Maintaining A Balance (Hsc Biology)

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Active transport

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The movement of substrates across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient, a process that requires energy

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Adaptation

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When a structure, behaviour or physiological process evolves over a long period of time and helps an organism to survive and/or reproduce in a particular environment.

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Adaptive advantage

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The competitive benefit that an adaptation brings to an organism.

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ADH

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Antidiuretic hormone, also called vasopressin; this hormone is secreted from the pituitary gland and increases water retention through its action on kidney tubules.

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Aerobic respiration

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The reaction of products of glucose with oxygen to produce energy in the form of ATP.

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Aldosterone

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A hormone secreted from the adrenal gland, that regulates mineral and water metabolism by stimulating the reabsorption of sodium in the tubules of the nephron.

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Ambient temperature

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The surrounding temperature.

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Arterial blood gas analysis

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The tests done to blood collected from an artery to show concentrations of oxygen and carbon dioxide. It provides a direct measure of the efficiency of gaseous exchange in the lungs.

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Artery

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The thick-walled elastic blood vessel that carries high pressure blood from the heart.

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Biochemistry

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The study of the chemistry of living things. This includes the structure and function of the chemical components of living things such as protein and nucleic acid.

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Capillary

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A narrow thin-walled blood vessel through which substances are exchanged between blood tissues. Capillaries connect arteries to veins.

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Carbonic acid

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A weak acid that forms when carbon dioxide is dissolved in water.

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Catalase

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An enzyme found in many cells. It breaks down the toxic by-product of metabolism, hydrogen peroxide, into water and oxygen. It works well in neutral conditions.

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Caldode

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A stem that has been modified to be green and take a major role in photosynthesis. It lacks the density of stomates that occur in leaves, so reduces water loss.

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Deoxygenated blood

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Blood that has released much of the oxygen it was carrying into the tissues.

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Diffusion

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The spreading of substances that results from the random movement of particles.

It is a passive process in that it does not require additional energy.

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Ectotherms

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Animals whose body temperature aligns with the ambient temperature. These animals lack the ability to generate their own body heat.

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Enantiostasis

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The maintenance of metabolic and physiological functions in response to variations in the environment.

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Endotherms

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Animals that are able to generate their own body heat and so generally their body temperature remains constant, despite variations in the ambient temperature.

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Enzyme specificity

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The unique way in which enzymes act on a specific substrate to produce a specific product.

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Enzymes

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Organic molecules that speed up chemical reactions and, through their specificity, ensure the correct metabolic pathways.

Enzymes are always proteins.

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Estuarine

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Belonging to a tidal river mouth environment, with associated conditions of fluctuating water levels and salinity.

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Excretory system

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The organ system containing the kidney and responsible for the removal of wastes, particularly nitrogenous wastes.

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Feedback mechanism

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The way the final product of a process self-regulates the process. The process can be activated or inactivated in response to the feedback.

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Filtration (referring to the blood)

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The process of removing water, certain ions and micro molecules through a physical barrier that retains cells and blood proteins within the blood vessels.

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Reabsorption (referring to the blood)

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The passage of materials such as water and ions back into the blood vessels after filtration has occurred.

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Fludrocortisone

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A replacement hormone given to people who cannot secrete sufficient aldosterone.

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Glomerulus

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The part of a nephron which is responsible for the filtration of the blood. Cells and large protein molecules are retained in the blood but most other materials pass into the Bowman's capsule.

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Haemoglobin

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The iron-protein compound which is found in red blood cells and carries oxygen.

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Homeostasis

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The process by which organisms maintain a relatively stable internal environment.

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Immunoglobins

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The blood proteins that are carried in the plasma and are associated with fighting infection.

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Interstitial fluid

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The fluid between the tissue cells of animals.

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Kidney

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The organ responsible for filtration, reabsorption and secretion to remove nitrogenous wastes and achieve water and salt balance in many animals.

It consists of an outer cortex, central medulla and inner pelvis that connects to the ureter.

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Longitudinal

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Running up and down the length of something, e.g. a plant stem

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Metabolism

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The chemical processes occurring within a living organism. It is controlled by enzymes.

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Nephron

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The functional unit of the kidneys

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Nervous system

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The system that co-ordinates activities in animals by way of electrochemical messages that are transmitted rapidly along nerve cells.

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Nitrogenous wastes

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Ammonia, urea, uric acid and triethylamine oxide.

