SL Biology - Topic 6: Human Physiology (copy)

the process in which relatively large, insoluble molecules are broken down into smaller, soluble molecules that can be absorbed

the channel or passage through which food flows through the body, starting at the mouth and ending at the anus

produce substances that are needed for digestion to occur, such as enzymes and bile

a series of muscle contractions in the walls of the esophagus or small intestine that pass like a wave along the alimentary canal to force a bolus of food along

contract to reduce the diameter of the lumen preventing food from moving backwards towards the mouth

contract to reduce the length of the lumen section to force food forwards

amylase, lipase, phospholipase and protease

specialized gland cells in clusters at the end of ducts within the pancreas which produce and secrete enzymes

pancreatic cells which produce the hormones glucagon and insulin

the movement of digested food molecules, vitamins and mineral ions from the digestive system into the blood and lymph

thick walled structures which transport blood away from the heart at high pressure

branch off from arteries forming narrower blood vessels to transport blood into capillaries

one cell thick structures with a small diameter which provide the exchange surface in the tissues of the body through a network of vessels

structures with a wide diameter and valves which transport blood towards the heart at low pressure

connect the capillaries to the veins with few or no elastic fibers and a large lumen

a hollow. muscular organ located in the chest cavity

a wall of muscular tissue which separates the left and right sides of the heart

valve separating the atria and ventricles

valve separating the ventricles and arteries which leave the heart

valve separating the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery

valve separating the left ventricle and the aorta

two blood vessels bringing blood to the heart

two blood vessels taking blood away from the heart

the contraction of the heart

the relaxation of the heart

the period when the atria are contracting, forcing blood from the atria into the ventricles

the period when the ventricles are contracting, and blood is forced from the ventricles into the pulmonary artery and aorta

a group of cells in the wall of the right atrium which initiate the heart beat

the series of events that take place in one heartbeat controlled by electrical signals which are initiated in the sinoatrial node

an enzyme which catalyzes the conversion of the soluble protein fibrinogen into fibrin

white blood cells which are produced continuously in the bone marrow and are responsible for removing dead cells and invasive microorganisms

protein molecules on the cell membranes of pathogens

white blood cells which clone themselves to produce plasma cells which are capable of mass antibody production.

cells which remain in the blood for long periods of time to give immunity as they can rapidly produce antibodies after secondary infection as they activate and divide to produce plasma cells

drugs which inhibit the growth of microorganisms as they block specific processes that occur in prokaryotic cells

the replacement of older air in the lungs with fresh air from the body’s external environment

extremely thin alveolar cells which make up the majority of the alveolar epithelium adapted to maximize the rate of gas exchange

rounded cells which secrete a solution that coats the epithelium of the alveoli which contains pulmonary surfactant which reduces surface tension

a tube which carries air through the nose and mouth to the lungs, supported by rings of cartilage which allows it to move and flex within the body.

the process of breathing in which causes the volume of the chest to increase and the air pressure to decrease

the process of breathing out caused by the recoil of the lungs after they have been stretched by inspiration as the volume of the chest decreases and pressure increases

nerve cells which pass along electric impulses to coordinate and regulate body functions

cells which wrap themselves around the axon forming a structure known as a myelin sheath which has a high electrical resistance

the process of electrical impulses jumping from one node to the next, greatly speeding up the rate of transmission along myelinated neurons

a momentary reversal in the electric potential difference across the neuron cell surface membrane

the membrane potential within a resting neuron

a neuron at it’s resting potential

the reversal of the electric potential difference across the neuron membrane

the charge at which an action potential has been generated

the movement of potassium ions out of the axon causing the inside of the axon to become negatively charged again

the short period during which the membrane potential is more negative than the resting potential

the period during which the membrane is hyperpolarized

the structure formed at the end of two neurons along with the synaptic cleft

the small gap between where two neurons meet

a key neurotransmitter used throughout the nervous system produced in the presynaptic neuron

synthetic compounds similar to nicotine that are commonly found in pesticides which block synaptic transmission at cholinergic synapses in insects

a chemical substance produced by an endocrine gland and carried by the blood

an organ found in the abdomen of mammals which functions as both an endocrine and exocrine gland

the production of digestive enzymes to be delivered to the small intestine

the productions of the hormones glucagon and insulin

a hormone secreted by fat storage cells known as adipose cells which targets cells in the hypothalamus that are responsible for controlling appetite

the hormone which is secreted by the pineal gland in response to darkness

the gene which determines that the embryonic gonads will develop into testes

the series of changes that take place in the female body leading up to and following the release of an egg from the ovaries

a follicle after it releases the egg at ovulation and becoming an empty follicle

follicle stimulating hormone produced in the pituitary gland

Luteinizing hormone produced in the pituitary gland

produced by the egg follicle and the corpus luteum after ovulation

produced by the corpus luteum