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Biol 125
Vocabulary
453
Biology
Undergraduate 1
01/11/2017

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Term
Adaptive Radiation
Definition
Rapid evolutionary diversification within one lineage, producing numerous descendant species with a wide range of a adaptive forms.
Term
Ancestral Trait
Definition
A trait found in ancestors.
Term

Background Extinction

(Compare with mass extinction)

Definition
The average rate of low-level extinction that has occured continuously throughout much of evolutionary history.
Term
Branch
Definition
A part of a phylogentic tree that represents populations through time.
Term
Cambrian Explosion
Definition
The rapid diversification of animal body types that began about 543 million years ago and continued for approximately 40 million years.
Term
Cast
Definition
A type of fossil, formed when the decay of a body part leaves a void that is then filled with minerals that later harden.
Term

Cenozoic Era

(Age of Mammals)

Definition
The most recent period of geologic time, beginning 65 million years ago during which mammals became the dominant vertebrates and angiosperms became the dominant plants.
Term
Clade
Definition
In a common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it consists of an ancestral species and all its descendants.
Term
Cladistic Approach
Definition
A method for constructing a phylogenetic tree that is based on identifying the unique traits of each monophyletic group.
Term
Convergent Evolution
Definition
The independent evolution of analogous traits in distantly related organisms due to adaptation to similar environments and a similar way of life.
Term
Derived Trait
Definition
A trait that is clearly homologous with a trait found in an ancestor, but which has a new form.
Term
Fauna
Definition
All the animals characteristic of a particular region, period, or environment.
Term
Fossil
Definition
Any trace of an organism that existed in the past. Includes tracks, burrows, fossilized bones, casts, etc.
Term
Fossil Record
Definition
All of the fossils that have been found anywhere on Earth and that have been formally described in the scientific literature.
Term
Homoplasy
Definition
Similarity among organisms of different species due to convergent evolution.
Term
Mass Extinction
Definition
The extinction of a large number of diverse evolutionary groups during a relatively short period of geologic time (about 1 million years). May occur due to a sudden and extraordinary environmental changes.
Term
Mesozoic Era
Definition
The period of geological time, from 250 million to 65 million years ago, during which gymnosperms were the dominant plants and dinosaurs the dominant vertebrates. Ended with the extinction of the dinosaurs.
Term
Niche
Definition
The particular set of habitat requirements of a certain species and the role that species plays in its ecosystem.
Term
Node
Definition
In a phylogenetic tree, the point where two branches diverge, representing the point in time when an ancestral group split into two or more descendant groups.
Term
Outgroup
Definition
A taxon that is closely related to a particular monophyletic group but is not part of it.
Term
Paleontologists
Definition
Scientists who study the fossil record and the history of life.
Term
Paleozoic Era
Definition
The period of geologic time, from 543 million to 250 million years ago, during which fungi, land plants, and animals first appeared and diversified. Began with the Cambrian explosion and ended with the extinction of many invertebrates and vertebrates.
Term
Parsimony
Definition
The logical principle that the most likely explanation of a phenomenon is the most economical or simplest. When applied to comparison of alternative phylogenetic trees, it suggests that the one requiring the fewest evolutionary changes is most likely to be correct.
Term
Phenetic Approach
Definition
A method for constructing a phylogenetic tree by computing a statistic that summarizes the overall similarity among populations, based on the available data.
Term
Phylogenetic Tree
Definition
A diagram that depicts the evolutionary history of a groupd of species and the relationships among them.
Term
Phylogeny
Definition
The evolutionary history of a group of organisms.
Term
Precambrian Era
Definition
The interval between the formation of the Earth, about 4.6 billion years ago, and the appearance of most animal groups about 543 million years ago. Unicellular organisms were dominant for most of this era, and oxygen was virtually absent for the first 2 billion years.
Term
Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINES)
Definition
The second most abundant class of transposable elements in human genomes; can create copies of itself and insert them elsewhere in the genome. Are much short than LINEs, which move by a similar mechanism.
Term
Synapomorphy
Definition
A shared, derived trait found in two or more taxa that is present in their most recent common ancestor but is missing in more distant ancestors. Useful for inferring evolutionary relationships.
Term

Tip

(Terminal Node)

Definition
The end of a branch on a phylogenetic tree. Represents a specific species or larger taxon that has not (yet) produced descendants - either a group living today or a groupd that ended in extinction.
Term
Acoelomate
Definition
An animal that lacks an internal body cavity (coelom).
Term
Adult
Definition
A sexually mature individual.
Term
Animal
Definition
A member of a major lineage of eukaryotes (anamalia) whose members typically have a complex, large, multicellular body, eat other organisms, and are mobile.
Term
Anus
Definition
In a multicellular animal, the end of the digestive tract where wastes are expelled.
Term
Benthic
Definition
Living at the bottom of an aquatic environment.
Term
Bilateral Symmetry
Definition
An animal body pattern in which there is one plane of symmetry dividing the body into a left side and a right side. Typically, the body is long and narrow, with a distinct head end and tail end.
Term
Bilaterian
Definition
A member of a major lineage of animals (bilateria) that are bilaterally symmetrical at some point in their life cycle, have three embryonic germ layers, and have a coelom. All protosomes and deuterostomes are bilaterians.
Term
Body Plan
Definition
The basic architecture of an animal's body, including the number and arrangement of limbs, body segments, and major tissue layers.
Term
Brain
Definition
A large mass of neurons located in the head region of an animal, that is involved in information processing; may also be called the cerebral ganglion.
Term
Carnivore
Definition
An animal whose diet consists predominantly of meat. Most members of the mammalian taxon Carnivora are carnivores.
Term
Central Nervous Systems (CNS)
Definition
The brain and spinal cord of vertebrate animals.
Term
Cephalization
Definition
The formation of a distinct anterior region (the head) where sense organs and a mouth are clustered.
Term
Choanocyte
Definition
A specialized flagellated feeding cell found in choanoflagellates (protists that are the closest living relatives of animals) and sponges (the oldest animal phylum).
Term
Cnidocyte
Definition
A specialized stinging cell found in cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and anemones) that is used in capturing prey.
Term
Coelom
Definition
An internal, usually fluid-filled, body cavity that is lined with mesoderm.
Term
Coelomate
Definition
An animal hat has a true coelom.
Term
Colony
Definition
An assemblage of individuals. May refer to an assemblage of semi-independent cells or to a breeding population of multicellular organisms.
Term

Holometabolous Metamorphosis

(Complete Metamorphosis)

Definition
A type of metamorphosis in which the animal completely changes its form.
Term
Consumer
Definition
An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances.
Term
Deposit Feeder
Definition
An animal that eats its way through a food-containing substrate.
Term

Detritivore

(Decomposer)

Definition
An organism whose diet consists mainly of dead organic matter (detritus). Various bacteria, fungi, and protists are detritivores.
Term
Deuterostomes
Definition
A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including radial cleavage, formation of the anus earlier than the mouth, and formation fo the coelom by pinching off of layers of mesoderm from the gut. Includes echinoderms and chordates.
Term
Diploblastic
Definition
An animal whose body develops from two basic embryonic cell layers - ectoderm and endoderm.
Term
Ecdysozoans
Definition
A major lineage of protostomes (ecdysozoam) that grow by shedding their external skeletons (molting) and expanding their bodies. Includes arthropods, insects, crustaceans, nematodes, and centipedes.
Term
Ectoderm
Definition
The outermost of the three basic cell layers in most animal embryos; gives rise to the outer covering and nervous system.
Term
Ectoparasite
Definition
A parasite that lives on the outer surface of the hosts body.
Term
Endoderm
Definition
A triploid (3n) tissue in the seed of a flowering plant (angiosperm) that serves as food for the plant embryo. Functionally analogous to the yolk in some animal eggs.
Term
Endoparasite
Definition
A parasite that lives inside the host's body.
Term
Epithelial Tissue
Definition
An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface.
Term