These form in different organisms as waste products from the metabolism of proteins.

They vary in toxicity and solubility.

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Osmoconformation

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The process by which the composition of body fluids changes with the external environment.

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Osmoregulation

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The process by which the composition of body fluids remains constant, despite any changes to the external environment.

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Osmosis

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The movement of water through a semi-permeable membrane from where it is highly concentrated to where it occurs in lesser concentration. It is a passive form of transport.

Larger molecules are generally unable to pass through the membrane.

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Oxygenated blood

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Blood that has come from the lungs and contains a high proportion of oxyhaemoglobin.

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Passive transport

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The movement of materials that does not require the expenditure of energy. It occurs by physical processes such as diffusion or osmosis.

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Pepsin

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The product of pepsinogen and hydrochloric acid, both produced by the stomach lining. It is a digestive enzyme that breaks proteins into peptides. It works best at a pH of 2.

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Perflurochemicals

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Synthetic materials that can carry oxygen and have been researched as a blood substitute. They do not mix with blood so they have to be emulsified.

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pH

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A measure of the acidity of a solution, ranging from 0 to 14, where pH 7 is neutral and less than 7 is acidic.

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Phloem

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The living tissues in plants responsible for the transport of sugars. They are found below the cortex, in bundles around the stem.

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Phyllode

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A leaf stalk that has been modified to carry out the major role of photosynthesis without having the density of stomates, therefore leading to water loss at a lower rate than that for a leaf.

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Plasma

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The yellow coloured liquid component of blood that carries the cells in suspension.

It makes up 55% of the blood and consists of water, blood proteins and inorganic electrolytes (e.g. sodium, potassium and chloride ions)

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Platelets

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Also known as thrombocytes.

The cell fragments circulating in the blood that are involved in blood clotting.

They do not contain a nucleus and survive for 8-10 days.

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Pulse oximetry

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Use of a non-invasive device that fits onto a fingertip or earlobe and measures light absorption by haemoglobin. It gives the percentage of haemoglobin in the blood that is saturated with oxygen.

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Receptors

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Special cells that detect a stimulus, e.g. light

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Red blood cells

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Also known as erythrocytes.

The most common type of blood cell; those which carry haemoglobin.

They are disc shaped, with no nucleus, and 7 microns in diameter, on average.

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Respiratory system

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The organ system that includes the lungs and is responsible for the exchange of gases.

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Response

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The immediate reaction to a stimulus, often through behaviour or physiology.

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Solvent

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A substance that dissolves other substances (solutes).

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Substrate

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A molecule acted upon by an enzyme.

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Sucrase

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Also called invertase.

An enzyme that acts on the substrate sucrose to produce glucose and fructose.

(As both of the products are reducing sugars, and sucrose is not, Benedict's solution can be used to show that sucrase has worked.)

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Transverse

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Running directly across (perpendicular to the longitudinal axis).

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Universal indicator

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An indicator that changes colours over a wide range of pH values, so that it can be used to detect the acidity of a solution.

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Vein

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A thin-walled vessel of large diameter that carries low-pressure blood from capillaries back to the heart.

A vein contain valves to stop the backward flow of blood, and often relies on surrounding muscles to support the movement of blood.

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White blood cells

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Also known as leucocytes.

These make up 1% of blood, and are the cells responsible for fighting infection. There are various types and they range from 9-15 microns in size.

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Xylem

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The non-living tissue responsible for carrying water and dissolved minerals from the roots up through the plant.

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Leucocytes

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White blood cells.

These make up 1% of blood, and are the cells responsible for fighting infection. There are various types and they range from 9-15 microns in size.

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Invertase

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Sucrase.

An enzyme that acts on the substrate sucrose to produce glucose and fructose.

(As both of the products are reducing sugars, and sucrose is not, Benedict's solution can be used to show that sucrase has worked.)

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Erythrocytes

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Red blood cells.

The most common type of blood cell; those which carry haemoglobin.

They are disc shaped, with no nucleus, and 7 microns in diameter, on average.

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Thrombocytes

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Platelets.

The cell fragments circulating in the blood that are involved in blood clotting.

They do not contain a nucleus and survive for 8-10 days.

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Vasopressin

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ADH, or antidiuretic hormone

This hormone is secreted from the pituitary gland and increases water retention through its action on kidney tubules.