Life Science Glossary

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Florence Hunt
5 years ago
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1 abduction movement that draws body parts away from the body adduction movement that draws body parts inward towards the body adrenal gland of the endocrine system that produces the hormone adrenaline allele each form of a gene alveoli tiny sacs in the lung which exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide amniotic sac fluid-filled sac that cushions and protects the developing baby in the uterus anus the opening at the end of the digestive tract through which feces pass to the outside aorta largest blood vessel in the body; extends from the heart down to the abdomen artery blood vessel that carries blood away from the heart atrium upper heart chamber axon long cell fiber that carries messages away from a cell ball-and-socket joint type of joint that allows for circular motion blood a connective tissue made up of platelets, white blood cells, red blood cells, and plasma blood pressure the amount of force exerted by blood on the inside walls of a blood vessel bolus a mass of food that has been chewed to the point of swallowing bone structure that makes up the body s skeleton; main organ of the skeletal system brain the main control center for the central nervous system bronchi two tubes that connect the lungs with the trachea calories amount of heat energy needed to raise the temperature of 1 kilogram of water 1 degree Celsius; it is used to express the amount of energy found in food capillaries carbohydrates cardiac muscle cartilage cell body cerebellum cerebrum cervix chemical digestion tiny, thin-walled blood vessel; the smallest of blood vessels energy-rich substance found in foods such as vegetables, cereal grains, and breads muscle tissue found only in the heart; involuntary muscle that makes up the heart - it never tires dense, fibrous, flexible connective tissue; connective tissue that reduces friction between bones largest part of the neuron which contains the nucleus part of the brain that controls balance and posture part of the brain that controls the senses, thought, and conscious activities the narrow portion of the uterus which joins with the vagina the process in which large molecules are broken down into simpler molecules or chemical building blocks

2 chromosome a rod-shaped structure of DNA and protein that forms in the cell nucleus during cell division chyme partially digested material which is passed from the stomach to the lower digestive tract cilia tiny hair-like structures that aid in the movement of material in the digestive tract codominance where one single gene has more than one dominant allele contraction the shortening of a muscle. It is the opposite of relaxation dendrites a short, branched extension of a neuron where the neuron receives impulses from other cells dermis the layer of skin below the epidermis diaphragm the sheet of muscle underneath the lungs of mammals that helps draw air into the lungs diastolic pressure measure of the pressure of the blood vessels between heart beats when your heart is resting digestion process by which food is broken down into smaller substances dislocation injury in which a bone is forced out of its joint dominant stronger trait in genetics egg the sex cell produced by the female embryo an organism in the earliest state of development epidermis the outermost layer of the skin epiglottis the small flap of tissue that closes over the trachea (windpipe) esophagus a long, straight tube that connects the throat to the stomach estrogen hormone that triggers the broadening of hips in females and starts the maturation of egg cells in the ovaries excretion process of getting rid of waste materials (sweating, urinating, depositing fecal material) exhalation (exhale) moving of air out of the body during breathing extension straightening of a limb fallopian tube oviduct; tube through which an egg travels from the ovary fats substance that supplies the body with energy and also helps support and cushion the vital organs of the body feces the waste product expelled from the anus after digestion fertilization the joining of the egg and the sperm cell fetus an embryo during the later stages of development within the uterus flexor bending of a joint or a limb fracture break in a bone genes segments of DNA that carry hereditary instructions and are passed from parent to offspring; located on the chromosomes genetics the study of heredity genotype genetic makeup of an organism gliding joint type of joint that allows bones to slide past one another

3 heredity the passing of traits from parent to offspring hinge joint allows for forward and backward motion and little side to side motion hormone a chemical messenger that carries information from one part of an organism to the other; made by the endocrine glans hybrid organism produced by crossing two genetically different but related species; organism with two different genes for a particular trait hypothalamus endocrine gland at the base of the brain that controls body temperature, water balance, appetite, and sleep immoveable joint joint where bones are tightly fitted together or fixed into position incomplete dominance condition that occurs when a gene is neither dominant nor recessive inhalation (inhale) moving of air from the external environment, through the airways, and into the alveoli interneuron type of neuron that connects sensory and motor neurons joint any place where two bones meet kidneys the bean-shaped organ that removes many harmful substances from the blood large intestine organ that reabsorbs water; stores, compacts, and removes indigestible material from the body larynx the area of the throat that contains the vocal cords ligament connective tissue that holds bones together; connects bone to bone lungs organ which takes oxygen from the air and delivers it to the blood marrow soft material found within bone that produces blood cells mechanical digestion the breaking, crushing, and mashing of food medulla the part of the brain that connects to the spinal cord and controls many involuntary processes in the body menstrual cycle monthly cycle of change that occurs in the female reproductive system menstruation the monthly discharge of blood and tissue from the uterus minerals an element that is essential for good health motor neuron a neuron that sends impulses from the brain and spinal cord to the other systems multiple allele more than two alleles that combine to determine a certain characteristic muscle a tissue composed of bundles of fibers that run parallel to each other nerve impulse message carried throughout the body by nerves nervous system a collection of organs that gather and interpret information about the body's internal and external environment and respond to that information