Epithelium

(plural: epithelia)

Definition
An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface.
Term

Suspension Feeder

(Filter Feeder)

Definition
Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air.
Term
Fluid-Feeder
Definition
An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood.
Term
Ganglia
Definition
A mass of neurons in a centralized nervous system.
Term
Germ Layers
Definition
In animals, one of the three basic types of tissue formed during gastrulation; gives rise to all other tissues.
Term
Hemimetabolous Metamorphosis
Definition
A type of metamorphosis in which the animal increases in size from one stage to the next, but does not dramatically change its body form.
Term
Herbivore
Definition
An animal that eats primarily plants and rarely or never eats meat.
Term

Holometabolous Metamorphosis

(also called complete metamorphosis)

Definition
A type of metamorphosis in which the animal completely changes its form.
Term
Invertebrate
Definition
A paraphyletic group composed of animals without a backbone; includes about 95 percent of all animal species.
Term
Juvenile
Definition
An individual that has adult-like morphology but is not sexually mature.
Term
Larva
Definition
An immature stage of a species in which the immature and adult stages have different body forms.
Term
Lophotrochozoan
Definition
A major lineage of protostomes (liphotrochozoa) that grow by extending the size of their skeletons rather than by molting. Many phyla have a specialized feeding structure (lophophore) and/or cilitated larvae (trochophore) and includes rotifers, flatworms, segmented worms, and molluscs.
Term
Mass Feeder
Definition
An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth.
Term
Medusa
Definition
The free-floating stage in the life cycle of some cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish).
Term
Mesoderm
Definition
The middle of the three basic cell layers in most animal embryos; gives rise to muscles, bones, blood, and some internal organs (kidney, spleen, etc.)
Term
Mesoglea
Definition
A gelatinous material, containing scattered ectodermal cells, that is located between the ectoderm and endoderm of cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and anemones).
Term
Molluscs
Definition
Members of the phylum Mollusca. Distinguished by a body plan with three main parts: a muscular foot, a visceral mass, and a mantle. Includes bivalves (clams, oysters), gastropods (snails, slugs), chitons, and cephalopods (squid, octopuses). Molluscs belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes.
Term
Nerve Net
Definition
A nervous sytem in which neurons are diffuse instead of being clustered into large masses or tracts.
Term

Neuron

(also called nerve cell)

Definition
A cell that is specialized for the transmission of nerve impulses. Typically has dendrites, a cell body, and a long axon that forms sypnapses with other neurons.
Term
Omnivore
Definition
An animal whose diet regularly includes both meat and plants.
Term
Oviparous
Definition
Producing eggs that are laid outside the body where they develop and hatch.
Term
Ovoviviparous
Definition
Producing eggs that are retained inside the body until they are ready to hatch/
Term
Parasite
Definition
An organism that lives on or in a host species and that damages its host.
Term
Phylum
Definition
In Liannaeus' system, a taxonomic category above the class level and below the kingdom level. In plants, sometimes called a division.
Term
Polyp
Definition
The immotile (sessile) stage in the life cycle of some cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish).
Term
Predator
Definition
Any organism that kills other organisms for food.
Term
Protostome
Definition
A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including spiral cleavage, formation of the mouth earlier than the anus, and formation of the coelom by splitting of a block of mesoderm. Includes arthropods, mollusks, and annelids.
Term
Pupa
Definition
A metamorphosing insect that is enclosed in a protective case.
Term
Radial Symmetry
Definition
An animal body pattern in which there are at least two planes of symmetry. Typically, the body is in the form of a cylinder or disk, with body parts radiating from a central hub.
Term
Radula
Definition
A rasping feeding appendage in gastropods (snails, slugs).
Term
Regeneration
Definition
Growth of a new body part to replace a lost body part.
Term
Segmentation
Definition
Division of the body or a part of it into a series of similar structures; exemplified by the body segments of insects and worms and by the somites of vertebrates.
Term
Sessile
Definition
Permanently attached to a substrate; not capable of moving to another location.
Term
Spicule
Definition
Stiff spike of silica or calcium carbonate found in the body of many sponges.
Term
Tissue
Definition
A group of similar cells that function as a unit, such as muscle tissue or epithelial tissue.
Term
Triploblast
Definition
An animal whose body develops from three basic embryonic cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm.
Term
Vertebrate
Definition
One of the three major chordate lineages (vertrebrata), comprising animals with a dorsal column of cartilaginous or bony structures (vertrebrae) and a skull enclosing the brian. Includes fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Term
Viviparous
Definition
Producing live young (instead of eggs) that develop within the body of the mother before birth.
Term
Annelids
Definition
Members of the phylum Annelida (segmented worms). Distinguished by a segmented body and a coelum that functions as a hydrostatic skeleton. Annelids belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes.
Term
Antenna
Definition
A long appendage that is used to touch or smell.
Term
Anthropod
Definition
Members of the phylum Arthropoda. Distinguished by a segmented body; a hard, joined exoskeleton; paired appendages; and extensive body cavity called a hemocoel. Anthropods belong to the ecdysozoan.
Term
Beak
Definition
A structure that exerts biting forces and is associated with the mouth; found in birds, cephalopods, and some insects.
Term
Bivalve
Definition
A lineage of molluscs that have two shells, such as clams and mussels.
Term
Carapace
Definition
In crustaceans, a large platelike section of the exoskeleton that covers and protects the cephalothorax (e.g., a crab's "shell").
Term
Cephalopod
Definition
A lineage of molluscs including the squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Distinguished by large brains, excellent vision, tentacles, and a reduced or absent shell.
Term
Chaetae
Definition
Bristle-like extensions found in some annelids.
Term
Chelicerae
Definition
A pair of clawlike appendages found around the mouth of certain arthropods called chelicerates (spiders, mites, and allies).
Term
Chitons
Definition
A lineage of marine mollusc that have a protective shell formed of eight calcium carbonate plates.
Term
Coelom
Definition
An internal, usually fluid-filled, body cavity that is lined with mesoderm.
Term

Compound Eye

Compare with Simple Eye

Definition
An eye formed of many independent light-sensing columns (ommatidia); occurs in arthropods.
Term
Corona
Definition
The cluster of cilia at the anterior end of a rotifer.
Term
Crustacean
Definition
A lineage of arthropods that include shrimp, lobster, and crabs. Many have a carapace ( a platelike portion of the exoskeleton) and mandibles for biting or chewing.
Term
Cuticle
Definition
A protective coating secreted by the outermost layer of cells of an animal or a plant.
Term

Definitive Host

Compare with intermediate host.

