Chapter 1: Cellular Function Key Terms

Front 1

Active Transport

Back 1

The movement of a substance from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration, against a concentration gradient.

Front 2

Adaptation

Back 2

Method by which cells attempt to prevent their own death from environmental changes. They may modify their size, numbers, or types in an attempt to manage these changes and maintain homeostasis.

Front 3

Allele

Back 3

One gene that may have many variants, which determines a characteristic.

Front 4

Anaphase

Back 4

Phase of mitosis in which chromosomes separate and move to opposite poles.

Front 5

Anaplasia

Back 5

The loss of differentiation that occurs with cancer.

Front 6

Apoptosis

Back 6

Mechanism of programmed cell death that occurs because of morphologic changes.

Front 7

Atrophy

Back 7

State that occurs because of decreased work demands on a cell. when cellular work demands decrease, the cells decrease in size and number.

Front 8

Autosomal Dominant

Back 8

Type of disorder in which a single gene mutation is passed from an affected parent to an offspring regardless of sex. Autosomal dominant disorders occur with homozygous and heterozygous allele pairs.

Front 9

Autosomal Recessive

Back 9

Type of disorder in which single gene mutations are passed from an affected parent to an offspring regardless of sex, but they occur only in homozygous allele pairs.

Front 10

Autosome

Back 10

A paired set of chromosomes in DNA.

Front 11

Benign

Back 11

Near-normal, differentiated condition of a cell or tumor, which causes fewer problems than an abnormal cell or tumor. Benign cells are usually encapsulated and are unable to metastasize.

Front 12

Cancer

Back 12

The disease state associated with uncontrolled cellular growth. Key features include rapid, uncontrolled proliferation and a loss of differentiation.

Front 13

Carcinogenesis

Back 13

The process by which cancer develops. It occurs in three phases: initiation, promotion, and progression.

Front 14

Caseous Necrosis

Back 14

Type of necrosis that occurs when the necrotic cells disintegrate, but the cellular debris remains for months or years.

Front 15

Cell Membrane

Back 15

The semipermeable boundary containing the cell and its components.

Front 16

Chromosome

Back 16

A nucleotide in DNA.

Front 17

Coagulative Necrosis

Back 17

Type of necrosis that usually results as an interruption in blood flow.

Front 18

Congenital

Back 18

Conditions involving defects or damage to a developing fetus.

Front 19

Crenation

Back 19

Shrinkage of a cell as a result of too much water moving out of the cell.

Front 20

Curative

Back 20

A goal of treatment aimed at eradicating disease.

Front 21

Cytoplasm

Back 21

A colorless, viscous liquid inside the cell that contains water, nutrients, ions, dissolved gases, and waste products where the cellular work takes place.

Front 22

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

Back 22

Genetic information.

Front 23

Differentiation

Back 23

A process by which cells become specialized in terms of cell type, function, structure, and cell cycle. This process does not begin until approximately 15-60 days after the sperm and ova unite.

Front 24

Diffusion

Back 24

The movement of solutes (particles dissolved in a solvent) from an area of higher concentration to lower concentration.

Front 25

Dominant

Back 25

More powerful. In genetics, the dominant allele is more likely to be expressed in the offspring than the recessive one.

Front 26

Dry Gangrene

Back 26

Type of gangrene that occurs when bacterial presence is minimal, and the skin has a dry, dark brown, or black appearance.

Front 27

Dysplasia

Back 27

The final cellular adaptation, in which cells mutate into cells of a different size, shape, and appearance.

Front 28

Electrolyte

Back 28

A chemical that is a charged conductor when it is dissolved in water.

Front 29

Endocytosis

Back 29

The act of bringing a substance into a cell.

Front 30

Enzyme

Back 30

Protein that facilitates chemical reactions in cells.

Front 31

Exocytosis

Back 31

The release of materials from a cell, usually with the assistance of a vesicle.

Front 32

Facilitated Diffusion

Back 32

The movement of substances from an area of lower concentration to an area of higher concentration with the assistance of a carrier molecule.

Front 33

Fat Necrosis

Back 33

Type of necrosis that occurs when lipase enzymes break down intracellular triglycerides into free fatty acids.

Front 34

Free Radicals

Back 34

Injurious, unstable agents that can cause cell death.

Front 35

Gangrene

Back 35

A form of coagulative necrosis that has a combination of impaired blood flow and bacterial invasion.

Front 36

Gas Gangrene

Back 36

Type of gangrene that develops because of Clostridium, an anaerobic bacterium. This type of gangrene is the most serious and has the most potential for being fatal.

Front 37

Gene

Back 37

A segment of deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) that serves as a template of protein synthesis.

Front 38

Genetics

Back 38

The study of heredity--the passage of physical, biochemical, and physiologic traits from biological parents to their children.

Front 39

Glucose

Back 39

A sugar molecule that provides energy.

Front 40

Grading

Back 40

A system that determines the degree of differentiation on a scale of 1 to 4 in order of clinical severity.

Front 41

Heterozygous

Back 41

Allele pair in which one is dominant and the other is recessive for a particular gene.

Front 42

Homozygous

Back 42

Identical allele pair for a particular gene.

Front 43

Hyperplasia

Back 43

An increase in the number of cells in an organ or tissue. This increase only occurs in cells that have the ability to perform mitotic division, such as epithelial cells.

Front 44

Hypertrophy

Back 44

Condition that occurs when cells increase in size in an attempt to meet increased work demand. This change may be a result of normal or abnormal changes.