4 neuron a specialized cell that transfers messages throughout the body in the form of fast-moving electrical energy nutrients a substance that must be consumed or taken in by an organism to promote normal growth, maintenance, and repair ovary part of the female reproductive system responsible for making egg cells ovulation the process in which an egg is ejected through the ovary wall parathyroid endocrine gland producing a hormone that controls the level of calcium in the blood pedigree a diagram of family history used for tracking a trait through several generations penis male reproductive organ that transfers semen into the female's body during sexual intercourse peristalsis a rhythmic muscle contraction in the digestive tract which moves food down the esophagus phenotype visible characteristic of an organism pituitary endocrine gland located below the hypothalamus that produces hormones that control many body processes pivotal joint allows for rotation of one bone around another placenta structure through which developing mammals receive food and oxygen while in the mother plasma yellowish liquid portion of blood platelets blood cell fragment that aids in blood clotting pollination the transfer of pollen to the female cone or stigma in plants pores an opening in the epidermis which allows for perspiration; allowing the body to cool pregnancy the time period from conception to childbirth proteins substance used to build-up and repair cells; made up of amino acids pulse the rhythm of throbbing arteries as a result of the pumping/beating heart; most noted at the wrist and neck recessive the weaker trait in genetics rectum the last section of the large intestine; where fecal material is stored until it can be later removed red blood cells a cells that carries oxygen from the lungs to all cells of the body and carries carbon dioxide back to the lungs to be exhaled reflex a quick, involuntary response to a stimulus reproduction the process by which living things give rise to other living things respiration process where living organisms take in oxygen and use it to produce energy response some action or movement of an organism caused by a stimulus salivary glands organs located around the mouth that produce a liquid (saliva) which begins chemical digestion

5 scrotum a skin-covered sac that hangs from the male body and contains the testicles semen a mixture of sperm and fluids which aid in fertilization sensory neuron a special neuron which gathers then sends information to the central nervous system septum a thick wall of tissue which separates the heart into the right and left sides sex chromosome chromosome that determines the sex of the organism sex-linked traits characteristic passed from parent to child on a sex chromosome skeletal muscle Muscle tissue that is attached to cone and moves skeleton small intestine organ in the digestive system where most of the digestion takes place smooth muscle muscle tissue responsible for involuntary movement; attaches to and moves bones sperm the male sex cell spinal chord part of the nervous system that connects the brain with the rest of the nervous system sprain injury in which ligaments are torn or stretched; pulled beyond their normal range of motion stimuli signals to which an organism reacts; usually caused by a change in the environment stomach J-shaped muscular organ connected to the end of the esophagus in which food is physically & chemically digested sweat glands small organs in the dermis layer of the skin that release sweat synapse tiny gap between the axon and a dendrite systolic pressure blood pressure in the arteries when the heart is contracting tendon connective tissue that attaches bone to muscle testis (pl. testes) male sex gland that produces the male hormone testosterone and sperm cells testosterone hormone responsible for facial and body hair, broadening of the shoulders, and deepening of the voice thymus endocrine gland that is responsible for the development of the immune system thyroid endocrine gland that produces a hormone that controls the metabolism trachea windpipe; tube that carries air to the lungs trait a quality or characteristic that can be passed from one generation to another umbilical cord the cord that connects an embryo to the placenta universal donor a person with O-blood type; can be a donor to any other blood group in the ABO system universal recipient a person with AB-blood type; can get blood from a donor of any other blood type

6 ureter tube that conducts urine to the urinary bladder urethra a tube which carries urine to the outside of the body; can also carry out semen in males urinary bladder a bag-like organ that stores urine until it can be eliminated through the urethra urine a concentrated mixture of waste materials that forms in the nephrons of the kidney uterus the organ in the female reproductive system where a zygote grows and develops vagina the passageway in the female reproductive system that receives sperm during sexual intercourse valve used to control the flow of blood or other fluids vein blood vessel that direct blood to the heart ventricle the lower chamber of the heart vertebrate one of the 33 bones that make up the spinal column villi fingerlike projections on the inside wall of the small intestine which aid in absorbing nutrients into the blood stream vitamins an organic compound which controls many body functions, including cell growth and hormone production white blood cells a blood cell that protects the body from diseases zygote a fertilized egg

Cells Tissues Organs Organ Systems Organism. Cells: the smallest unit of life.

Cells Tissues Organs Organ Systems Organism Cells: the smallest unit of life. The Circulatory Systems brings oxygen, nutrients and hormones to cells; fights infections; removes cell wastes; regulates