Aqa - Gcse - Biology - Key Words

Front 1

Absorption

Back 1

The process of moving digested food into the blood.

Front 2

Active Transport

Back 2

The movement of molecules in and out of partially permeable cell membranes using the energy produced by respiration.

Front 3

Adaptation

Back 3

The process of acclimatising or getting used to the habitat or environment

Front 4

Addiction

Back 4

When one has taken a substance or has done something so regularly that they can't stop it without suffering withdrawal symptoms

Front 5

Adrenaline

Back 5

A hormone produced by glands that prepares the body for emergency situations and/or stress.

Front 6

Aerobic Respiration

Back 6

The process of respiration using the oxygen from the atmosphere

Front 7

Alveoli

Back 7

Tiny air sacs, present in the lungs, where gas exchange takes place

Front 8

Anaerobic Respiration

Back 8

The process of respiration without using oxygen from the air

Front 9

Antagonistic Muscles

Back 9

Pairs of muscles that work together to cause movement of joints

Front 10

Anther

Back 10

Part of the flower where pollen is produced

Front 11

Antibiotic

Back 11

A drug that will stop or kill certain bacteria.

Front 12

Antibody

Back 12

A protein molecule that helps protect the body from invading cells.

Front 13

Artery

Back 13

A blood vessel which transports oxygenated blood around the body.

Front 14

Asexual Reproduction

Back 14

Reproduction without producing gametes. An example of this is cloning.

Front 15

Bacteria

Back 15

A type of single-celled organism without a nucleus

Front 16

Bile

Back 16

An alkaline fluid produced in the liver to aid digestion and the breaking down of food molecules

Front 17

Biomass

Back 17

The mass of living organisms in a certain area.

Front 18

Biodegradable

Back 18

A substance that will be broken by natural processes

Front 19

Bladder

Back 19

A muscular sac that contains and ejects urine

Front 20

Brain

Back 20

The organ that coordinates the actions and responses of the body.

Front 21

Bronchiole

Back 21

A small branch of bronchus which connects a bonchus to the alveoli

Front 22

Bronchus

Back 22

A tube that connects the trachea to the lungs

Front 23

Capillary

Back 23

The smallest blood vessel, through which substances are exchanged to and from the blood.

Front 24

Cancer

Back 24

A disease causing the rapid and fatal overproduction of cells in a part of the body.

Front 25

Carbohydrates

Back 25

A groups of foods which provide energy

Front 26

Carnivore

Back 26

An animal that eats another animal

Front 27

Catalyst

Back 27

A substance that speeds up a chemical reaction

Front 28

Cell

Back 28

A structural and functional unit of a cell.

Front 29

Cell Membrane

Back 29

One of the outer layers of a cell which dictates which substances go in and out of the cell

Front 30

Cell Wall

Back 30

The boundary layer of the cell which provides the cell with shape and structure.

Front 31

Chlorophyll

Back 31

The green pigment in leaves which absorbs light for photosynthesis.

Front 32

Chloroplasts

Back 32

Structures in a plant cell which contain chlorophyll.

Front 33

Circulatory System

Back 33

A system in the body which enables blood to be transported to various organs, tissues and cells.

Front 34

Clone

Back 34

An organism that is genetically identical to its parent.

Front 35

Clotting

Back 35

A set of chemical reactions which stop blood from flowing out of the body at the point of a wound and form a scab.

Front 36

Cornea

Back 36

The transparent area in the front of the eye which helps refract light rays before they enter the eye

Front 37

Cytoplasm

Back 37

A substance within the cell, similar to jelly, which does not include the nucleus.

Front 38

Decay

Back 38

The gradual breakdown of substances by decomposers

Front 39

Deficiency Disease

Back 39

A disease caused by the lack of a certain vitamin or mineral

Front 40

Diaphragm

Back 40

A muscle situated at the bottom of the lungs which causes air to move in and out of the lungs.

Front 41

Diffusion

Back 41

The movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration

Front 42

Digestion

Back 42

The process of breaking down food molecules

Front 43

Drug

Back 43

A substance that if consumed changes the body or its reactions

Front 44

Egestion

Back 44

The removal of undigested food

Front 45

Emulsification

Back 45

The breakdown of large fat molecules into small ones.

Front 46

Enzymes

Back 46

Biological catalysts found in the body

Front 47

Evolution

Back 47

The change overtime in the genes of species

Front 48

Excretion

Back 48

Removal or disposal of waste products from the body.

Front 49

Extinction

Back 49

When a species no longer lives on Earth.

Front 50

Fats

Back 50

Lipid Molecules containing glycerol and fatty acids

Front 51

Fertilisation

Back 51

The fusion of male and female sex cells.

Front 52

Fibre

Back 52

Indigestible plant tissue to assist with movement of molecules through the gut.

Front 53

Gametes

Back 53

Sex cells produced in sexual reproduction

Front 54

Genes

Back 54

A string of DNA found in a chromosome which contains a characteristic.

