within a given cell lineage or small number of lineages, such as a red blood cell or white blood cell

change in the nucleotide sequence in a gene within a cell’s DNA

membrane that surrounds the nucleus; consisting of a double lipid-bilayer

one of the small, protein-lined openings found scattered throughout the nuclear envelope

`small region of the nucleus that functions in ribosome synthesis

unit of chromatin consisting of a DNA strand wrapped around histone proteins

cell’s central organelle; contains the cell’s DNA

`describes the condition of being more specialized than multipotency; the condition of being able to differentiate into one of a few possible cell types

any of several different types of membrane-enclosed specialized structures in the cell that perform specific functions for the cell

diffusion of water molecules down their concentration gradient across a selectively permeable membrane

form of transport across the cell membrane that does not require input of cellular energy

membrane-associated protein that does not span the width of the lipid bilayer, but is attached peripherally to integral proteins, membrane lipids, or other components of the membrane

membrane-bound organelle that contains enzymes primarily responsible for detoxifying harmful substances

endocytosis of large particles

endocytosis of fluid

describes the condition of being able to differentiate into a large variety of cell types

chain of amino acids linked by peptide bonds

simultaneous translation of a single mRNA transcript by multiple ribosomes

region of DNA that signals transcription to begin at that site within the gene

first stage of mitosis (and meiosis), characterized by breakdown of the nuclear envelope and condensing of the chromatin to form chromosomes

full complement of proteins produced by a cell (determined by the cell’s specific gene expression)

a group of extremely reactive peroxides and oxygen-containing radicals that may contribute to cellular damage

protein molecule that contains a binding site for another specific molecule (called a ligand)

endocytosis of ligands attached to membrane-bound receptors

RNA that makes up the subunits of a ribosome

cellular organelle that functions in protein synthesis

enzyme that unwinds DNA and then adds new nucleotides to a growing strand of RNA for the transcription phase of protein synthesis

stage of the cell cycle during which DNA replication occurs

feature of any barrier that allows certain substances to cross but excludes others

one of a pair of identical chromosomes, formed during DNA replication

(also, Na⁺/K⁺ ATP-ase) membrane-embedded protein pump that uses ATP to move Na⁺ out of a cell and K⁺ into the cell

all cells of the body excluding gamete cells

complex of enzymes that serves to splice out the introns of a pre-mRNA transcript

the process of modifying a pre-mRNA transcript by removing certain, typically non-coding, regions

cell that is oligo-, multi-, or pleuripotent that has the ability to produce additional stem cells rather than becoming further specialized

final stage of mitosis (and meiosis), preceding cytokinesis, characterized by the formation of two new daughter nuclei

embryonic cells that have the ability to differentiate into any type of cell and organ in the body

process of producing an mRNA molecule that is complementary to a particular gene of DNA

one of the proteins that regulate the transcription of genes

molecules of RNA that serve to bring amino acids to a growing polypeptide strand and properly place them into the sequence

process of producing a protein from the nucleotide sequence code of an mRNA transcript

consecutive sequence of three nucleotides on a DNA molecule that, when transcribed into an mRNA codon, corresponds to a particular amino acid

describes the condition of being committed to a single specialized cell type

membrane-bound structure that contains materials within or outside of the cell