Asvab General Science Vocab

Front 1

Prokaryotic

Back 1

No membrame bound structures in cell (ex. Bacteria)

Front 2

Eukaryotic

Back 2

Has membrane bound structures in cell (ex. Animal cells)

Front 3

Cell membrane

Back 3

Determines what comes in and out of cell

Front 4

Nucleus

Back 4

Contains cell DNA, controls cell growth and reproduction

Front 5

Chromosomes

Back 5

Made of DNA (stored in nucleus)

Front 6

Vacuoles

Back 6

Storage container of cell (can store waste and food), plant cells have large ones for water

Front 7

Mitochondria

Back 7

Goes through resperation to produce energy

Front 8

Resperation

Back 8

Chemical reactions that combine food and oxygen to create energy and waste byproduct (ex. CO2)

Front 9

Photosynthesis

Back 9

Chloroplasts interact w/ light, combines w/ H2O; CO2+H2O+Light=C6H12O6+O2

Front 10

Genes

Back 10

Instructions for look and function of new organism

Front 11

Mitosis

Back 11

When cells replace themselves because they are worn out/old

Front 12

Meiosis

Back 12

Sex cell formation

Front 13

Sex cell formation

Back 13

Cell w/ only 23 chroms. are formed so when egg and sperm join up, they have 46 chroms. and possess both parent DNA

Front 14

Taxonomy

Back 14

Classification system

Front 15

Monera Kingdom

Back 15

1 celled/colony, decomposers and parasites, move in water, both produce and consume (ex. Bacteria)

Front 16

Protista Kingdom

Back 16

1 cell/multi, absorb food, move w/ flagella, asexual and sexual, produce and consume. (Ex. Plankton, amoeba)

Front 17

Fungi kingdom

Back 17

1 cell/multi, decomposers, parasites, absorb food, asexual and budding, consume (ex. Mushroom, mold, yeast)

Front 18

Plantae kingdom

Back 18

Multicell, photosynthesis, mostly produce (ex. Plants!)

Front 19

Animilia kingdom

Back 19

Multicell, parasite and prey, asexual and sexual, consume. (Ex. Sponge, mammals)

Front 20

Producers

Back 20

Use outside energy source (ex. Sun), mostly plants

Front 21

Consumers

Back 21

Can't make own energy, need to eat other things

Front 22

Virus

Back 22

DNA surronded by protein coating. Doesn't have other organelles

Front 23

Vascular

Back 23

Plant that transports water from root to stem and leaves via tube like structures is....

Front 24

Nonvascular

Back 24

A plant that Absorbs water only through surface is....

Front 25

Angiosperms

Back 25

Produces flower

Front 26

Gymnosperms

Back 26

Don't produce flowers (like pine trees)

Front 27

Annuals

Back 27

Planted once a year (ex.corn)

Front 28

Biennials

Back 28

2 year growing. Year 1: seed germinates, produce leaves and roots, forms stem. Year 2: forms longer stem, produce fruit/flower, seed production, then death. (Ex. Raspberries)

Front 29

Perennials

Back 29

Lasts many years, usually grows back in the spring

Front 30

Deciduous

Back 30

Loses leaves

Front 31

Evergreen

Back 31

Keeps leaves/needles

Front 32

Cotyledon

Back 32

Part of seed that stores food

Front 33

Monocots

Back 33

Only one cotyledon

Front 34

Dicots

Back 34

Have 2 cotyledon

Front 35

Roots

Back 35

Absorb nutrients and water, holds up stem and leaves, stores food. Doesn't have chloroplasts

Front 36

Taproot system

Back 36

One sturdy main root w/ few branching roots (ex. Carrot)

Front 37

Fibrous root system

Back 37

Many branching roots (ex. Flower)

Front 38

Stems

Back 38

Support leaves, flowers, and fruit. Carry nutrients, some store food

Front 39

Nods

Back 39

Places in stem where buds form

Front 40

Internodes

Back 40

Spaces between nodes

Front 41

Vascular system

Back 41

Moves water, nutrients, and food through plant

Front 42

Phloem tubes

Back 42

Move food from roots to stem to leaves

Front 43

Xylem tubes

Back 43

Moves minerals and water through plant

Front 44

Cambium

Back 44

Main tissue in stem, surronds tubes

Front 45

Leaves

Back 45

Makes food for plant, flat surface maximizes ability to absorb light and transform to food

Front 46

Cuticle

Back 46

Protective layer on leaves, reduces evaporation of water and helps protect plant from disease causing organisms

