Term
|
Definition
| Rapid evolutionary diversification within one lineage, producing numerous descendant species with a wide range of a adaptive forms. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A trait found in ancestors. |
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Term
Background Extinction
(Compare with mass extinction) |
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Definition
| The average rate of low-level extinction that has occured continuously throughout much of evolutionary history. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A part of a phylogentic tree that represents populations through time. |
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Term
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Definition
| The rapid diversification of animal body types that began about 543 million years ago and continued for approximately 40 million years. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of fossil, formed when the decay of a body part leaves a void that is then filled with minerals that later harden. |
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Term
Cenozoic Era
(Age of Mammals) |
|
Definition
| The most recent period of geologic time, beginning 65 million years ago during which mammals became the dominant vertebrates and angiosperms became the dominant plants. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In a common cladistic usage, a monophyletic group is a taxon which forms a clade, meaning that it consists of an ancestral species and all its descendants. |
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Term
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Definition
| A method for constructing a phylogenetic tree that is based on identifying the unique traits of each monophyletic group. |
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Term
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Definition
| The independent evolution of analogous traits in distantly related organisms due to adaptation to similar environments and a similar way of life. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A trait that is clearly homologous with a trait found in an ancestor, but which has a new form. |
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Term
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Definition
| All the animals characteristic of a particular region, period, or environment. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any trace of an organism that existed in the past. Includes tracks, burrows, fossilized bones, casts, etc. |
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Term
|
Definition
| All of the fossils that have been found anywhere on Earth and that have been formally described in the scientific literature. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Similarity among organisms of different species due to convergent evolution. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The extinction of a large number of diverse evolutionary groups during a relatively short period of geologic time (about 1 million years). May occur due to a sudden and extraordinary environmental changes. |
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Term
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Definition
| The period of geological time, from 250 million to 65 million years ago, during which gymnosperms were the dominant plants and dinosaurs the dominant vertebrates. Ended with the extinction of the dinosaurs. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The particular set of habitat requirements of a certain species and the role that species plays in its ecosystem. |
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Term
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Definition
| In a phylogenetic tree, the point where two branches diverge, representing the point in time when an ancestral group split into two or more descendant groups. |
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Term
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Definition
| A taxon that is closely related to a particular monophyletic group but is not part of it. |
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Term
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Definition
| Scientists who study the fossil record and the history of life. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The period of geologic time, from 543 million to 250 million years ago, during which fungi, land plants, and animals first appeared and diversified. Began with the Cambrian explosion and ended with the extinction of many invertebrates and vertebrates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The logical principle that the most likely explanation of a phenomenon is the most economical or simplest. When applied to comparison of alternative phylogenetic trees, it suggests that the one requiring the fewest evolutionary changes is most likely to be correct. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A method for constructing a phylogenetic tree by computing a statistic that summarizes the overall similarity among populations, based on the available data. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A diagram that depicts the evolutionary history of a groupd of species and the relationships among them. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The evolutionary history of a group of organisms. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The interval between the formation of the Earth, about 4.6 billion years ago, and the appearance of most animal groups about 543 million years ago. Unicellular organisms were dominant for most of this era, and oxygen was virtually absent for the first 2 billion years. |
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Term
| Short Interspersed Nuclear Elements (SINES) |
|
Definition
