Biology Final Exam Quiz

Characteristics that distinguish living entities, such as metabolism, growth, reproduction, response to stimuli, and organization.

A necessary element for all living organisms to function. Sunlight, chemicals, etc. provide this.

Groups of organs working together to perform specific tasks like digestion, circulation, etc. in the human body

The basic structural and functional unit in living organisms.

A group of similar cells performing a specific function.

A structure composed of different tissues working together for a special function in the body.

A living thing that consists of a complex collection of organs that function together.

A standard reference position for describing body locations and directions, with the body upright, facing forward, arms at the sides, and palms forward.

Proteins are made of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds, and have different levels of organization, including primary, secondary, tertiary, and quaternary structure.

Nucleic acids are composed of nucleotides, including a sugar, phosphate, and a nitrogenous base. DNA forms a double helix. RNA forms a single helix.

DNA is a double helix with A&T base pairs and C&G base pairs.

RNA is a single helix made from a DNA template and uses A&U, C&G base pairs.

Carbohydrates have a carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen ratio of 1:2:1.

Simple carbohydrates are made of one or two monosaccharides.

Complex carbohydrates are made up of many monosaccharides.

Triglycerides include 3 fatty acids and 1 glycerol backbone.

The first stage of meiosis where homologous chromosomes pair up and exchange genetic material (crossing over) before aligning at the center of the cell.

Paired homologous chromosomes align at the center of the cell (equatorial plate) in preparation for separation.

Homologous chromosomes separate from each other and move towards opposite poles of the cell.

Individual chromosomes arrive at the poles and the cell begins to divide, forming two daughter cells.

Different versions of a gene, one inherited from each parent, creating a pair for each gene.

When both alleles for a specific gene are the same, like having two identical shoes.

When the two alleles for a gene are different, like having one black shoe and one brown shoe.

The observable characteristics of an organism, the outward expression of the genes, like eye color or hair color.

The part of the autonomic nervous system that promotes "rest and digest" responses, conserving energy and maintaining normal bodily functions, like lowering heart rate and stimulating digestion.

An individual nerve cell that transmits electrical signals (action potentials) for communication.

Bundles of axons from multiple neurons, wrapped in connective tissue. They carry nerve impulses between the CNS and the body.

The metabolic center of a neuron; contains the nucleus and organelles; integrates incoming signals.

Receive electrical signals from other neurons or sensory receptors.

Transmits electrical impulses away from the cell body.

Insulates the axon and increases the speed of signal transmission.

Gaps in the myelin sheath that facilitate rapid signal conduction through saltatory conduction.

The nervous system is responsible for detecting sensory stimuli, analyzing and integrating information, responding to internal and external changes, regulating body systems (homeostasis), triggering reflexes, and enabling learning, memory, and emotions.

The CNS consists of the brain and spinal cord, serving as the control center for the body's nervous system. It receives sensory information, integrates and processes it, and sends out commands to muscles and glands.

ATP binds to the myosin head, causing it to detach from actin. This is the first step in the muscle relaxation process. The energy released from ATP hydrolysis re-energizes the myosin head for the next contraction cycle.

Calcium ions bind to troponin, causing a conformational change in tropomyosin. This exposes the myosin-binding sites on actin, allowing myosin to attach and initiate the power stroke of muscle contraction. Without calcium, the myosin binding sites on actin remain blocked and the muscle cannot contract.

The power stroke is the movement of the myosin head as it pulls the actin filament, shortening the sarcomere and causing muscle contraction. It occurs as myosin hydrolyzes ATP, releasing energy, and the myosin head changes its shape, pivoting and sliding the actin filament past it.

Muscle relaxation occurs when calcium ions are pumped back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum, causing tropomyosin to cover the myosin binding sites on the actin filament again. This prevents further interaction between myosin and actin, allowing the muscle to relax.

A sarcomere is the basic unit of a muscle fiber, consisting of repeating units of actin (thin) and myosin (thick) filaments. It is the functional unit of muscle contraction. The shortening of sarcomeres causes muscle contraction.

Actin, the thin filament, provides the binding sites for myosin to attach. Myosin, the thick filament, utilizes the energy from ATP to pull on the actin filament, causing the sarcomere to shorten and produce muscle contraction.

