Biology Chapter on Waste Removal & Hormones

The kidneys are organs responsible for filtering waste products from the blood, regulating water balance, and reabsorbing essential substances like water and ions.

Nephrons are the functional units of the kidneys, responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

The endocrine system uses hormones to regulate various physiological processes throughout the body.

The hypothalamus is the brain region controlling the release of hormones from the pituitary gland.

The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolic rate, growth, and development.

The pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon, hormones that regulate blood sugar levels.

The adrenal glands produce hormones that regulate stress response, electrolyte balance, and other functions.

The ovaries (female) and testes (male) produce hormones that regulate sexual development and reproduction.

The insulating layer around an axon, composed of Schwann cells, that speeds up nerve impulse transmission by allowing signals to "jump" between gaps called Nodes of Ranvier.

The gaps between segments of the myelin sheath on an axon where the signal jumps during transmission, allowing for faster signal conduction.

The region where the axon begins, located at the junction of the cell body and the axon, where the nerve impulse is initiated.

The junction between two neurons where signals are transmitted, facilitating communication between nerve cells.

The branch-like extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons, acting as the input zone for information.

The neuron that carries sensory information from the body to the central nervous system (CNS), allowing us to feel and perceive the world.

A type of neuron located in the central nervous system responsible for processing information received from sensory neurons and transmitting signals to motor neurons.

The neuron that carries signals from the central nervous system (CNS) to muscles and glands, providing the necessary instructions for movement and responses.

A process where your body works to maintain a stable internal environment.

A type of feedback where the body responds to a change by reversing it, bringing things back to normal.

A type of feedback where the body enhances or amplifies a change, making it stronger.

The part of the brain responsible for higher-level thinking, planning, and decision-making.

The outer layer of the cerebrum, made of grey matter, which is responsible for processing information and coordinating complex functions.

The first stage of cellular respiration that occurs in the cytoplasm. It breaks down glucose into two pyruvate molecules, producing a small amount of ATP and NADH.

The process in the mitochondria where pyruvate is converted into acetyl-CoA, generating CO₂ and NADH.

Also known as the citric acid cycle. It's a series of reactions in the mitochondrial matrix that generates ATP, NADH, and FADH₂. It starts with the combination of acetyl-CoA and oxaloacetate.

The final stage of cellular respiration that occurs in the inner mitochondrial membrane. It uses the energy from NADH and FADH₂ to pump protons across the membrane, creating a proton gradient. This gradient drives ATP synthesis.

The process of cellular respiration where glucose is broken down into carbon dioxide and water, releasing energy that is stored primarily as ATP.

This process involves DNA polymerase III adding nucleotides to the newly synthesized DNA strand, building upon the DNA primer. It's continuous and works smoothly in a 5' to 3' direction.

This process involves multiple steps, where DNA polymerase I removes primers, and DNA ligase connects the Okazaki fragments to form a complete lagging strand.

The enzyme responsible for unwinding the double helix of DNA, breaking hydrogen bonds between the two strands during DNA replication. This process is crucial for exposing the template strands, allowing each strand to serve as a blueprint for building new DNA molecules.

The process where the DNA strand is read and used as a template to create a new strand of mRNA. This occurs in the nucleus.

The process where mRNA is used to create a chain of amino acids, resulting in a protein. This occurs at the ribosomes.

Photosynthesis is the process where plants use sunlight, water, and carbon dioxide to produce glucose (sugar) for energy and oxygen as a byproduct.

Chloroplasts are organelles found in plant cells where photosynthesis takes place. They contain chlorophyll, a pigment that absorbs sunlight.

The thylakoid compartment is a series of flattened sacs within a chloroplast. It's where light-dependent and light-independent reactions of photosynthesis occur.

The light-dependent reaction of photosynthesis uses light energy to split water molecules, releasing electrons and producing ATP (energy) and NADPH (electron carrier).

The light-independent reaction (Calvin cycle) uses the energy and electrons from the light-dependent reaction to convert carbon dioxide into glucose.

Movement of molecules from a region of high concentration to low concentration. It doesn't require energy and is a passive form of transport.

Uses transport proteins to facilitate the movement of molecules across the cell membrane. It's a passive process, meaning it doesn't require energy.

Movement of water molecules across a semipermeable membrane from a region of high water concentration to low water concentration. It's a passive process driven by the difference in water potential.

Movement of molecules against a concentration gradient (from low to high concentration) requires energy in the form of ATP (adenosine triphosphate).

A type of active transport that uses membrane proteins (pumps) to move ions across the cell membrane against their concentration gradient. It's crucial for maintaining the proper ion balance and electrical potential within cells.

Carbohydrates made from multiple sugar units joined together by a

glycosidic bond.

A carbohydrate made up of two sugar molecules joined by a glycosidic bond.

A type of lipid with a glycerol backbone, three fatty acid chains, and a phosphate group. It has a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tail.

A type of lipid that has four fused carbon rings.

Proteins that are enzymes have a specific 3D shape consisting of an active site where the substrate binds.