| The second most abundant class of transposable elements in human genomes; can create copies of itself and insert them elsewhere in the genome. Are much short than LINEs, which move by a similar mechanism. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A shared, derived trait found in two or more taxa that is present in their most recent common ancestor but is missing in more distant ancestors. Useful for inferring evolutionary relationships. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The end of a branch on a phylogenetic tree. Represents a specific species or larger taxon that has not (yet) produced descendants - either a group living today or a groupd that ended in extinction. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal that lacks an internal body cavity (coelom). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A sexually mature individual. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A member of a major lineage of eukaryotes (anamalia) whose members typically have a complex, large, multicellular body, eat other organisms, and are mobile. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In a multicellular animal, the end of the digestive tract where wastes are expelled. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Living at the bottom of an aquatic environment. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal body pattern in which there is one plane of symmetry dividing the body into a left side and a right side. Typically, the body is long and narrow, with a distinct head end and tail end. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A member of a major lineage of animals (bilateria) that are bilaterally symmetrical at some point in their life cycle, have three embryonic germ layers, and have a coelom. All protosomes and deuterostomes are bilaterians. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The basic architecture of an animal's body, including the number and arrangement of limbs, body segments, and major tissue layers. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A large mass of neurons located in the head region of an animal, that is involved in information processing; may also be called the cerebral ganglion. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal whose diet consists predominantly of meat. Most members of the mammalian taxon Carnivora are carnivores. |
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Term
| Central Nervous Systems (CNS) |
|
Definition
| The brain and spinal cord of vertebrate animals. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The formation of a distinct anterior region (the head) where sense organs and a mouth are clustered. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A specialized flagellated feeding cell found in choanoflagellates (protists that are the closest living relatives of animals) and sponges (the oldest animal phylum). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A specialized stinging cell found in cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and anemones) that is used in capturing prey. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An internal, usually fluid-filled, body cavity that is lined with mesoderm. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal hat has a true coelom. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An assemblage of individuals. May refer to an assemblage of semi-independent cells or to a breeding population of multicellular organisms. |
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Term
Holometabolous Metamorphosis
(Complete Metamorphosis) |
|
Definition
| A type of metamorphosis in which the animal completely changes its form. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An organism deriving its nutritional requirements from complex organic substances. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal that eats its way through a food-containing substrate. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An organism whose diet consists mainly of dead organic matter (detritus). Various bacteria, fungi, and protists are detritivores. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including radial cleavage, formation of the anus earlier than the mouth, and formation fo the coelom by pinching off of layers of mesoderm from the gut. Includes echinoderms and chordates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal whose body develops from two basic embryonic cell layers - ectoderm and endoderm. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of protostomes (ecdysozoam) that grow by shedding their external skeletons (molting) and expanding their bodies. Includes arthropods, insects, crustaceans, nematodes, and centipedes. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The outermost of the three basic cell layers in most animal embryos; gives rise to the outer covering and nervous system. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A parasite that lives on the outer surface of the hosts body. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A triploid (3n) tissue in the seed of a flowering plant (angiosperm) that serves as food for the plant embryo. Functionally analogous to the yolk in some animal eggs. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A parasite that lives inside the host's body. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. |
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Term
Epithelium
(plural: epithelia) |
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. |
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Term
Suspension Feeder
(Filter Feeder) |
|
Definition
| Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A mass of neurons in a centralized nervous system. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In animals, one of the three basic types of tissue formed during gastrulation; gives rise to all other tissues. |
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Term
| Hemimetabolous Metamorphosis |
|
Definition
| A type of metamorphosis in which the animal increases in size from one stage to the next, but does not dramatically change its body form. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal that eats primarily plants and rarely or never eats meat. |
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Term
Holometabolous Metamorphosis
(also called complete metamorphosis) |
|
Definition
| A type of metamorphosis in which the animal completely changes its form. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A paraphyletic group composed of animals without a backbone; includes about 95 percent of all animal species. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An individual that has adult-like morphology but is not sexually mature. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An immature stage of a species in which the immature and adult stages have different body forms. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of protostomes (liphotrochozoa) that grow by extending the size of their skeletons rather than by molting. Many phyla have a specialized feeding structure (lophophore) and/or cilitated larvae (trochophore) and includes rotifers, flatworms, segmented worms, and molluscs. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The free-floating stage in the life cycle of some cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish). |