Definition
The host species in which a parasite reproduces sexually.
Term

Detritivore

Also called decomposer

Definition
An organism whose diet consists mainly of dead organic matter (detritus). Various bacteria, fungi, and protists are detritivores.
Term
Exoskeleton
Definition
A hard covering secreted on the outside of the body, used for body support, protection, and muscle attachments. Examples are the shell of molluscs and the outer covering (cuticle) of arthropods.
Term
Flatworm
Definition
Members of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Distinguished by a broad, flat, unsegmented body that lacks a coelom. Flatworms belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes.
Term
Gastropod
Definition
A lineage of molluscs distinguished by a large muscular foot and a unique feeding structure, the radula. Includes slugs and snails.
Term
Gill
Definition
Any organ in aquatic animals that exchanges gases and other dissolved substances between the blood and the surrounding water. Typically, a filamentous outgrowth of a body surface.
Term
Hemocoel
Definition
A body cavity, present in arthropods and some molluscs, containing a pool of circulatory fluid (hemolymph) bathing the internal organs.
Term

Intermediate Host

Compare with definitive host

Definition
The host species in which a parasite reproduces asexually.
Term
Lophophore
Definition
A specialized feeding structure found in some lophotrochozoans and used in filter feeding.
Term

Lophotrochozoan

Compare with ecdysozoans

Definition
A major lineage of protostomes (liphotrochozoa) that grow by extending the size of their skeletons rather than by molting. Many phyla have a specialized feeding structure (lophophore) and/or cilitated larvae (trochophore) and includes rotifers, flatworms, segmented worms, and molluscs.
Term
Mandible
Definition
Any mouthpart used in chewing. In vertebrates, the lower jaw. In insects, and myriapods, the first pair of mouthparts.
Term
Mantle
Definition
One of the three main parts of hte mollusc body; the thick outer tissue that protects the vesceral mass and may secrete a calcium carbonate shell.
Term
Molting
Definition
A method of body growth, used by ecdysozoans, that involves the shedding of an external protective cuticle or skeleton, expansion of the soft body, and growth of a new external layer.
Term
Myriapod
Definition
A lineage of arthropods with long segmented trunks, each segment bearing one or two pairs of legs. Includes millipedes and centipedes.
Term
Nauplius
Definition
A distinct planktonic larval stage seen in many crustaceans.
Term
Nematode
Definition
Phylum of roundworms. The ecdysozoan branch of the protostomes.
Term
Parapodia
Definition
Appendages found in some annelids from which bristle-like structures (chaetae) extend.
Term
Parthenogenesis
Definition
Development of offspring from unfertilized eggs; a form of asexual reproduction.
Term
Proboscis
Definition
A long, narrow feeding appendage through which food can be obtained.
Term
Radula
Definition
A rasping feeding appendage in gastropods (snails, slugs).
Term

Roundworm

Also called Nematodes

Definition
Members of the phylum Nematoda. Distinguished by an unsegmented body with a pseudocoelom and no appendages. Roundworms belong to the ecdysozoan branch of the protostomes.
Term

Simple Eye

Compare with compound eye

Definition
An eye with only one light-collecting apparatus (e.g., one lens), as in vertebrates.
Term
Siphon
Definition
A tubelike appendage of many molluscs, that is often used for feeding or propulsion.
Term
Spermatophore
Definition
A gelatinous package of sperm cells that is produced by males of species that have internal fertilization without copulation.
Term
Tentacle
Definition
A long, thin, muscular appendage of gastropod molluscs.
Term
Thorax
Definition
A region of the body; in insects, one of the three prominent body regions called tagmata.
Term
Trochophore
Definition
A larva with a ring of cilia around its middle that is found in some lophotrochozoans.
Term
Veliger
Definition
A distinctive type of larva, found in mollusks.
Term
Visceral Mass
Definition
One of the three main parts of the mollusc body; contains most of the internal organs and external gill.
Term
Abdomen
Definition
A region of the body; in insects, one of the three prominent body regions called tagmata.
Term
Albumen
Definition
A solution of water and protein (particularly albumins), found in amniotic eggs, that nourishes the growing embryo. Also called egg white.
Term
Amniote
Definition
A major lineage of vertebrates (amniota) that reproduce with amniotic eggs. Includes all reptiles (including birds) and mammals.
Term
Amniotic Egg
Definition
An egg that has a watertight shell or case enclosing a membrane-bound water supply (the amnion), food supply (yolk sac), and waste sac (allantois).
Term
Amphibian
Definition
A lineage of vertebrates many of whom breathe thorugh their skin and feed on land but lay their eggs in water; represent the earliest tetrapods. Includes frogs, salamanders, and caecilians.
Term
Anadromous
Definition
Having a life cycle in which adults live in the ocean (or large lakes) but migrate up freshwater streams to breed and lay eggs.
Term

Anthropoid

Compare with Prosimians

Definition
One of the two major lineages of primates, including apes, and humans, and all monkeys.
Term
Bipedal
Definition
Walking primarily on two legs.
Term

Cranium

Also called Braincase

Definition
A bony, cartilaginous, or fibrous case that encloses and protects the brain of vertebrates. Forms part of the skull.
Term
Cartilage
Definition
A type of vertebrate connective tissue that consists of relatively few cells scattered in a stiff matrix of polysaccharides and protein fibers.
Term

Cephalochordates

Also called lancelets or amphioxi

Compare with urochordates and vertebrates

Definition
One of the three major chordate lineages (cephalochordata), comprising small, mobile organisms that live in marine sands.
Term
Cerebellum
Definition
Posterior section of the vertebrate brain that is involved in coordination of complex muscle movements, such as those required for locomotion and maintaining balance.
Term
Cro-Magnon
Definition
A prehistoric European population of modern humans (homo sapiens) known from fossils, paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts.
Term

Deuterostomes

Compare with protostome

Definition
A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including radial cleavage, formation of the anus earlier than the mouth, and formation of the coelom by pinching off of layers of mesoderm from the gut. Includes echinoderms and chordates.
Term
Echinoderm
Definition
A major lineage of deuterostomes (echinodermata) distinguished by adult bodies with five-sided radial symmetry, a water vascular system, and tube feet. Includes sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea stars.
Term

Ectotherm

Compare with endotherm

Definition
An animal that does not use internally generated heat to regulate its body temperature.
Term

Endoskeleton

Compare with exoskeleton

Definition
Bony and/or cartilaginous structures within the body that provide support. Examples are the spicules of sponges, the plates in echinoderms, and the bony skeleton of vertebrates.
Term

Eutherian

Also called placental mammals

Definition
A lineage of mammals (Eutheria) whose young develop in the uterus and are not housed in an abdominal pouch.
Term
Feather
Definition
A specialized skin outgrowth, composed of b-keratin, present in all birds and only in birds. Used for flight, insulation, display, and other purposes.
Term
Foot
Definition
One of the three main parts of the mollusc body; a musuclar appendage, used for movement and/or burrowing into sediment.
Term

Forebrain

Compare with hindbrain and midbrain

Definition
One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus.
Term
Gestation
Definition
The duration of embryonic development from fertilization to birth in those species that have live birth.
Term
Gill
Definition
Any organ in aquatic animals that exchanges gases and other dissolved substances between the blood and surrounding water. Typically, a filamentous outgrowth of a body surface.
Term
Gill Arch
Definition
In aquatic vertebrates, curved region of tissue between the gills. Gills are suspended from the gill arches.
Term
Gnathostome
Definition
Animals with jaws.
Term

Grade

Also called a paraphyletic group.

