Biology Chapter on Sensory Systems

The process of exchanging gases between an organism and its environment.

The process of taking air into the lungs.

The process of expelling air from the lungs.

The dome-shaped muscle that separates the chest cavity from the abdominal cavity.

The passageway for air to flow into and out of the lungs.

The pair of spongy organs in the chest that allow for gas exchange.

The amount of air that is breathed in and out per minute.

A part of the nervous system that controls automatic functions like breathing and heart rate.

A lung condition where the walls of the tiny air sacs (alveoli) in the lungs are damaged, leading to larger but less efficient air sacs, making it harder to breathe.

A lung infection, often caused by bacteria, that affects the alveoli. The air sacs become inflamed and filled with fluid and pus, making it hard to breathe.

A chronic respiratory disease where the airways become inflamed, narrowed, and produce more mucus, causing difficulty breathing.

The process by which oxygen from the air enters the bloodstream and carbon dioxide from the blood is released into the air.

A condition where the air sacs in the lungs lose their elasticity and become damaged, leading to decreased surface area for gas exchange, making it hard to exhale.

The most common cause of pneumonia is a bacterium called Streptococcus pneumoniae. However, viruses and fungi can also cause pneumonia.

An allergic response where the airways become sensitive to allergens like dust, smoke, or pollen, causing inflammation, narrowing, and difficulty breathing.

A vaccine is available to prevent pneumonia caused by Streptococcus pneumoniae, and antibiotics are used to treat infections.

The process where substances are moved from the blood into the filtrate in the renal tubule, helping to regulate blood pH and remove waste products.

The initial step in urine formation, where high blood pressure forces water, salts, glucose, and urea from the glomerular capillaries into Bowman's capsule.

The process where the filtrate is reduced to 1% of its original volume by reabsorbing water, salts, and glucose back into the blood.

The fluid that forms after glomerular filtration and before urine; it contains water, salts, glucose, and urea.

The first part of the renal tubule, responsible for reabsorbing most of the glucose and water.

The descending limb of this structure reabsorbs water, while the ascending limb reabsorbs salts.

The final part of the renal tubule, where the remaining water is absorbed.

The typical amount of urine produced by an average adult in a day.

Specialized nerve cells that carry sensory information from receptors towards the central nervous system (CNS). They have one dendrite and one axon.

Neurons found in the brain and spinal cord that receive information, process, and stimulate motor neurons. They have many dendrites and axons.

Neurons that carry signals from the CNS (brain and spinal cord) to muscles and glands (effectors), causing them to contract or secrete. They have many dendrites and one axon.

A bundle of axons from multiple neurons, covered by a lipid-based sheath. They transmit nerve impulses.

A nerve that contains only axons of sensory neurons.

A nerve that contains only axons of motor neurons.

A nerve that contains axons of both sensory and motor neurons.

A group of neuron cell bodies, often clustered together, all wrapped by a membrane. They can be found in the peripheral nervous system.

A small depression in the retina, directly opposite the lens, densely packed with cone cells, responsible for sharp, detailed vision and color perception.

The point on the retina where the optic nerve connects. It lacks rods and cones, resulting in a blind spot in our field of vision.

Light-sensitive cells in the retina responsible for detecting low light levels and providing peripheral vision.

Light-sensitive cells in the retina responsible for detecting colors and providing detailed, sharp central vision.

A layer behind the eye in some animals (like cats and dogs) that reflects light, increasing their night vision.

The transparent front part of the eye that refracts light, focusing it towards the lens.

The clear fluid filling the anterior chamber of the eye, between the cornea and the iris. It helps maintain eye shape and provides nutrients to the cornea.

The jelly-like fluid filling the posterior chamber of the eye, between the lens and the retina. It helps maintain eye shape and support the lens.

The external part of the ear, made of cartilage and covered with skin. It helps to direct sound waves into the auditory canal.

The tube that connects the pinna to the eardrum. It helps to carry sound waves to the middle ear.

A thin membrane that separates the external ear from the middle ear. It vibrates when sound waves hit it.

A small air-filled chamber behind the eardrum. It contains three tiny bones called ossicles that transmit vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear.

The inner ear is the most complex part of the ear. It consists of a fluid-filled labyrinth that contains the cochlea and the semicircular canals.

The snail-shaped part of the inner ear responsible for converting sound vibrations into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.

Three fluid-filled loops in the inner ear that help us maintain balance. They detect head movements and send signals to the brain.

The process of converting sound waves into electrical signals that are sent to the brain.