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Term
|
Definition
| The middle of the three basic cell layers in most animal embryos; gives rise to muscles, bones, blood, and some internal organs (kidney, spleen, etc.) |
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Term
|
Definition
| A gelatinous material, containing scattered ectodermal cells, that is located between the ectoderm and endoderm of cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish, corals, and anemones). |
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Term
|
Definition
| Members of the phylum Mollusca. Distinguished by a body plan with three main parts: a muscular foot, a visceral mass, and a mantle. Includes bivalves (clams, oysters), gastropods (snails, slugs), chitons, and cephalopods (squid, octopuses). Molluscs belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A nervous sytem in which neurons are diffuse instead of being clustered into large masses or tracts. |
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|
Term
Neuron
(also called nerve cell) |
|
Definition
| A cell that is specialized for the transmission of nerve impulses. Typically has dendrites, a cell body, and a long axon that forms sypnapses with other neurons. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal whose diet regularly includes both meat and plants. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Producing eggs that are laid outside the body where they develop and hatch. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Producing eggs that are retained inside the body until they are ready to hatch/ |
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Term
|
Definition
| An organism that lives on or in a host species and that damages its host. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In Liannaeus' system, a taxonomic category above the class level and below the kingdom level. In plants, sometimes called a division. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The immotile (sessile) stage in the life cycle of some cnidarians (e.g., jellyfish). |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any organism that kills other organisms for food. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including spiral cleavage, formation of the mouth earlier than the anus, and formation of the coelom by splitting of a block of mesoderm. Includes arthropods, mollusks, and annelids. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A metamorphosing insect that is enclosed in a protective case. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal body pattern in which there are at least two planes of symmetry. Typically, the body is in the form of a cylinder or disk, with body parts radiating from a central hub. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A rasping feeding appendage in gastropods (snails, slugs). |
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Term
|
Definition
| Growth of a new body part to replace a lost body part. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Division of the body or a part of it into a series of similar structures; exemplified by the body segments of insects and worms and by the somites of vertebrates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Permanently attached to a substrate; not capable of moving to another location. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Stiff spike of silica or calcium carbonate found in the body of many sponges. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A group of similar cells that function as a unit, such as muscle tissue or epithelial tissue. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal whose body develops from three basic embryonic cell layers: ectoderm, mesoderm, and endoderm. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the three major chordate lineages (vertrebrata), comprising animals with a dorsal column of cartilaginous or bony structures (vertrebrae) and a skull enclosing the brian. Includes fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Producing live young (instead of eggs) that develop within the body of the mother before birth. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Members of the phylum Annelida (segmented worms). Distinguished by a segmented body and a coelum that functions as a hydrostatic skeleton. Annelids belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A long appendage that is used to touch or smell. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Members of the phylum Arthropoda. Distinguished by a segmented body; a hard, joined exoskeleton; paired appendages; and extensive body cavity called a hemocoel. Anthropods belong to the ecdysozoan. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A structure that exerts biting forces and is associated with the mouth; found in birds, cephalopods, and some insects. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of molluscs that have two shells, such as clams and mussels. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In crustaceans, a large platelike section of the exoskeleton that covers and protects the cephalothorax (e.g., a crab's "shell"). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of molluscs including the squid, octopuses, and nautiluses. Distinguished by large brains, excellent vision, tentacles, and a reduced or absent shell. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Bristle-like extensions found in some annelids. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A pair of clawlike appendages found around the mouth of certain arthropods called chelicerates (spiders, mites, and allies). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of marine mollusc that have a protective shell formed of eight calcium carbonate plates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An internal, usually fluid-filled, body cavity that is lined with mesoderm. |
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Term
Compound Eye
Compare with Simple Eye |
|
Definition
| An eye formed of many independent light-sensing columns (ommatidia); occurs in arthropods. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The cluster of cilia at the anterior end of a rotifer. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of arthropods that include shrimp, lobster, and crabs. Many have a carapace ( a platelike portion of the exoskeleton) and mandibles for biting or chewing. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A protective coating secreted by the outermost layer of cells of an animal or a plant. |
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|