Front 47

Stomata

Back 47

Tiny leaf openings, enable plant to take in CO2 and release O2 into the air

Front 48

Guard cells

Back 48

Cover stomata openings and regulate exchange of h2o vapor, o2 and co2

Front 49

Flowers

Back 49

Sexual reproduction/ seed production part

Front 50

Pistil

Back 50

Female portion of flower; includes stigma, ovaries, and style

Front 51

Stigma

Back 51

Surface that captures and holds pollen

Front 52

Style

Back 52

Area between stigma and ovaries

Front 53

Stamen

Back 53

Male portion of plant, holds filament and anther

Front 54

Filament

Back 54

Holds the anther

Front 55

Anther

Back 55

Where pollen is formed and released

Front 56

Sepals

Back 56

Enclose various flower parts

Front 57

Petals

Back 57

Bright coloured part of plant

Front 58

Vegetable

Back 58

Any edible part of plant that isn't the flower

Front 59

Fruit

Back 59

A ripened ovary containing seeds

Front 60

Tropisms

Back 60

Positive/negative response to stimuli (ex: roots respond positively to gravity while stem responds negatively by moving against it)

Front 61

Gravitropism

Back 61

Response to gravity

Front 62

Phototropism

Back 62

Response to light (ex. Growing toward it)

Front 63

Vertebrates

Back 63

Have back bone

Front 64

Invertabrates

Back 64

No back bone

Front 65

Mollusks

Back 65

Invertabrates that have hard shell for protection (ex. Snail, clam, mussel, and squid)

Front 66

Exoskeleton

Back 66

Invertabrates w/ tough coatings of chitin outside of body

Front 67

Arthropods

Back 67

Have exoskeleton, have jointed legs and segmented body (ex. Spiders, centipedes), aka insects, also includes crustaceans (ex. shrimp, lobster)

Front 68

Biosphere

Back 68

All places on earth where life can exist

Front 69

Ecosystem

Back 69

Collection of all living creatures and nonliving features/conditions in environment (ex. Rainforest)

Front 70

Ecology

Back 70

Study of ecosystems

Front 71

Biodiversity

Back 71

Variety of life forms that exist

Front 72

Habitat

Back 72

Geographic area w/ conditons that support continued reproduction of species

Front 73

Habitat

Back 73

Geographic area w/ conditons that support continued reproduction of species

Front 74

Tissues

Back 74

Groups of cells

Front 75

Organs

Back 75

Various tissues working together (ex. Skin, liver, heart)

Front 76

Organ system

Back 76

Organs working together (ex. Muscular system, skeletal system, integumentary system)

Front 77

Physiology

Back 77

Branch of biology, deals w/ parts of body, function, and bodily processes

Front 78

Physiology

Back 78

Branch of biology, deals w/ parts of body, function, and bodily processes

Front 79

Muscular system

Back 79

Allows movement and locomotion, involved in voluntary and involuntary movements

Front 80

Skeletal muscles

Back 80

Helps move bones, attached via tendons

Front 81

Tendons

Back 81

Attach muscle to bone by bonds of tissue

Front 82

Cardiac muscle

Back 82

Muscle found in heart

Front 83

Smooth muscle

Back 83

Muscle found in some internal organs (ex. Intestines, bladder)

Front 84

Skeletal system

Back 84

Provides shape and support to body, protects inner organs and provides attachment point for muscles, produces blood cells and stores minerals

Front 85

Endoskeleton

Back 85

Developed by vertebrates, made of bone and cartilage

Front 86

Osteoblasts

Back 86

Bone forming cells

Front 87

Joints

Back 87

Placea where bones come together, held together by ligaments

Front 88

Ligaments

Back 88

Tissue that holds together joints

Front 89

Integument

Back 89

Outermost protective layer; protecrs from water loss and invasion from foreign organisms and virus; helps regulate body temp.

Front 90

Sweat glands

Back 90

Move perspiration onto skin

Front 91

Epidermis

Back 91

Outer, thinner layer of skin; underneath, skin cells continually produced

Front 92

Dermis

Back 92

Contains blood , nerves, muscles, and oil and sweat glands

Front 93

Dermis

Back 93

Contains blood , nerves, muscles, and oil and sweat glands

Front 94

Fat

Back 94

Stored in 3rd layer as weight is gained

Front 95

Melanin

Back 95

Where skin gets its color

Front 96

Respiratory system

Back 96

Takes in o2 and moves out waste of co2

Front 97

Nasal cavity

Back 97

Where air passes through from the nose

Front 98

Pharynx

Back 98

Contains the epiglottis

Front 99

Epiglottis

Back 99

Prevents food from entering the trachea

Front 100

Larynx

Back 100

Placed in the upper trachea

Front 101

Bronchi

Back 101

Carrys air in and out of the lungs; lined w/ epithelium and mucus producing cells