Definition
In taxonomy, a group of species that share a position in an inferred evolutionary sequence of lineages but that are not a monophyletic group.
Term

Hominid

Also called Great Apes

Definition
Members of the family Hominidae, which includes humans and extinct related forms; chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Distinguished by large body size, no tail, and an exceptionally large brain.
Term

Hindbrain

Compare with forebrain and midbrain.

Definition
One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes the cerebellum and medulla oblongata.
Term
Hominin
Definition
Humans and extinct related forms; species in the lineage that branched off from chimpanzees and eventually led to humans.
Term
Human
Definition
Any member of the genus Homo, which includes modern humans (homo sapiens) and several extinct species.
Term

Invertebrate

Compare with vertebrates

Definition
A parphyletic group composed of animals without a backbone; includes about 95 percent of all animal species.
Term
Lactation
Definition
Production of milk from mammary glands of mammals.
Term
Lobed-Finned Fish
Definition
Fish with fins supported by bony elements that extend down the length of the structure.
Term
Mammal
Definition
One of the two lineages of amniotes (vertebrates that produce amniotic eggs) distinguished by hair (or fur) and mammary glands. Includes the monotremes (platypuses), marsupials, and eutherians (placental mammals).
Term
Marsupial
Definition
A lineage of mammals (Marsupiala) that nourish their young in an abdominal pouch after a very short period of development in the uterus.
Term

Medulla Oblongata

Also called the brain stem.

Definition
In vertebrates, a region of the brain stem that along with the cerebellum forms the hindbrain.
Term

Midbrain

Compare with forebrain and hindbrain

Definition
One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes sensory integrating and relay centers.
Term
Monotreme
Definition
A lineage of mammals (Monotremata) that lay eggs and then nourish the young with milk. Includes just three living species: the platypus and two species of echidna.
Term
Neanderthal
Definition
A recently extinct European species of hominid, (homo neanderthalensis), closely related to but distinct from modern humans.
Term
Nerve Cord
Definition
A bundle of nerves extending from the brain along the dorsal (back) side of a chordate animal, with cerebrospinal fluid inside a hollow central channel. One of the defining features of chordates.
Term

Omnivore

Compare with carnivore and herbivore

Definition
An animal whose diet regularly includes both meat and plants.
Term
Out-Of-Africa Hypothesis
Definition
The hypothesis that modern humans (homo sapiens) evolved in Africa and spread to other continents, replacing the Homo species without interbreeding with them.
Term

Oviparous

Compare with ovoviviparous and viviparous

Definition
Producing eggs that are laid outside the body where they develop and hatch.
Term

Ovoviviparous

Compare with oviparous and viviparous

Definition
Producing eggs that are retained inside the body until they are ready to hatch.
Term
Parapodia
Definition
Appendages found in some annelids from which bristle-like structures (chaetae) extend.
Term
Parental Care
Definition
Any action by which an animal expends energy or assumes risks to benefit its offspring (e.g., nest-building, feeding of young, defense).
Term
Pharyngeal Gill Splits
Definition
A set of parallel openings from the throat through the neck to the outside. A diagnostic trait of chordates.
Term
Pharyngeal Jaw
Definition
A secondary jaw in the back of the mouth, found in some fishes. Derived from modified gill arches.
Term
Placenta
Definition
A structure that forms in the pregnant uterus from maternal and fetal tissues. Exchanges nutrients and wastes between mother and fetus, anchors the fetus to the uterine wall, and produces some hormones. Occurs in most mammals and in a few other vertebrates.
Term

Tube Foot

Definition
One of the many small, mobile, fluid-filled extensions of the water vascular system of echinoderms; the part extending outside the body is called a podium. Used in locomotion and feeding.
Term
Primate
Definition
The lineage of mammals that includes prosimians (lemurs, lorises, etc.), monkeys, and great apes (including humans).
Term

Prosimians

Compare with anthropoids

Definition
One of the two major lineages of primates, including lemus, tarsiers, pottos, and lorises.
Term
Reptile
Definition
One of the two lineages of amniotes (vertebrates that produce amniotic eggs) distinguished by adaptations for reproduction on land. Includes turtles, snakes and lizards, crocodiles and alligatos, and birds. Except for birds, all are ectotherms.
Term
Swim Bladder
Definition
A gas-filled organ of many ray-finned fishes that regulates buoyancy.
Term
Tetrapod
Definition
Any member of the taxon Tetrapoda, which includes all vertebrates with two pairs of limbs (amphibians, mammals, and other reptiles).
Term
Tube Foot
Definition
One of the many small, mobile, fluid-filled extensions of the water vascular system of echinoderms; the part extending outside the body is called a podium. Used in locomotion and feeding.
Term

Urochordates

Compare with cephalochordates and vertebrates

Definition
One of the three major chordate (urochordata), comprising sessile, filter-feeding animals that have a polysaccharide exoskeleton (tunic) and two siphons through which water enters and leaves; also called tunicates or sea squirts.
Term
Vertebra
Definition
One of the cartilaginous or bony elements that form the spine of vertebrate animals.
Term
Vertebrate
Definition
One of the three major chordate lineages (vertebrata), comprising animals with a dorsal column of cartliaginous or bony structures (verebrae) and a skull enclosing the brian. Including fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds.
Term

Viviparous

Compare with oviparous and ovoviviparous

Definition
Producing live young (instead of eggs) that develop within the body of the mother before birth.
Term
Water Vascular System
Definition
In echinoderms, a system of fluid-filled tubes and chambers that funcitons as a hydrostatic skeleton.
Term
Acclimatization
Definition
Gradual physiological adjustment of an organisms to new environmental conditions that occur naturally or as part of a laboratory experiment.
Term
Adaptation
Definition
Any heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual with that trait, compared with individuals without that trait, in a particular environment.
Term
Adipose Tissue
Definition
A type of connective tissue whose cels store fats.
Term
Anatomy
Definition
The study of the physical structure of organisms.
Term
Axon
Definition
A long projection of a neuron that can propagate an action potential and transmit it to another neuron.
Term
Basal Lamina
Definition
A thick, collagen-rich extracellular matrix that underlies most epithelial tissues (e.g. skin) in animals.
Term
Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)
Definition
The total energy consumption by an organism at rest in a comfortable environment. For aerobes, often measured as the amount of oxygen consumed per hour.
Term
Basolateral
Definition
Toward the bottom and sides. In animals, the side of an epithelial layer that faces other body tissues and not the environment.
Term
Blood
Definition
A type of connective tissue consisting of red blood cells and leukocytes suspended in a fluid portion called plasma.
Term
Bone
Definition
A type of verebrate connective tissue consisting of living cells and blood vessels within a hard extracellular matrix composed of calcium phosphate (CaPO4) and small amounts of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and protein fibers.
Term
Capillary
Definition
One of the numerous small, thin-walled blood vessels that permeate all tissues and organs, and allow exchange of gases and other moleculese between blood and body cells.
Term

Cardiac Muscle

Compare with straited and smooth muscles

Definition
The muscle tissue of the vertebrate heart. Consists of long branched fibers that are electrically connected and that initiate their own contractions;not under voluntary control.
Term
Cartilage
Definition
A type of vertebrate connective tissue that consists of relatively few cells scattered in a stiff matrix of polysaccharides and protein fibers.
Term