Front 45

Initiation

Back 45

Phase of carcinogenesis in which the exposure of the cell to a substance or event causes DNA damage or mutation.

Front 46

Ischemia

Back 46

Decreased blood flow to tissue or an organ. It essentially strangles the tissue or organ by limiting necessary nutrients and oxygen.

Front 47

Karyotype

Back 47

A representation of a person's individual set of chromosomes.

Front 48

Lipid Bilayer

Back 48

A fatty double covering that makes up the membrane of a cell. The interior surface of the bilayer is uncharged and primarily lipids. The exterior surface of teh bilayer is charged and is less fatty than the interior surface.

Front 49

Liquefaction Necrosis

Back 49

Type of necrosis that occurs when caustic enzymes dissolve and liquefy necrotic cells.

Front 50

Lysis

Back 50

Bursting of a cell that occurs if too much water enters the cell membrane, causing excessive swelling.

Front 51

Malignant

Back 51

State of a tumor that is usually made up of undifferentiated, non-functioning cells that are reproducing rapidly. Malignant tumors often penetrate surrounding tissue and spread to secondary sites.

Front 52

Meiosis

Back 52

A form of cell division that occurs only in mature sperm and ova.

Front 53

Metaphase

Back 53

Phase of mitosis in which the spindle fibers attach to centromeres and chromosomes align.

Front 54

Metaplasia

Back 54

The process of one adult cell being replaced by another cell type.

Front 55

Mitosis

Back 55

The most common form of cell division, where the cell divides into two separate cells. In mitosis, the division of one cell results in two genetically identical and equal daughter cells. This process occurs in four phases: prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Front 56

Multifactorial Disorders

Back 56

A result of an interaction between genes and environmental factors. Such a disorder does not follow a clear-cut pattern of inheritance. Multifactorial disorders may be present at birth, as with cleft lip or palate, or they may be expressed later in life, as with hypertension.

Front 57

Necrosis

Back 57

A cell's inability to survive due to the extent of damage.

Front 58

Neoplasm

Back 58

A cellular growth that is no loner responding to normal regulator processes, usually because of a mutation. Also called a tumor.

Front 59

Nucleotide

Back 59

Molecules that join together to form RNA and DNA.

Front 60

Nucleus

Back 60

The control center of the cell, which contains all the genetic information (DNA) for the cell and is surrounded by a double membrane. The nucleus regulates cell growth, metabolism, and reproduction.

Front 61

Oncogene

Back 61

Gene that activates cell division and influences embryonic development.

Front 62

Organelle

Back 62

An internal cellular structure. Organelles perform the work that maintains the cell's life.

Front 63

Osmosis

Back 63

The movement of water or another solvent across the cellular membrane from an area of low solute concentration to an area of high solute concentration.

Front 64

Osmotic Pressure

Back 64

The tendency of water to move by osmosis.

Front 65

Palliative

Back 65

A goal of treatment aimed at increasing comfort.

Front 66

Phagocytosis

Back 66

Endocytosis that involves solid particles. Also called cell eating.

Front 67

Phenotype

Back 67

The outwardly, physical expression of genes, such as eye color.

Front 68

Pinocytosis

Back 68

Endocytosis that involves a liquid. Also called cell drinking.

Front 69

Plasma Membrane

Back 69

The semipermeable boundary of a cell containing the cell and its components. Also called cell membrane.

Front 70

Prognosis

Back 70

An individual's likelihood of surviving, making a full recovery, or regaining normal functioning after developing a disease.

Front 71

Programmed Cell Death

Back 71

The process of eliminating unwanted cells.

Front 72

Progression

Back 72

Phase of carcinogenesis in which the tumor invades, metastasizes, and becomes drug resistant. It is the final phase of carcinogenesis, and it is irreversible.

Front 73

Proliferation

Back 73

The regulated process by which cells divide and reproduce.

Front 74

Promotion

Back 74

Phase of carcinogenesis in which the mutated cells are exposed to factors that promote growth. It may occur just after initiation or years later, and it can be reversible if the promoting factors are removed.

Front 75

Prophase

Back 75

Phase of mitosis in which the chromosomes condense and the nuclear membrane disintegrates.

Front 76

Prophylactic

Back 76

Goal of treatment aimed at preventing disease.

Front 77

Protoplasm

Back 77

A colorless, viscous liquid containing water, nutrients, ions, dissolved gases, and waste products where the cellular work takes place. Also called cytoplasm.

Front 78

Recessive

Back 78

Less influential. In genetics, the recessive allele is less likely to be expressed in the offspring than the dominant one.

Front 79

Remission

Back 79

Disease state that occurs when the manifestations subside.

Front 80

Selectively Permeable

Back 80

Condition that allows a cell to maintain internal balance and homeostasis.

Front 81

Sex-Linked

Back 81

Type of genetic disorder that is caused by genes located on the sex chromosomes.

Front 82

Telophase

Back 82

Phase of mitosis in which chromosomes arrive at each pole and new membranes are formed.

Front 83

Teratogens

Back 83

A birth defect-causing agent.

Front 84

TNM Staging

Back 84

Method of expressing the extent of cancer by evaluating the tumor size, nodal involvement, and metastatic progress.

Front 85

Tumor

Back 85

A cellular growth that is no longer responding to normal regulator processes. Also called a neoplasm.

Front 86

Wet Gangrene

Back 86

Type of gangrene that occurs with liquefaction necrosis. Extensive damage from bacteria and white blood cells produce a liquid wound.