Front 102

Epithelium

Back 102

Lines the bronchi

Front 103

Epithelium

Back 103

Lines the bronchi

Front 104

Bronchioles

Back 104

Branches of bronchi, contain alveoli

Front 105

Alveoli

Back 105

Little sacks at end of bronchioles; surronded by capillaries

Front 106

Capillaries

Back 106

Where exchange of oxygen takes place, takes in oxygen thats picked up by hemoglobin in blood; waste material transferred to alveoli

Front 107

Diaphragm

Back 107

Moves up and down allowing air to enter lungs

Front 108

Respiration

Back 108

How bodies use oxygen and eliminate co2

Front 109

Digestion

Back 109

Accomplished by mechanical and chemical means, breaks food small enough to pass into blood stream

Front 110

Saliva

Back 110

Helps begin chemical breakdown of food

Front 111

Esophagus

Back 111

Long tube with muscles that contract and move food to stomach

Front 112

Peristalsis

Back 112

Waves of muscle contractions

Front 113

Duodenum

Back 113

Upper part of small intestine, where most digestiom takes place

Front 114

Bile

Back 114

Comes from liver, breaks down fat particles

Front 115

Pancreatic fluid

Back 115

Comes from the pancreas; promotes chemical disgestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and fats, neutralizes stomach acid and makes insulin

Front 116

Large intestine

Back 116

Absorbs water to make nondigested food more solid

Front 117

Circulatory system

Back 117

Moves o2, co2, nutrients, waste product, immune components, and hormones through body; made of vessels and muscles that control flow of blood around body

Front 118

Coronary circulation

Back 118

Circulation of blood within heart by coronary veins and arteries; if blocked, heart attack can occur

Front 119

Pulmonary circulation

Back 119

Flow of blood from heart to lungs and back

Front 120

Systemic circulation

Back 120

Blood (w/ o2) moving through body to important organs

Front 121

Atriums

Back 121

2 upper chambers of heart

Front 122

Ventricles

Back 122

2 lower chambers of the heart

Front 123

Pulmonary valves

Back 123

Keep blood from flowing backwards

Front 124

Pulmonary artery

Back 124

Transports deoxygenated blood to lungs

Front 125

Aorta

Back 125

Transports oxygenated blood to body; biggest artery

Front 126

Red blood cells

Back 126

Disk shaped; contains hemoglobin

Front 127

Hemoglobin

Back 127

Substance in RBC that carries o2 and co2

Front 128

Platelets

Back 128

Plug holes in blood vessels to stop bleeding

Front 129

Plasma

Back 129

Fluid carries RBC's and WBC and platelets; carries nutrients, minerals, o2 carried and waste

Front 130

Lymphatic system

Back 130

Composed of lymph vessels, lymph nodes, and certain organs; absorbs excess fluid from body and returns to blood stream; absorbs fat and transports to heart

Front 131

Lymphocytes

Back 131

Type of wbc that tries to destroy disease causing organisms

Front 132

Lymph

Back 132

Passes through lymph nodes that remove any microorganisms and foreign material

Front 133

Tonsils

Back 133

Help keep out invaders that try to come through nose and mouth

Front 134

Thymus

Back 134

Makes lymphocytes

Front 135

Spleen

Back 135

Filters blood and removes worn out or damaged red blood cells; cells here destroy bacteria and other invaders

Front 136

Immune system

Back 136

Defends body from patogens and cancerous cell growth

Front 137

Pathogens

Back 137

Invading microorganisms and viruses

Front 138

First-line defenses

Back 138

Immune system defenses that include skin and respiratory, digestive and circulatory systems

Front 139

Cilia

Back 139

Hairlike structures; used by respiratory system to trap pathogens

Front 140

Mucus

Back 140

used by respiratory system to trap pathogens

Front 141

Fever

Back 141

High body temp. used to destroy invading organisms if wbc can't do job fast enough

Front 142

Second-line defense

Back 142

Immune system defense specific to disease

Front 143

Antigens

Back 143

Molecules that are foreign to body

Front 144

T-cells

Back 144

Special lymphocytes that attack antigens; stimulate B cells

Front 145

B-cells

Back 145

Form antibodies

Front 146

Active immunity

Back 146

When antibodies from one disease stay in body to fight rapidly if disease comes back

