BIOL 232 - Biology II Quiz

Outermost layer of skin, constantly renewing itself as cells are pushed outwards, keratinized, and shed.

Pigment-producing cells in the epidermis, responsible for skin color.

Deeper layer of skin, containing connective tissue, blood vessels, nerves, hair follicles, and glands.

A protective, hard structure that grows from specialized epidermal cells at the base of the nail.

A layer of loose connective tissue beneath the dermis, containing fat cells and blood vessels.

Specialized cells that generate and transmit electrical signals throughout the body.

Long, slender projections that carry signals away from the neuron's cell body.

Branching extensions that receive signals from other neurons.

Supporting cells that provide structural and functional support to neurons.

Star-shaped glial cells that provide nutrients to neurons and help regulate the brain's environment.

Glial cells that form the myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system.

The ability of neurons to regenerate after injury.

The process of nerve regeneration is limited within the brain and spinal cord, resulting in permanent loss of function if damaged in these areas.

Two or more organs working together to perform a common function.

The process by which an organism maintains its internal environment within a narrow range.

The body cavity that encloses the brain.

The body cavity that encloses the spinal cord.

The body cavity that contains the heart and lungs.

The body cavity that contains most other internal organs, including the digestive organs.

The body cavity that contains the reproductive organs, bladder, and rectum.

Glands in the skin that produce oil, which helps keep the skin and hair moisturized.

A mechanism that counteracts changes in the body to maintain homeostasis. It involves sensing a change, sending a signal to correct it, and then stopping once the balance is restored.

The digestive system breaks down food, providing nutrients for the body. It helps maintain homeostasis by supplying the building blocks for growth and repair, as well as energy.

The kidneys filter waste products, regulate blood pH, and control the amount of water and salts in the blood. They are crucial for maintaining a stable internal environment.

Hormones are chemical messengers that regulate various bodily functions. They can influence metabolic processes, growth, and even mood.

The nervous system is the body's control center. It receives information from the environment, interprets it, and sends out signals to produce responses. It's the ultimate regulator of homeostasis.

Specialized structures in the brain that regulate vital functions like temperature and blood pressure, ensuring a stable internal state.

This involves detecting a change, sending a signal to a control center, and triggering a corrective response. It's a key component of negative feedback.

A process where an event increases the likelihood of another event, amplifying the response, resulting in a cycle of increasing change.

The childbirth process is an example of this feedback mechanism. The baby's head pressing against the cervix triggers the release of oxytocin, leading to stronger contractions, which further stretch the cervix, and so on. This cycle continues until the baby is born.

This feedback mechanism does not result in a stable equilibrium state. It typically leads to a rapid escalation of the process until a specific endpoint is reached.

This feedback mechanism is less common than negative feedback, which aims to maintain a stable internal environment.

A fever can be dangerous because it can trigger an escalation of metabolic changes, further increasing the body temperature, potentially leading to serious harm.

The hypothalamus acts as the sensor and control center for regulating body temperature. It directs blood vessels to dilate or constrict to maintain a stable core temperature despite environmental changes.

A key component of negative feedback, it detects changes in the internal environment. It can be a nerve cell, a specialized cell, or a group of cells.

The desired state or target value for a specific physiological parameter. It is maintained by the feedback system.

Receives information from the sensor and compares it to the set point. It then decides what action needs to be taken to restore the desired state.

A component that carries out the corrective action to restore the desired state. It can be a muscle, a gland, or another type of cell.

The process of a feedback system returning a regulated condition to its set point.

The mechanism by which the human body regulates body temperature. It involves a negative feedback loop involving sensors, control centers, and effectors.