Conduction

Compare with convection

Definition
Direct transfer of heat between two objects that are in physical contact.
Term
Connective Tissue
Definition
An animal tissue consisting of scattered cells in a liquid, jellylike, or solid extracellular matrix. Includes bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood.
Term

Convection

Compare with conduction

Definition
Transfer of heat by movement of large volumes of a gas or liquid.
Term
Countercurrent Exchange
Definition
In animals, any anatomical arrangement that allows the maximum transfer of heat or a soluble substance from one fluid to another. The two fluids must be flowing in opposite directions and have a heat or concentration gradient between them.
Term
Dendrite
Definition
A short extension from a neuron's cell body that receives signals from other neurons.
Term
Dense Connective Tissue
Definition
A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having an extracellular matrix dominated by collagen fibers.
Term

Ectotherm

Compare with endotherm

Definition
An animal that does not use internally generated heat to regulate its body temperature.
Term
Effector
Definition
Any cell, organ, or structure with which an animal can respond to external or internal stimuli. Usually functions, along with a sensor and integrator, as part of a homeostatic system.
Term

Endotherm

Compare with ectotherm

Definition
An animal whose primary source of body heat is internally generated heat.
Term
Epithelial Tissue
Definition
An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface.
Term
Epithelium
Definition
(plural: epithelia) An animal tissue consiting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. Also called epithelial tissue.
Term
Evaporation
Definition
The energy-absorbing phase change from a liquid state to a gaseous state. Many organisms evaporate water as a means of heat loss.
Term
Fluid Connective Tissue
Definition
A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having a liquid extracellular matrix.
Term
Gill Lamella
Definition
One of hundreds to thousands of sheetlike structures, each containing a capillary bed, that makes a gill filament.
Term
Gland
Definition
An organ whose primary function is to secrete some substance, either into the blood (endocrine gland) or into some other space such as the gut or skin (exocrine gland).
Term
Heat-Shock Protein
Definition
Proteins that facilitate refolding of proteins that have been denatured by heat or other agents.
Term

Heterotherm

Compare with hemeotherm

Definition
An animal whose body temperature varies markedly with environmental conditions.
Term
Hibernation
Definition
An energy-conserving physiological state, marked by a decrease in metabolic rate, body temperature, and activity, that lasts for a prolonged period (weeks to months). Occurs in some animals in response to winter
Term
Homeostasis
Definition
The array of relatively stable chemical and physical conditions in an animal's cells, tissues, and organs. May be achieved by the body's passively matching the conditions of a stable external environment (conformational homeostasis) or by active physiological processes (regulatory homeostasis) triggered by variations in the external or internal environment.
Term

Homeotherm

Compare with heterotherm

Definition
An animal that has a constant or relatively constant body temperature.
Term
Hypothalamus
Definition
A part of the brain that functions in maintaining the body's internal physiological state by regulating the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, body temperature, water balance, and appetite.
Term
Integrator
Definition
A component of an animal's nervous system that functions as part of a homestatic system by evaluating sensory information and triggering appropriate responses.
Term
Involuntary Muscle
Definition
Muscle that cannot respond to conscious thought.
Term
Loose Connective Tissue
Definition
A type of connective tissue consisting of fibrous proteins in a soft matrix. Often functions as padding for organs.
Term
Metabolic Rate
Definition
The total energy use by all the cells of an individual. FOr aerobic organisms, often measure as the amount of oxygen consumed per hour.
Term
Metabolic Water
Definition
The water that is produced as a by-product of cellular respiration.
Term
Multicellularity
Definition
The state of being composed of many cells that adhere to each other and do not all express the same genes with the result that some cells have specialized functions.
Term
Muscle Fiber
Definition
A single muscle cell.
Term
Muscle Tissue
Definition
An animal tissue consisting of bundles of long, thin contractile cells (muscle fibers).
Term
Negative Feedback
Definition
A self-limiting, corrective response in which a deviation in some variable (e.g., body temperature, blood pH, concentration of some compound) triggers responses aimed at returning the variable to normal.
Term
Nervous Tissue
Definition
An animal tissue consisting of nerve cells (neurons) and various supporting cells.
Term

Neuron

Also called Nerve Cell

Definition
A cell specialized for the transmission of nerve impulses. Typically has dendrites, a cell body, and a long axon that forms synpases with other neurons.
Term
Organ
Definition
A group of tissues organized into a funcitonal and structural unit.
Term
Organ System
Definition
Groups of tissues and organs that work together to perform a function.
Term
Physiology
Definition
The study of how an organism's body functions.
Term
Radiation
Definition
Transfer of heat between two bodies that are not in direct physical contact. More generally, the emission of electromagnetic energy of any wavelength.
Term
Sensor
Definition
Any cell, organ, or structure with which an animal can sense some aspect of the external or internal environment. Usually functions, along with an integrator and effector, as part of a homeostatic system.
Term
Set Point
Definition
A normal or target value for a regulated internal variable, such as body heat or blood pH.
Term

Skeletal Muscle (striated muscle)

Also called striated muscle. Compare with cardiac and smooth muscle.

Definition
The muscle tissue attached to the bones of the vertebrate skeleton. Consists of long, unbranched muscle fibers with a characteristic striped (striated) appearance; controlled voluntarily.
Term

Smooth Muscle

Compare with cardiac and striated muscle

Definition
The unstriated muscle tissue that lines the intestine, blood vessels, and some other organs. Consists of tapered, unbranched cells that can sustain long contractions. Not voluntarily controlled.
Term
Supporting Connective Tissue
Definition
A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having a firm extracellular matrix.
Term
Thermoregulation
Definition
Regulation of body temperature.
Term
Tissue
Definition
A group of similar cells that function as a unit, such as muscle tissue or epithelial tissue.
Term

Torpor

Compare with hibernation

Definition
An energy-conserving physiological state, marked by a decrease in metabolic rate, body temperature, and activity that lasts for a short period of time (overnight to a few days or weeks). Occurs in some small mammals when the ambient temperature drops significantly.
Term

Trade-Off

Also called fitness trade-off

Definition
In evolutionary biology, an inescapable compromise between two traits that cannot be optimized simultaneously.
Term
Villi
Definition
Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intesting. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients.
Term
Voluntary Muscle
Definition
Muscle tissue that can respond to conscious thought
Term
Aldosterone
Definition
A hormone produced in the adrenal cortex that stimulates the kidney to conserve salt and water and promotes retention of sodium.
Term
Ammonia
Definition
A small molecule, produced by the breakdown or proteins and nucleic acids, that is very toxic to cells. Is a strong base that gains a proton to form the ammonium ion (NH4+)
Term

Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)

Also called vasopressin

Definition
A peptide hormone, secreted from the posterior pituitary gland, that stimulates water retention by the kidney.
Term

Antiporter

Compare with symporter

Definition
A carrier protein that allows an ion to diffuse down an electrochemical gradient, using the energy of that process to transport a different substance in the opposite direction against its concentration gradient.
Term
Aquaporin
Definition
A type of channel protein through which water can move by osmosis across a plasma membrane.
Term
Bladder
Definition
A mammalian organ that holds urine until it can be excreted.
Term
Bowman's Capsule
Definition
The hollow, double-walled cup shaped portion of a nephron that surrounds a glomerulus in the vertebrate kidney.
Term

