General Study Techniques Quiz

Specialized cells in bone responsible for bone formation (building). They secrete organic components of the extracellular matrix and initiate calcification by removing calcium from the blood and depositing it in the matrix.

Mature bone cells responsible for maintaining and regulating bone remodeling in response to mechanical stress. They reside in the matrix they helped create.

Cells responsible for bone resorption, dissolving the bone matrix to release calcium back into the bloodstream. Derived from blood stem cells.

The strong, slightly flexible material that makes up bone tissue, composed of an organic and inorganic component.

Dense, outer layer of bone with organized units called osteons. This type of bone handles stress very well in one direction.

Lightweight, inner layer of bone containing interconnected beams called trabeculae. This type of bone resists stress from multiple directions.

A continuous process that involves the breakdown and rebuilding of bone tissue, helping to maintain bone strength and adapt to mechanical stress.

The outermost layer of the eye, it provides structural support and protection.

The clear, dome-shaped front part of the eye. It refracts light to help focus it onto the retina.

The middle layer of the eye, it contains blood vessels that supply nutrients to the eye.

A circular muscle that controls the size of the pupil, regulating the amount of light entering the eye.

The inner layer of the eye, containing photoreceptor cells (rods and cones) that detect light and convert it into electrical signals.

When ion channels open in response to a specific molecule binding.

When ion channels open due to physical forces like touch or pressure.

A change in membrane potential that makes the inside of the cell less negative, due to increased sodium permeability.

Process where a cell's membrane potential returns back to its resting state after depolarization.

A change in membrane potential that makes the inside of the cell more negative, due to increased potassium permeability.

Local changes in membrane potential that can vary in strength depending on the stimulus.

A type of graded potential that causes depolarization, making it more likely for a neuron to fire an action potential.

A type of graded potential that causes hyperpolarization, making it less likely for a neuron to fire an action potential.

A type of summation where multiple presynaptic neurons contribute to the postsynaptic neuron's membrane potential.

A type of summation where repeated stimulation from a single presynaptic neuron leads to a stronger signal at the postsynaptic neuron.

An uneven distribution of ions (like sodium (Na+) and potassium (K+)) between the inside and outside of a cell. For example, there's typically more Na+ outside the cell and more K+ inside.

The movement of ions across a cell membrane against their concentration gradient (from low concentration to high concentration). This requires energy, usually supplied by ATP.

A protein embedded in the cell membrane that uses energy (ATP) to pump sodium ions (Na+) out of the cell and potassium ions (K+) into the cell. This helps maintain the ionic gradient.

The difference in electrical charge across a cell membrane caused by the uneven distribution of ions. This is measured in millivolts (mV).

The electrical potential difference across the cell membrane that would perfectly balance (cancel out) the concentration gradient of a specific ion. No net movement of that ion would occur.

The combination of electrical gradient and concentration gradient for a specific ion across a cell membrane. It's a combined force

The membrane potential of a cell at rest (not actively signaling). It's typically around -70 mV, meaning the inside of the cell is more negative than the outside.

A type of ion channel that allows ions to move across the membrane passively, following their electrochemical gradient. They are always open.

An ion channel that opens and closes in response to changes in the membrane potential. They open when the cell becomes more positive (depolarizes).

Ionotropic receptors are ion channel receptors that allow ions to flow across the membrane when a neurotransmitter binds. This causes rapid, short-lived changes in membrane potential.

Metabotropic receptors work indirectly by activating a G protein, which then triggers a cascade of intracellular events. These changes are slower but can have longer-lasting effects.

The senses that are distributed throughout the body and provide information like pain, temperature, touch, and pressure are called general senses.

Pain receptors that detect damaging stimuli.

Temperature receptors that detect changes in temperature.

Mechanoreceptors respond to touch, pressure, and proprioception - the sense of body position.

Specialized senses such as smell, taste, sight, balance, and hearing.

The specific area of the sensory surface that a sensory receptor is sensitive to. It determines the ability to discriminate between similar stimuli.

A graded electrical signal that occurs when a sensory receptor is stimulated. Its strength depends on the intensity of the stimulus.

The ability of the nervous system to identify the precise location of a stimulus. Smaller receptive fields allow for higher resolution because they have a higher density of receptors.