Front 55

Haemoglobin

Back 55

A red pigment found in red blood cells which combines with oxygen.

Front 56

Herbivore

Back 56

An animal that only eats plants

Front 57

Homoeostasis

Back 57

The maintenance of a constant internal environment.

Front 58

Hormone

Back 58

A messenger in the form of chemicals which alters the processes in a certain area of the body

Front 59

Immune System

Back 59

A series of processes carried out to prevent pathogens infiltrating the body.

Front 60

Inheritance

Back 60

The passing of genetic information from parent to child.

Front 61

Invertebrates

Back 61

Animals that do not have a backbone.

Front 62

Joints

Back 62

The sections of the skeleton where two bones meet

Front 63

Kidney

Back 63

An organ which helps remove waste chemicals from the blood and dispose of them.

Front 64

Kingdoms

Back 64

Groups which organise and sort living organisms

Front 65

Lactic Acid

Back 65

A product of anaerobic respiration.

Front 66

Leaf

Back 66

The plant organ which provides food for the plant via photosynthesis

Front 67

Liver

Back 67

The organ in the body which uses bile to break down food molecules

Front 68

Malnutrition

Back 68

A condition caused by eating an unbalanced and lacking diet.

Front 69

Menstruation

Back 69

The breaking down of the uterus allowing blood and cells to enter the vagina.

Front 70

Metabolism

Back 70

All the chemical reactions that occur in an organism.

Front 71

Mucus

Back 71

A slime-like substance that traps dust molecules in air passages

Front 72

Muscle

Back 72

Tissue that enables movement of joints.

Front 73

Natural Selection

Back 73

The fact that only animals that have adapted have a greater chance of survival.

Front 74

Nerve

Back 74

A group of nerve cells working together

Front 75

Nucleus

Back 75

The part of the cell which contains genetic information and controls the processes of the cells.

Front 76

Nutrition

Back 76

Consuming food and in order to provide energy for processes such as growth and repair

Front 77

Obesity

Back 77

The condition when someone is extremely overweight

Front 78

Oesophagus

Back 78

The tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.

Front 79

Organ

Back 79

A number of tissues working together to carry out a single function

Front 80

Osmosis

Back 80

Diffusion of water molecules through a partly permeable surface

Front 81

Ovary

Back 81

The female sex cell where eggs are produced

Front 82

Pancreas

Back 82

The organ which produces digestive enzymes in order to help digestion.

Front 83

Pathogen

Back 83

An invading cell which can cause disease in the human body.

Front 84

Plasma

Back 84

The watery fluid in the blood which transports nutrients, urea, carbon dioxide and hormones.

Front 85

Platelets

Back 85

Small fragments of dead red blood cells which help blood clot.

Front 86

Proteins

Back 86

Compounds consisting of amino acids which help in growth and repair of cells in the body.

Front 87

Puberty

Back 87

The age at which sexual characteristics develop in boys and girls.

Front 88

Receptors

Back 88

Cells, tissues or organs which are sensitive to stimuli

Front 89

Reflex Action

Back 89

The quick and automatic response to stimuli.

Front 90

Reproduction

Back 90

The process of producing new individual organisms

Front 91

Respiration

Back 91

Breaking down of Glucose and Oxygen in order to provide energy for cells.

Front 92

Retina

Back 92

The part of the eye which contains cells that are sensitive to light

Front 93

Root

Back 93

A plant organ which anchors the plant and absorbs water and nutrients from the soil.

Front 94

Sensitivity

Back 94

The ability to detect or notice changes in the environment

Front 95

Species

Back 95

A group of living organisms that breed in the same way to produce very similar offspring.

Front 96

Starch

Back 96

An insoluble substance made out of glucose.

Front 97

Stem

Back 97

The plant organ which supports the leaves and flowers whilst also transporting water and nutrients from the roots to other parts of the plant.

Front 98

Stomach

Back 98

A muscular sac at the end of the oesophagus which helps in the digestion of food via chemical reactions with hydrochloric acid.

Front 99

Stimulus

Back 99

A minor or major change in the environment.

Front 100

Tendon

Back 100

A group of fibres that attach muscles to bones

Front 101

Tissue

Back 101

A group of cells working together to achieve the same function.

Front 102

Transpiration

Back 102

The process which occurs in a plant in order to cool it.

Front 103

Urea

Back 103

Waste product caused by the build-up of excess amino acids

Front 104

Urine

Back 104

A fluid produced the kidneys which contains waste materials and excess water.

Front 105

Vein

Back 105

A blood vessel that transports deoxygenated blood around the body

Front 106

Virus

Back 106

A micro-organism that can only reproduce inside living cells.

Front 107

Vertebrates

Back 107

Animals that have a backbone.

Front 108

White Blood Cells

Back 108

Cells that protect the body from invading pathogens via a series of different processes and responses.

Front 109

Zygote

Back 109

A fertilised egg.