The end of an axon where neurotransmitters are released to communicate with other neurons or cells.

The junction between neurons where communication occurs through neurotransmitter release.

A type of glial cell that supports neurons, regulates the environment around them, and helps maintain the blood-brain barrier.

A glial cell that creates a myelin sheath around axons in the central nervous system, speeding up nerve impulses.

Glial cells that act as the immune defense of the central nervous system, cleaning up debris and fighting infections.

Glial cells that produce and circulate cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), a fluid that protects the brain and spinal cord.

A protein that pumps sodium ions out of and potassium ions into the neuron, creating an electrochemical gradient essential for nerve impulse generation and resting membrane potential.

The electrical charge difference across the neuron's membrane when it's not actively sending a signal, maintained by the sodium-potassium pump.

Prokaryotes are much smaller than eukaryotes.

Prokaryotes have a simple structure with cytoplasm, ribosomes, and a nucleoid region.

Eukaryotes have a more complex structure with a phospholipid bilayer membrane, cytoplasm, cytoskeleton, ribosomes, and membrane-bound organelles.

The nucleus is the control center of the cell, storing DNA and regulating cellular activity.

The endoplasmic reticulum has two types: rough ER for protein synthesis and smooth ER for carbohydrate and lipid synthesis.

Golgi bodies collect, package, and distribute molecules made in the cell.

Mitochondria are responsible for energy production in the cell, generating ATP.

Peroxisomes are small organelles responsible for breaking down fatty acids and detoxifying harmful substances.

Controls voluntary movements of skeletal muscles and receives sensory information from the body.

Controls involuntary functions like heart rate, digestion, and breathing.

Part of the ANS that prepares the body for 'fight or flight' responses during stress or danger.

The somatic nervous system controls voluntary movements, while the autonomic nervous system controls involuntary functions like heart rate and breathing.

The sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems

Increased heart rate, dilated pupils, and sweating.

The body's control center, consisting of all the nerves, it's responsible for communication, sensation, movement, and thought.

Includes all the nerves outside the CNS, connecting the brain and spinal cord to the rest of the body.

Processes sensory information, controls movement, regulates bodily functions like breathing and heart rate, and enables thinking, emotions, and memory.

A pathway for communication between the brain and the rest of the body. It also controls reflexes and processes some basic information.

Nerves that originate from the brain and control functions like facial expressions, taste, smell, and vision.

Nerves that originate from the spinal cord and control the sensory and motor functions of the limbs and trunk.

Nerves that carry information from sensory receptors to the CNS, like when you touch something hot.

Plasma carries nutrients, hormones, oxygen, and waste products throughout the body.

Plasma is made up of water, dissolved ions, proteins, vitamins, nutrients, hormones, and gases like oxygen and carbon dioxide.

Different blood types have specific antigens and antibodies. Transfusions must be compatible to avoid immune reactions.

Type O blood has no antigens, but has antibodies against both A and B antigens.

Type AB blood has both A and B antigens and no antibodies.

The right atrium receives deoxygenated blood from the body through the superior and inferior vena cava.

The heart pumps blood throughout the body. The chambers work together: Atria receive blood, ventricles pump blood.

The left ventricle pumps oxygenated blood to the body.

The flow of deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation and back to the heart.

The flow of oxygenated blood from the heart to all tissues of the body, delivering oxygen and nutrients, and returning deoxygenated blood to the heart.

The pacemaker of the heart, initiating heartbeats and setting the pace of heart contractions.

A component of the heart's electrical conduction system that delays the signal from the atria to the ventricles, ensuring proper timing for contraction.

The right ventricle pumps deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs for oxygenation.

The left atrium receives oxygenated blood from the lungs and pumps it into the left ventricle.

The valve between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery, preventing blood from flowing back into the ventricle.

The valve between the left atrium and left ventricle, preventing blood from flowing back into the atrium.

The valve between the right atrium and right ventricle, preventing blood from flowing back into the atrium.

The left ventricle is the strongest chamber, pumping oxygenated blood to the rest of the body.

Blood vessels carrying deoxygenated blood from the heart to the lungs.