Front 147

Passive immunity

Back 147

Vaccination

Front 148

Excretory system

Back 148

System that removes waste; removes undigested material via large intestine; removes waste gases through circulatory and respiratory system; removes salt through sweat; removes excess water and waste through urinary system

Front 149

Urinary system

Back 149

Responsible for maintaining fluid levels in body

Front 150

Kidneys

Back 150

2 bean shaped organs; responsible for for filtering blood that contains waste from cells

Front 151

Nephrons

Back 151

Tiny filtering unit that purifies blood

Front 152

Urine

Back 152

Leftover water from purifying process

Front 153

Nervous system

Back 153

Coordinates and controls memory, learning, and conscious thought; maintains heartbeat, breathing, and control of involuntary muscle actions; most complex body system

Front 154

Brain

Back 154

Sends and recieves messages via network of nerves; made up of 100 billion neurons

Front 155

Neurons

Back 155

Brain cells

Front 156

Cerebrum

Back 156

Largest part of brain; coordinates thinking process

Front 157

Cortex

Back 157

Outer layer of cerebrum; more ridges and grooves allow more complex thinking to occur

Front 158

Cerebellum

Back 158

2nd largest part of brain; coordinates muscle movement and maintain normal muscle tone and posture; coordinates balance

Front 159

Brain stem

Back 159

Closest to spinal cord and has 3 parts

Front 160

Midbrain and pons

Back 160

Coordinates various parts of brain so it acts together

Front 161

Medulla

Back 161

Coordinates heartbeat, breathing, blood pressure, and reflex centers for vomiting, sneezing, coughing, swallowing, and hiccuping

Front 162

Hypothalamus

Back 162

Regulates thirst, hunger, body temp, water balance, and blood pressure and links nervous system to endocrine system

Front 163

Central nervous system

Back 163

Contains brain and spinal cord

Front 164

Peripheral nervous system

Back 164

Nerves in head and nerves that come out of spinal cord

Front 165

Somatic system

Back 165

Controls voluntary movement; part of PNS

Front 166

Autonomic system

Back 166

Controls involuntary movement; part of PNS

Front 167

Cell body

Back 167

Blob shaped main part of neuron

Front 168

Dendrites

Back 168

Thin, spiderlike part of neuron

Front 169

Axon

Back 169

One lone fiber part of neuron; have branched ends w/ little bulbs that almost touch adjacent neuron

Front 170

Synapses

Back 170

Spaces between neurons

Front 171

Gonads

Back 171

Organs of reproductive system; produce gametes

Front 172

Gametes

Back 172

Produced by gonads

Front 173

Flagellum

Back 173

Whiplike tail ( on sperm)

Front 174

Endocrine system

Back 174

Has glands that secrete hormones that regulate body metabolism, growth and reproduction; communicate through chemical messages transported by circulatory system

Front 175

Pituitary gland

Back 175

Main gland, controls most other glands

Front 176

Thyroid

Back 176

Regulates metabolism

Front 177

Parathyroid

Back 177

Increases concentration of calcium in blood

Front 178

Adrenal cortex

Back 178

Helps kidneys absorb h2o and sodium

Front 179

Adrenal medulla

Back 179

Prepares body for strenous activity by increasing blood sugar concentration

Front 180

Pancreas

Back 180

Regulates sugar in blood and increases sugar if needed

Front 181

Ovaries

Back 181

Promotes female secondary sex characteristics and thickens endometrial lining

Front 182

Testes

Back 182

Promotes male secondary sex characteristics

Front 183

Cornea

Back 183

Transparent section of the eye

Front 184

Lens

Back 184

Part of eye; directs light through vitreous humor

Front 185

Vitreous humor

Back 185

Part of eye; gelatinous substance

Front 186

Rods

Back 186

Retina cell that detects light intensity

Front 187

Cones

Back 187

Retina cell that responds to color

Front 188

Concave lens

Back 188

Lenses that help nearsighted people

Front 189

Convex lens

Back 189

Lens that helps farsighted people

Front 190

Middle ear

Back 190

Where eardrum creates vibration, moving hammer, anvil, and stirrup

Front 191

Cochlea

Back 191

Has hairs that vibrate and send electric signals to brain

Front 192

Olfactory cells

Back 192

Cells covered in mucus that dissolves smell molecules and sends signal to brain

Front 193

Alleles

Back 193

Different forms of a gene (ex. Hair color gene, black hair from mom, blonde from dad)

Front 194

Genotype

Back 194

Genetic makeup of organism (ex. BB, bb, Bb)

Front 195

Phenotype

Back 195

How organism looks (ex. Blonde Hair)