Carpel

Compare with stamen

Definition
The female reproductive organ in a flower. Consists of the stigma, to which pollen grains adhere; the style, through which pollen grains move; and the ovary, which houses the ovule.
Term
Carrier
Definition
A heterozygous individual carrying a normal allele anda recessive allele for an inherited trait; does not display the phenotype of the trait but can pass the recessive gene to offspring.
Term
Channel
Definition
A protein that forms a pore in a cell membrane. The structure of most channels allows them to admit just one or a few types of ions of molecules.
Term
Collecting Duct
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, a large straight tube that receives filtrate from the distal tubules of several nephrons. Involved in the regulated reabsorption of water.
Term
Concentration Gradient
Definition
Difference across space (e.g., across a membrane) in the concentration of a dissolved substance.
Term
Cortex
Definition
In plants, a layer of ground tissue found outside the vascular bundles and pith of a plant stem.
Term
Cotransporter
Definition
A transmembrane protein that facilitates diffusion of an ion down its previously established electrochemical gradient and uses the energy of that process to transport some other substance, in the same or opposite direction, against its concentration gradient.
Term
Cuticle
Definition
A protective coating secreted by the outermost layer of cells of an animal or a plant.
Term
Diabetes Insipidus
Definition
A human disease cause by defects in the kidney's system for conserving water. Characterized by production of large amounts of dilute urine.
Term
Diffusion
Definition
Spontaneous movement of a substance from a region of high concentration to one of low concentration (e.g., down a concentration gradient).
Term

Distal Tubule

Compare with proximal tubule.

Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, the convoluted portion of a nephron into which filtrate moves from the loop of Henle. Involved in the regulated reabsorption of sodium and water.
Term
Electrolyte
Definition
Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function.
Term
Facilitated Diffusion
Definition
Movement of a substance across a plasma membrane down its concentration gradient with the assistance of transmembrane carrier proteins or channel proteins.
Term
Filtrate
Definition
Any fluid produced by filtration, in particular the fluid (pre-urine) in the nephrons of vertebrate kidneys.
Term
Filtration
Definition
A process of removing large components from a fluid by forcing it through a filter. Occurs in a renal corpuscle of the vertebrate kidney, allowing water and small solutes to pass from the blood into the nephron.
Term
Glomerulus
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, a ball-like cluster of capillaries, surrounded by Bowman's capsule, at the beginning of a nephron.
Term
Hemolymph
Definition
The circulatory fluid of animals with open ciruclatory systems (e.g., insects) in which the fluid is not confined to blood vessels.
Term
Hormone
Definition
Any of numerous different signaling molecules that circulate throughout the body in other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations.
Term
Hypertonic
Definition
Comparative term designating a solution that has a lower solute concentration, and therefore a higher water concentration, than another solution.
Term
Hypotonic
Definition
Comparitive term designating a solution that has a greater solute concentration, and therefore a lower water concentration, than another solution.
Term
Isotonic
Definition
Comparitive term designating a solution that has the same solute concentration and water concentration than another solution.
Term
Kidney
Definition
In terrestrial vertebrates, one of the paired organ situated at the back of the abdominal cavity that filters the blood, produces urine, and secretes several hormones.
Term
Loop of Henle
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, a long U-shaped loop in a nephron that extends into the medulla. Functions as a countercurrent exchanger to set up an osmotic gradient that allows reabsorption of water from a subsequent portion of the nephron.
Term
Malpighian Tubule
Definition
A major excretory organ of insects, consisting of blind-ended tubes that extend from the gut into the hemocoel. Filter hemolymph to form pre-urine and then send it to the hindgut for further processing.
Term
Medulla
Definition
The innermost part of an organ (e.g., kidney or adrenal gland).
Term
Microvilli
Definition
Tiny protrusions from the surface of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances.
Term

Nephron

Also called renal tubule.

Definition
One of the tiny tubes within the vertebrate kidney taht filter blood and concentrate salts to produce uring.
Term
Osmoconformer
Definition
An animal that does not actively regulate the osmolarity of the surounding environment.
Term
Osmolarity
Definition
The concentration of dissolved substances in a solution, measured in moles per liter.
Term
Osmoregulation
Definition
The process by which a living organism controls the concentration of water and salts in its body.
Term
Osmoregulator
Definition
An animal that actively regulates the osmolarity of its tissues.
Term
Osmosis
Definition
Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to a region of low water concentration (high solute concentration).
Term
Ouabain
Definition
A plant toxin that poisons the sodium-potassium pumps of animals.
Term
Passive Transport
Definition
Diffusion of a substance across a plasma membrane or organelle membrane. When this occurs with the assistance of membrane proteins, it is called facilitated diffusion.
Term
Proximal Tubule
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, the convoluted section of a nephron into which filtrate moves from Bowman's Capsule. Involved in the largely unregulated reabsorption of electrolytes, nutrients, and water.
Term
Rectal Gland
Definition
A salt-excreting gland in the digestive system of sharks, skates, and rays.
Term
Renal Corpuscle
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, the ball-like structure at the beginning of a nephron, consisting of a glomerulus and the surrounding Bowman's capsule. Acts as a filtration device.
Term
Secondary Active Transport
Definition
Transport of an ion or molecule against its electrochemical gradient, in company with an ion or molecule being transported with its electrochemical gradient.
Term
Selectively Permeable Membrane
Definition
Any membrane across which some solutes can move moer readily than others.
Term
Sodium-Potassium Pump
Definition
A transmembrane protein that uses the energy of ATP to move sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions in. Also called NA+/K+-ATPase
Term
Solute
Definition
Any substance that is dissolved in a liquid.
Term
Symporter
Definition
A carrier protein that allows an ion to diffuse down an electrochemical gradient, using the energy of that process to transport a different substance in the same direction against its concentration gradient.
Term
Trachea
Definition
(1) In insects, one of the small air-filled tubes that extend throughout the body and function in gas exchange. (2) In terrestrial vertebrates, the airway connecting the larynx to the bronchi. Also called windpipe.
Term
Ureter
Definition
In vertebrates, a tube that transports urine from one kidney to the bladder.
Term
Urethra
Definition
The tube that drains urine from the bladder to the outside environment. In male vertebrates, also used for passage of sperm during ejaculation.
Term
Uric Acid
Definition
A whitish excretory product of birds, reptiles, and terrestrial arthropods. Used to remove from the body excess nitrogen derived from the breakdown of amino acids.
Term
Vasa Recta
Definition
In the vertebrate kidney, a network of blood vessels that runs alongside the loop of Henle of a nephron. Functions in reabsorption of water and solutes from the filtrate.
Term

Amylase

(a-amylase)

Definition
An enzyme that can break down starch by catalyzing hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages between the glucose residues.
Term
Absorption
Definition
In animals, the uptake of ions and small molecules derived from food across thel ining of the intestine and into the bloodstream.
Term

Digestive Tract

Also called Alimentary Canal, Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract, or Gut