Term
Definitive Host
Compare with intermediate host. |
|
Definition
| The host species in which a parasite reproduces sexually. |
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|
Term
Detritivore
Also called decomposer |
|
Definition
| An organism whose diet consists mainly of dead organic matter (detritus). Various bacteria, fungi, and protists are detritivores. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A hard covering secreted on the outside of the body, used for body support, protection, and muscle attachments. Examples are the shell of molluscs and the outer covering (cuticle) of arthropods. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Members of the phylum Platyhelminthes. Distinguished by a broad, flat, unsegmented body that lacks a coelom. Flatworms belong to the lophotrochozoan branch of the protostomes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of molluscs distinguished by a large muscular foot and a unique feeding structure, the radula. Includes slugs and snails. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any organ in aquatic animals that exchanges gases and other dissolved substances between the blood and the surrounding water. Typically, a filamentous outgrowth of a body surface. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A body cavity, present in arthropods and some molluscs, containing a pool of circulatory fluid (hemolymph) bathing the internal organs. |
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|
Term
Intermediate Host
Compare with definitive host |
|
Definition
| The host species in which a parasite reproduces asexually. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A specialized feeding structure found in some lophotrochozoans and used in filter feeding. |
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|
Term
Lophotrochozoan
Compare with ecdysozoans |
|
Definition
| A major lineage of protostomes (liphotrochozoa) that grow by extending the size of their skeletons rather than by molting. Many phyla have a specialized feeding structure (lophophore) and/or cilitated larvae (trochophore) and includes rotifers, flatworms, segmented worms, and molluscs. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any mouthpart used in chewing. In vertebrates, the lower jaw. In insects, and myriapods, the first pair of mouthparts. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One of the three main parts of hte mollusc body; the thick outer tissue that protects the vesceral mass and may secrete a calcium carbonate shell. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A method of body growth, used by ecdysozoans, that involves the shedding of an external protective cuticle or skeleton, expansion of the soft body, and growth of a new external layer. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of arthropods with long segmented trunks, each segment bearing one or two pairs of legs. Includes millipedes and centipedes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A distinct planktonic larval stage seen in many crustaceans. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Phylum of roundworms. The ecdysozoan branch of the protostomes. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Appendages found in some annelids from which bristle-like structures (chaetae) extend. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Development of offspring from unfertilized eggs; a form of asexual reproduction. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A long, narrow feeding appendage through which food can be obtained. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A rasping feeding appendage in gastropods (snails, slugs). |
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|
Term
Roundworm
Also called Nematodes |
|
Definition
| Members of the phylum Nematoda. Distinguished by an unsegmented body with a pseudocoelom and no appendages. Roundworms belong to the ecdysozoan branch of the protostomes. |
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|
Term
Simple Eye
Compare with compound eye |
|
Definition
| An eye with only one light-collecting apparatus (e.g., one lens), as in vertebrates. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A tubelike appendage of many molluscs, that is often used for feeding or propulsion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A gelatinous package of sperm cells that is produced by males of species that have internal fertilization without copulation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A long, thin, muscular appendage of gastropod molluscs. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A region of the body; in insects, one of the three prominent body regions called tagmata. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A larva with a ring of cilia around its middle that is found in some lophotrochozoans. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A distinctive type of larva, found in mollusks. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One of the three main parts of the mollusc body; contains most of the internal organs and external gill. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A region of the body; in insects, one of the three prominent body regions called tagmata. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A solution of water and protein (particularly albumins), found in amniotic eggs, that nourishes the growing embryo. Also called egg white. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of vertebrates (amniota) that reproduce with amniotic eggs. Includes all reptiles (including birds) and mammals. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An egg that has a watertight shell or case enclosing a membrane-bound water supply (the amnion), food supply (yolk sac), and waste sac (allantois). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of vertebrates many of whom breathe thorugh their skin and feed on land but lay their eggs in water; represent the earliest tetrapods. Includes frogs, salamanders, and caecilians. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Having a life cycle in which adults live in the ocean (or large lakes) but migrate up freshwater streams to breed and lay eggs. |
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|
Term
Anthropoid
Compare with Prosimians |
|
Definition
| One of the two major lineages of primates, including apes, and humans, and all monkeys. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Walking primarily on two legs. |
|
|
Term
Cranium
Also called Braincase |
|
Definition