Front 196

Homozygous

Back 196

Organism with 2 alleles that are the same (ex. BB, bb)

Front 197

Heterozygous

Back 197

Organism with 1 allele thats dominant and 1 recessive (ex. Bb)

Front 198

Proteins

Back 198

Nutrition used for replacement and repair of body cells and for growth; made up of amino acids

Front 199

Carbohydrates

Back 199

Nutrition thats a good source of energy; 3 types are sugar, fiber, and starch

Front 200

Simple carbs

Back 200

Sugars

Front 201

Complex carbs

Back 201

Potatoes, pasta, beans, and bread

Front 202

Fats

Back 202

Provide energy and help to absorb vitamins; contain twice as much energy as carbs

Front 203

Vitamins

Back 203

Nutrition needed for certain bodily functions and preventing some diseases (ex. B and C (needed everyday))

Front 204

Minerals

Back 204

Regulate chemical reactions in body; some only needed in small amounts, others in large; production and maintenance of bones

Front 205

Phosphorus

Back 205

Creates strong bones and teeth; regulates contraction of muscle

Front 206

Potassium

Back 206

Regulates water balance in cells, muscle contration, nerve impulse conductoom

Front 207

Sodium

Back 207

Regulates fluid balance in tissues, nerve impulse conduction

Front 208

Iron

Back 208

Transports o2 in RBC's

Front 209

Iodine

Back 209

Controls thyroid activity, metabolic stimulation

Front 210

Element

Back 210

Substance made of all the same kind of atom; can't be broken down into simpler form

Front 211

Atomic number

Back 211

Number of protons in atom; periodic table elements ordered by this

Front 212

Atomic mass

Back 212

Equal to number of protons plus number of neutrons

Front 213

Covalent compounds

Back 213

Made up of molecules

Front 214

Ionic compounds

Back 214

Compound made of ions

Front 215

Molecules

Back 215

Group of atoms held together by chemical bonds (mainly covalent bonds)

Front 216

Chemical reaction

Back 216

Occurs when bonds are broken and new bonds form, making different molecules

Front 217

Ions

Back 217

Atoms that are positively or negatively charged (ex. Na+ or Cl-

Front 218

Solution

Back 218

Mixture where (ex.) Sugar dissolves into water

Front 219

Suspension

Back 219

Mixture of liquid or gas with another substance spread evenly through it (ex. Salt in water); particles precipitate to bottom if left standing

Front 220

Newtons 1st Law

Back 220

An object at rest will stay at rest and an object in motion will stay in motion with same speed and in same directon unless acted upon by an unbalanced force

Front 221

Force

Back 221

Push/pull upon an object resulting from one objects interaction with another (ex. Pushing swing; pulling suitcase)

Front 222

Inertia

Back 222

Resistance to change (ex. Body keeps moving forward when car suddenly stops)

Front 223

Friction

Back 223

Force resulting from surface of one object touching surface of another; causes moving object to slow or stop

Front 224

Newtons 2nd law

Back 224

An object will accelerate only if there is an unbalanced force acting upon it

Front 225

A=F/m

Back 225

Formula for acceleration

Front 226

Newtons 3rd law

Back 226

For every action, there is an equal and opposite reaction (ex. Gun recoiling when fired)

Front 227

Speed

Back 227

How fast object is moving

Front 228

Speed= distance traveled/time of travel

Back 228

Average speed during courses of motion formula

Front 229

Velocity

Back 229

Rate and direction at which an objects position changes (ex. 55mph in westerly direction)

Front 230

Velocity= change of position/ time

Back 230

Average velocity formula

Front 231

Acceleration

Back 231

Rate at which an object changes its velocity (ex. Object falling, pushing gas pedal)

Front 232

Work

Back 232

Results from a force acting upon an object, causing it to change postion/move from one place to another; measured in joules

Front 233

Joules

Back 233

What work is measured in

Front 234

Energy

Back 234

Ability to do work; either potential/kinetic

Front 235

Potential energy

Back 235

Stored energy as a result of postion (ex. Roller coaster at the top of tracks)

Front 236

Gravitation

Back 236

Potential energy due to being pulled toward Earth

Front 237

Elastic potential energy

Back 237

Energy stored when object is stretched or compressed (ex. Stretched rubberband; springs)

Front 238

Kinetic energy

Back 238

Energy of motion (ex. Moving car)

Front 239

Power

Back 239

How much work is done over given period of time

Front 240

Power = work/time

Back 240

Formula for power

Front 241

Watt

Back 241

Metric unit of power; amount of energy consumed by electric device