Definition
The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.
Term
Amylase
Definition
Any enzyme that can break down starch by catalyzing hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages between the glucose residues.
Term
Appendix
Definition
A blind sac (having only one opening) that extends from the colon in some mammals.
Term
Aquaporin
Definition
A type of channel protein through which water can move by osmosis across a plasma membrane.
Term
Bile
Definition
A complex solution produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and secreted into the intestine. Contains steroid derivatives called bile salts that are responsible for emulsification of fats during digestion.
Term
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Definition
A mathematical relationship of weight and height used to asses obesity in humans. Calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m2).
Term
Carbonic Anhydrase
Definition
An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3) from carbon dioxide and water.
Term
Cecum
Definition
A blind sac between the small intestine and the colon. Is enlarged in some species (e.g., rabbits) that use it as a fermentation vat for digestion of cellulose.
Term
Cholecystokinin
Definition
A peptide hormone secreted by cells in the lining of the small intestine. Stimulates the secretino of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and of bile from the liver and gallbladder.
Term
Chylomicron
Definition
A ball of protein-coated lipids used to transport the lipids through the bloodstream.
Term
Cloaca
Definition
An opening to the outside used by the excretory and reproductive systems in many nonmammalian vertebrate but few vertebrates.
Term
Colon
Definition
The portion of the large intestine where feces are formed by compaction of wastes and reabsorption of water.
Term
Coprophagy
Definition
The eating of feces.
Term
Crop
Definition
A storage organ in the digestive systems of certain vertebrates.
Term
Deposit Feeder
Definition
An animal that eats its way through a food-containing substrate.
Term
Diabetes Mellitus
Definition
A human disease caused by defects in insulin production (type 1) or the response of cells to insulin (type II). Characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels and large amounts of glucose-containing urine.
Term
Digestion
Definition
The physical and chemical breakdown of food into molecules that can be absorbed into the body of an animal.
Term
Electrolyte
Definition
Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function.
Term
Emulsification
Definition
The dispersion of fat into an aqueous solution. Usually requires the aid of an amphipathic substance such as detergent or bile salts, which can break large fat globules into microscopic fat droplets.
Term
Endemic Species
Definition
A species that lives in one geographic area and nowhere else.
Term
Esophagus
Definition
The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
Term
Essential Amino Acid
Definition
An amino acid that an animal cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet. May refer specifically to one of the eight essential amino acids of adult humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Term
Fatty-Acid Binding Protein
Definition
Proteins that bind to fatty acids and enable them to be transported into cells.
Term
Feces
Definition
The waste products of digestion.
Term
Fluid-Feeder
Definition
An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood.
Term
Food
Definition
Term

Gallbladder

 

Definition
A small pouch that stores bile from the liver and releases it as needed into the small intestine during digestion of fats.
Term
Gastrin
Definition
A hormone produced by cells in the stomach lining in response to the arrival of food or to a neural signal from the brain. Stimulates other stomach cells to release hydrochloric acid.
Term
Glucagon
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by the pancrease in response to low blood glucose. Raises blood glucose by triggering breakdown of glycogen and stimulating gluconeogenesis.
Term
Gluconeogenesis
Definition
Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g. proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels.
Term
Hormone
Definition
Any of numeous different signaling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations.
Term
Incomplete Digestive Tract
Definition
A digestive tract that has just one opening.
Term
Insulin
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen.
Term
Lacteal
Definition
A small lymphatic vessel extending into the center of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food.
Term
Large Intestine (Colon)
Definition
The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. Its primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces.
Term
Lipase
Definition
Any enzyme that can break down fat molecules into fatty acids and monolycerides.
Term
Liver
Definition
A large,complec organ of verebrates that performs many functions including storae of glycogen, processing and conversion of food and wastes, and production of bile.
Term
Mass Feeder
Definition
An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth.
Term
Microvilli
Definition
Tiny protrusion from the surface area of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances.
Term
Mucous Cell
Definition
A type of cell found in the epithelial layer of the stomach; responsible for secreting mucus into the stomach.
Term
Mucus
Definition
(adjective:mucous) A slimy mixture of glycoproteins (called mucins) and water that is secreted in many animal organs for lubrication.
Term
Nuclease
Definition
Any enzyme that can break down RNA or DNA molecules.
Term
Nutrient
Definition
A chemical or food that provides what is needed for plants or animals to live and grow.
Term
Pancreas
Definition
A large gland in vertebrates that has both exocrine and endocrine functions. Secretes digestive enzymes into a duct connected to the intestine and several hormones (notably, insulin and glucagon) into the bloodstream.
Term
Pancreaptic Lipase
Definition
An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and acts in the small intestine to break bonds in complex fats, releasing small lipids.
Term
Parietal Cell
Definition
A cell in the stomach lining that secretes hydrochloric acid.
Term
Pepsin
Definition
A protein-digesting enzyme present in the stomach.
Term
Pepsinogen
Definition
The precursor of the digestive enzyme pepsin. Is secreted from cells in the stomach lining and converted to pepsin by the acidic environment of the stomach lumen.
Term
Peristalsis
Definition
Rhythmic waves of muscular contraction that push food along the digestive tract.
Term
Protease
Definition
An enzyme that can degrade proteins by cleaving the peptide bonds between amino acid residues.
Term
Rectum
Definition
The last portion of the digestive tract where feces are held until they are expelled.
Term
Reflex
Definition
An involuntary response to environmental stimulation. May involve the brain (e.g., conditioned reflex) or not (e.g., spinal reflex).
Term
Ruminant
Definition
A group of hoofed mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep, deer), that have a four-chambered stomach specialized for digestion of plant cellulose. Regurgitate the cud, a mixture of partially digested food and symbiotic cellulose-digesting bacteria, from the largestchamber (the rumen) for further chewing.
Term
Salivary Glands
Definition
Vertebrate glands that secrete saliva (a mixture of water, mucus-forming glycoproteins, and digestive enzymes) into the mouth.
Term
Secretin
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by cells in the small intestine in response to the arrival of food from the stomach. Stimulates secretion of bicarbonate (HCO3 -) from the pancreas.
Term
Small Intestine
Definition
The portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the large intestine. The site of the final stages of digestion and of most nutrient absorption.
Term
Sphincter
Definition
A muscular valve that can close off a tube, as in a blood vessel or a part of the digestive tract.
Term
Stomach
Definition
A tough, muscular pouch in the vertebrate digestive tract between the esophagus and small intestine. Physically breaks up food and begins digestion of proteins.
Term

Suspension Feeder

Also called filter feeder

Definition
Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air.
Term
Symbiosis
Definition
Any close and prolonged physical relationship between individuals of two different species.
Term
Trypsin
Definition
A protein-digesting enzyme present in the small intestine that activates several other protein-digesting enzyems.
Term
Trypsinogen
Definition
The precursor of protein-digesting enzyme trypsin. Secreted by the pancreas and activated by the intestinal enzyme enterokinase.
Term
Ulcer
Definition
A hole in an epithelial layer that damages the underlying basement membrane and tissues.
Term
Villi
Definition
Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intestine. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients.
Term
Vitamin
Definition
Any organic micronutrient that usually functions as a coenzyme.
Term
Albumin
Definition
A class of large proteins found in plants and animals, particularly in the albumen of eggs and in blood plasma.
Term
Alveolus
Definition
One of the tiny air-filled sacs of a mammalian lung.
Term
Aorta
Definition
In terrestrial vertebrates, the major artery carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart.
Term
Arteriole
Definition
One of the many tiny vessels that carry blood from arteries to capillaries.
Term

Artery

Compare with vein

Definition
Any thick-walled blood vessel that carries blood (oxygenated or not) under relatively high pressure away from the heart to organs throughout the body.
Term
Atrial Natriuretic Hormone
Definition
An animal hormone that stimulates excretion of salt from the kidneys.
Term

