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Anatomy & Physiology Exam 1 Terminology

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  • Anatomy

    the study of the structure and shape of the body and its parts.

  • Physiology

    the study of the function of the body and how its parts work.

  • Homeostasis

    the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes.

  • Positive feedback

    amplifies a change or output in a system, moving it further from the starting state.

  • Negative feedback

    reverses a change to return the system to its set point, maintaining stability.

  • Receptor

    A receptor detects changes in the environment and sends information to the control center.

  • Control center

    The control center processes information from receptors and sends instructions to effectors.

  • Effector

    An effector carries out instructions from the control center to produce a response.

  • Atom

    An atom is the smallest unit of an element that retains its chemical properties.

  • Ion

    An ion is an atom or molecule that is charged due to losing or gaining electrons

  • Cation vs. Anion

    Cations are positively charged ions so if an ion loses an electron; anions are negatively charged ions - they gain a electron and become anion

  • Ionic bond

    An ionic bond forms when electrons are transferred between atoms, creating charged ions that attract.

  • Covalent bond

    A covalent bond forms when atoms share electrons to fill their outer shells.

  • Polar covalent bond

    A polar covalent bond occurs when electrons are shared unequally, creating partial charges.

  • Hydrogen bond

    A hydrogen bond is a weak attraction between a hydrogen atom and an electronegative atom.

  • pH

    pH measures the acidity or alkalinity of a solution on a scale from 0 to 14.

  • Buffer

    A buffer stabilizes pH by neutralizing excess acids or bases.

  • Metabolism

    Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body, including catabolism and anabolism.

  • Catabolism

    Catabolism breaks down molecules into smaller units, releasing energy.

  • Anabolism

    Anabolism builds larger molecules from smaller ones, requiring energy.

  • Carbohydrate

    Carbohydrates are organic molecules made of monosaccharides, disaccharides, or polysaccharides used for energy.

  • Lipid

    Lipids include fatty acids, triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids, important for energy storage and membranes.

  • Protein

    Proteins are polymers of amino acids linked by peptide bonds, with complex structures determining function.

  • Denature

    Denature means the loss of a protein's shape and function due to heat or pH changes.

  • Nucleic Acid

    Nucleic acids like DNA and RNA are polymers of nucleotides that store and transmit genetic information.

  • ATP

    ATP (adenosine triphosphate) is the primary energy carrier in cells.

  • Plasma membrane

    The plasma membrane is a selectively permeable barrier that controls entry and exit of substances in a cell.

  • Diffusion

    Diffusion is the passive movement of molecules from high to low concentration.

  • Osmosis

    Osmosis is the diffusion of water across a semipermeable membrane.

  • Active transport

    Active transport moves substances against their concentration gradient using energy.