Biology Vocab

• Fick's Law

  Relationship between the different variables that affect diffusion: Rate of diffusion = (surface area x concentration difference) / thickness of membrane
• Nephron


  Long tubules in the kidney where filtration occurs and reabsorption of useful substances
• Vasodilation

  The widening of blood vessels leading to the skin surface increasing blood flow into the surface capillaries
• Stomata

  Small gaps in the leaves that allow gas exchange (of oxygen, carbon dioxide and water vapour) to occur in and out of the plant
• Progesterone

  Hormone, released by the ovaries and maintains the lining of the uterus
• Type 2 diabetes

  A condition caused by high blood sugar levels as the body cells no longer respond to insulin or too little insulin is produced
• Cardiac output

  The volume of blood pumped by the heart in one minute
• Phagocyte

  Non-specific white blood cells which engulf and digest pathogens
• BMI

  Body mass index, calculated as mass (in kg) divided by the square of their height (in m)
• Homeostasis


  The maintenance of a constant internal environment of the body at stable levels
• Mutation

  A change in the base sequence of DNA
• Genotype

  The alleles an individual has for a specific gene
• Diploid


  Nucleus containing two sets of chromosomes
• Mitosis

  process of cell division which results in two genetically identical diploid daughter cells
• Micrometer

  Unit of length, there are 1000 micrometers in 1 millimetre. The unit is μm
• ciliated epithelial cell


  Specialised cell with cilia (hair like structures) that move and sweep substances like mucus along, they are found lining the airways and reproductive tracts
• Osmosis

  The diffuse of water from an area of low solute concentration to high solute concentration across a partially permeable membrane
• Cerebellum


  Part of the brain which controls balance, coordination of movement and muscular activity
• short-sighted

  A condition where the lens is too curved so it refracts light too much and the light rays focus in front of the retina
• Urea

  Molecule produced in the liver from the break down of excess amino acids and is excreted in urine
• DNA nucleotide

  a molecule consisting of a phosphate group and a sugar with one of 4 bases attached (A, T, C or G)
• Asexual Reproduction

  Type of reproduction that involves one parent and produces genetically identical offspring
• Pathogen

  Organisms that cause disease
• Antibiotics

  Medication that inhibits the processes in bacteria so that they are killed
• Enzyme

  Biological catalyst molecule that speeds up a reaction and is produced by a living organism
• motor neurone


  cell that carries electrical impulses from relay neurones in the CNS to an effector to bring about a response
• Phenotype

  The visible characteristics of a gene displayed as a result of the interaction between genotype and environment
• anaerobic respiration

  reaction that releases a small amount of energy from glucose and does not involve oxygen, it produces lactic acid in humans
• Diffusion

  movement of molecules from an area of high concentration to an area of low concentration
• FSH

  hormone released from the pituitary gland which causes an egg to mature in the ovary