Atrioventricular (AV) Node

Compare with sinoatrial (SA) node

Definition
A region of the heart between the right atrium and right ventricle where electrical signals from the atrium are slowed briefly before spreading to the ventricle. This delay allows the ventricle to fill with blood before contracting.
Term
Atrium
Definition
A thin-walled chamber of the heart that receives blood from veins and pumps it to a neighboring chamber (the ventricle).
Term
Baroreceptors
Definition
Specialized nerve cells in the walls of the heart and certain major arteries that detect changes in blood pressure and trigger appropriate responses by the brain.
Term
Bohr Shift
Definition
The rightward shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve that occurs with decreasing pH. Results in hemoglobin being more likely to release oxygen in the acidic environment of exercising muscle.
Term
Bronchiole
Definition
One of the small tubes in mammalian lungs that carry air from the bronchi to the alveoli.
Term
Bronchus
Definition
In mammals, one of a pair of large tubes that lead from the trachea to each lung.
Term
Capillary
Definition
One of the numerous small, thin-walled blood vessels that permeate all tissues and organs, and allow exchange of gases and other molecules between blood and body cells.
Term
Diabetes Mellitus
Definition
A human disease caused by defects in insulin production (type 1) or the response of cells to insulin (type II). Characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels and large amounts of glucose-containing urine.
Term
Digestion
Definition
The physical and chemical breakdown of food into molecules that can be absorbed into the body of an animal.
Term

Digestive Tract

Also called alimentary canal, gastrointestinal (Gl) tract, or the gut.

Definition
The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.
Term
Electrolyte
Definition
Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function.
Term
Emulsification
Definition
The dispersion of fat into an aqueous solution. Usually requires the aid of an amphipathic substance such as a detergent or bile salts, which can break large fat globules into microscopic fat droplets.
Term
Endemic Species
Definition
A species that lives in one geographic area and nowhere else.
Term
Esophagus
Definition
The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
Term
Essential Amino Acid
Definition
An amino acid that an animal cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet. May refer specifically to one of the eight essential amino acids of adult humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine.
Term
Fatty-Acid Binding Protein
Definition
Proteins that bind to fatty acids and enable them to be transported into cells.
Term
Feces
Definition
The waste products of digestion.
Term
Fluid-Feeder
Definition
An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood.
Term
Food
Definition
Any nutrient-containing material that can be consumed and digested by animals.
Term
Gallbladder
Definition
A small pouch that stores bile from the liver and releases it as needed into the small intestine during digestion of fats.
Term
Gastrin
Definition
A hormone produced by cells in the stomach lining in response to the arrival of food or to a neural signal from the brain. Stimulates other stomach cells to release hydrochloric acid.
Term
Gastrointestinal Tract.
Definition
(Also called digestive tract) The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus.
Term
Glucagon
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to low blood glucose. Raises blood glucose by triggering breakdown of glycogen and stimulating gluconeogenesis.
Term
Glucloneogenesis
Definition
Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g., proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels.
Term
Hormone
Definition
Any of numerous different singling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations.
Term
Incomplete Digestive Tract
Definition
A digestive tract that has just one opening.
Term
Insulin
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen.
Term
Lacteal
Definition
A small lymphatic vessel extending into the centre of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food.
Term
Large Intestine (Colon)
Definition
The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. It's primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces.
Term
Glucloneogenesis
Definition
Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g., proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels.
Term
Hormone
Definition
Any of numerous different singling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations.
Term
Incomplete Digestive Tract
Definition
A digestive tract that has just one opening.
Term
Insulin
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen.
Term
Lacteal
Definition
A small lymphatic vessel extending into the centre of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food.
Term
Large Intestine (Colon)
Definition
The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. It's primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces.
Term
Lipase
Definition
Any enzyme that can break down fat molecules into fatty acids and monoglycerides.
Term
Liver
Definition
A large, complex organ of vertebrates that performs many functions including storage of glycogen, processing, and conversion of food and wastes, and production of bile.
Term
Mass Feeder
Definition
An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth.
Term
Microvilli
Definition
Tiny protrusions from the surface of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances.
Term
Mucous Cell
Definition
A type of cell found in the epithelial layer of the stomach; responsible for secreting mucus into the stomach.
Term
Mucus
Definition
A slimy mixture of glycoproteins (called mucins) and water that is secreted in many animal organs for lubrication.
Term
Nuclease
Definition
Any enzyme that can break down RNA or DNA molecules.
Term
Pancreas
Definition
A large gland in vertebrates that has both exocrine and endocrine functions. Secretes digestive enzymes into a duct connected to the intestine and several hormones (notable, insulin and glucagon) into the bloodstream.
Term
Pancreatic Lipase
Definition
An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and acts in the small intestine to break bonds in complex fats, releasing small lipids.
Term
Parietal Cell
Definition
A cell in the stomach lining that secretes hydrochloric acid.
Term
Pepsin
Definition
A protein-digesting enzyme present in the stomach.
Term
Pepsinogen
Definition
The precursor of the digestive enzyme pepsin. Is secreted from cells in the stomach lining and converted to pepsin by the acidic environment of the stomach lumen.
Term
Peristalsis
Definition
Rhythmic waves of muscular contraction that push food along the digestive tract.
Term
Protease
Definition
An enzyme that can degrade proteins by cleaving the peptide bonds between amino acid residues.
Term
Rectum
Definition
The last portion of the digestive tract where feces are held until they are expelled.
Term
Reflex
Definition
An involuntary response to environmental situation. May involve the brain (e.g., conditioned reflex) or not (e.g., spinal reflex)
Term
Ruminant
Definition
A group of hoofed mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep, deer) that have a four-chambered stomach specialized for digestion of plant cellulose. Regurgitate the cud, a mixture of partially digested food and symbiotic cellulose-digesting bacteria, from the largest chamber (the rumen) for further chewing.
Term
Salivary Glands
Definition
Vertebrate glands that secrete saliva (a mixture of water, mucus-forming glycoproteins, and digestive enzymes) into the mouth.
Term
Secretin
Definition
A peptide hormone produced by cells in the small intestine in response to the arrival of food from the stomach. Stimulates secretion of bicarbonate (HCO3-) from the pancreas.
Term
Small Intestine
Definition
The portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the large intestine. The site of the final stages of digestion and of most nutrient absorption.
Term
Sphincter
Definition
A muscular valve that can close off a tube, as in a blood vessel or a part of the digestive tract.
Term
Stomach
Definition
A tough, muscular pouch in the vertebrate digestive tract between the esophagus and small intestine. Physically breaks up food and begins digestion of proteins.
Term
Suspension Feeder
Definition
Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air.
Term
Symbiosis
Definition
Any close and prolonged physical relationship between individuals of two different species.
Term
Trypsin
Definition
A protein-digesting enzyme present in the small intestine that activates several other protein-digesting enzymes.
Term
Trypsinogen
Definition
The precursor of protein-digesting enzyme trypsin. Secreted by the pancreas and activated by the intestinal enzyme enterokinase.
Term
Ulcer
Definition
A hole in an epithelial layer that damages the underlying basement membrane and tissues.
Term
Villi
Definition
Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intestine. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients.
Term
Vitamin
Definition
An organic micronutrient that usually functions as a coenzyme.
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