A-B

Question 1

Acquired immunity

Answer 1

The portion of the immune system that encounters foreign substances (antigens) and learns the best way to attach each antigen and begin to develop a memory for that antigen

Question 2

ACTH (adrencorticotropic hormone)

Answer 2

A polypeptide hormone produced and secreted from the anterior pituitary gland; increases release of cortisol from the adrenal cortex

Question 3

Actin

Answer 3

A thin protein that forms (together with myosin) the contractile filaments of muscle cells, and is also involved in motion in other types of cells

Question 4

Action potential

Answer 4

A temporary alteration of the transmembrane voltage (membrane potential) across the excitable membrane in a cell (such as neuron or myocyte) generated by the movement of ions through voltage-gated ion channels embedded in the membrane

Question 5

Active site

Answer 5

The portion of an enzyme that is directly involved in binding substrate(s)

Question 6

Active transport

Answer 6

The movement of a substance against its concentration gradient (from low to high concentration)

Question 7

Adaptive radiation

Answer 7

Process in which organisms diversify rapidly into a multitude of new forms, particularly when a change in the environment makes new resources available

Question 8

ADH (antidiuretic hormone)

Answer 8

A polypeptide hormone released by the posterior pituitary gland after being made in the hypothalamus. It acts to increase water reabsorption in the kidney (collecting ducts and distal convoluted tubule)

It is also a vasopressin that constricts blood vessels.

Question 9

Adipocytes

Answer 9

Cells that primarily compose adipose tissue, specialized in storing energy as fat. Also known as lipocytes and fat cells

Question 10

Agonist

Answer 10

Any chemical that binds to a receptor that activates the receptor to produce a biological response

Question 11

Albumin

Answer 11

A protein made by the liver. Its main function is to regulate the osmotic pressure of blood

Question 12

Aldosterone

Answer 12

A steroid hormone produced by the adrenal cortex. It regulates the balance of water and electrolytes in the body, by increasing sodium reabsorption (and therefore water) in the kidney (distal tubule and collecting duct). This indirectly increases BP

Question 13

Allosteric effect

Answer 13

Interactions between spatially distinct sites; usually causes a conformational change at another site (like active site)

Question 14

Amphiphatic

Answer 14

Any molecule containing both polar (water-soluble) and nonpolar (not water-soluble) portions in its structure

Question 15

Anabolic pathway

Answer 15

ATP- consuming

Question 16

Anaphase

Answer 16

The stage of mitosis when chromosomes are split and the sister chromatids move to opposite poles of the cell

Question 17

Antagonist

Answer 17

Any receptor ligand or drug that blocks or dampens agonist-mediated responses rather than provoking a biological response itself

Question 18

Anterior pituitary

Answer 18

A portion of the pituitary (master gland) that secretes hormones that influence growth, sexual development, skin pigmentation, thyroid function, and adrenocortical function

1. Growth hormone 2. thyroid stimulating hormone 3. adrenocorticotropic hormone 4. beta-endorphin 5. follicle stimulating hormone 6. luteinizing hormone 7. prolactin

Question 19

Artery

Answer 19

A thick walled vessel that carries blood high in oxygen content away from the heart to the body (except pulmonary artery)

Question 20

ATP

Answer 20

A nucleoside triphosphate used in cells as a coenzyme, often called the “currency” of intracellular energy transfer. Metabolic processes that use ATP as an energy source convert it back into is precursors

Question 21

Autonomic nervous system

Answer 21

The portion of the CNS that controls involuntary actions, such as the beating of your heart, and the widening/ narrowing of blood vessels

Question 22

Autotrophs

Answer 22

An organism that produces complex organic compounds from simple substances present in its surroundings, generally using energy from light or inorganic chemical reactions

Question 23

AV node

Answer 23

A group of specialized cardiac muscle fibers located at the center of the heart, in the floor of the atrium, between the atria and ventricles. The AV node takes the signal from the Sinoatrial Node (SA) and then sends the electrical impulses from the atria to the ventricles

Question 24

Bacilli

Answer 24

The genus of Gram-positive, rod-shaped bacteria

Question 25

Barr body

Answer 25

An inactive X chromosome in female autosomal cells

Question 26

Beta cells

Answer 26

A cell in the pancreas whose function is to store and release insulin

Question 27

Binary fission

Answer 27

Prokaryotic fission, a form of asexual reproduction and cell division used by all prokaryotes, and some organelles within eukaryotic organisms (e.g. miochondria)

Cell replicates its DNA, then pinches in the middle to form 2 daughter cells

Question 28

Blood flow pathway

Answer 28

Superior/ Inferior vena cava, right atrium, right ventricle, pulmonary artery, lungs, pulmonary veins, left atrium, left ventricle, aorta, body

Question 29

Bohr effect

Answer 29

Hemoglobin-oxygen binding affinity is inversely related to pH and CO2. Increase in CO2 leads to decrease in pH leads to hemoglobin releasing oxygen.

Increase in CO2, H+ concentration, DPG, temperature

Question 30

Bowman’s capsule

Answer 30

A thin-walled sack-like structure which surrounds the glomerulus. It serves as a filter to remove organic wastes, excess inorganic salts, and water

Question 31

Apoenzyme

Answer 31

Inactive enzyme. Needs to bind to cofactor to activate. It then becomes a holoenzyme