| A bony, cartilaginous, or fibrous case that encloses and protects the brain of vertebrates. Forms part of the skull. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of vertebrate connective tissue that consists of relatively few cells scattered in a stiff matrix of polysaccharides and protein fibers. |
|
|
Term
Cephalochordates
Also called lancelets or amphioxi
Compare with urochordates and vertebrates |
|
Definition
| One of the three major chordate lineages (cephalochordata), comprising small, mobile organisms that live in marine sands. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Posterior section of the vertebrate brain that is involved in coordination of complex muscle movements, such as those required for locomotion and maintaining balance. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A prehistoric European population of modern humans (homo sapiens) known from fossils, paintings, sculptures, and other artifacts. |
|
|
Term
Deuterostomes
Compare with protostome |
|
Definition
| A major lineage of animals that share a pattern of embryological development, including radial cleavage, formation of the anus earlier than the mouth, and formation of the coelom by pinching off of layers of mesoderm from the gut. Includes echinoderms and chordates. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A major lineage of deuterostomes (echinodermata) distinguished by adult bodies with five-sided radial symmetry, a water vascular system, and tube feet. Includes sea urchins, sand dollars, and sea stars. |
|
|
Term
Ectotherm
Compare with endotherm |
|
Definition
| An animal that does not use internally generated heat to regulate its body temperature. |
|
|
Term
Endoskeleton
Compare with exoskeleton |
|
Definition
| Bony and/or cartilaginous structures within the body that provide support. Examples are the spicules of sponges, the plates in echinoderms, and the bony skeleton of vertebrates. |
|
|
Term
Eutherian
Also called placental mammals |
|
Definition
| A lineage of mammals (Eutheria) whose young develop in the uterus and are not housed in an abdominal pouch. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A specialized skin outgrowth, composed of b-keratin, present in all birds and only in birds. Used for flight, insulation, display, and other purposes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| One of the three main parts of the mollusc body; a musuclar appendage, used for movement and/or burrowing into sediment. |
|
|
Term
Forebrain
Compare with hindbrain and midbrain |
|
Definition
| One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes the cerebrum, thalamus, and hypothalamus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The duration of embryonic development from fertilization to birth in those species that have live birth. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any organ in aquatic animals that exchanges gases and other dissolved substances between the blood and surrounding water. Typically, a filamentous outgrowth of a body surface. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In aquatic vertebrates, curved region of tissue between the gills. Gills are suspended from the gill arches. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
Grade
Also called a paraphyletic group. |
|
Definition
| In taxonomy, a group of species that share a position in an inferred evolutionary sequence of lineages but that are not a monophyletic group. |
|
|
Term
Hominid
Also called Great Apes |
|
Definition
| Members of the family Hominidae, which includes humans and extinct related forms; chimpanzees, gorillas, and orangutans. Distinguished by large body size, no tail, and an exceptionally large brain. |
|
|
Term
Hindbrain
Compare with forebrain and midbrain. |
|
Definition
| One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes the cerebellum and medulla oblongata. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Humans and extinct related forms; species in the lineage that branched off from chimpanzees and eventually led to humans. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any member of the genus Homo, which includes modern humans (homo sapiens) and several extinct species. |
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Term
Invertebrate
Compare with vertebrates |
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Definition
| A parphyletic group composed of animals without a backbone; includes about 95 percent of all animal species. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Production of milk from mammary glands of mammals. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Fish with fins supported by bony elements that extend down the length of the structure. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the two lineages of amniotes (vertebrates that produce amniotic eggs) distinguished by hair (or fur) and mammary glands. Includes the monotremes (platypuses), marsupials, and eutherians (placental mammals). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of mammals (Marsupiala) that nourish their young in an abdominal pouch after a very short period of development in the uterus. |
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Term
Medulla Oblongata
Also called the brain stem. |
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Definition
| In vertebrates, a region of the brain stem that along with the cerebellum forms the hindbrain. |
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Term
Midbrain
Compare with forebrain and hindbrain |
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Definition
| One of the three main regions of the vertebrate brain; includes sensory integrating and relay centers. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A lineage of mammals (Monotremata) that lay eggs and then nourish the young with milk. Includes just three living species: the platypus and two species of echidna. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A recently extinct European species of hominid, (homo neanderthalensis), closely related to but distinct from modern humans. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A bundle of nerves extending from the brain along the dorsal (back) side of a chordate animal, with cerebrospinal fluid inside a hollow central channel. One of the defining features of chordates. |
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Term
Omnivore
Compare with carnivore and herbivore |
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Definition
| An animal whose diet regularly includes both meat and plants. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The hypothesis that modern humans (homo sapiens) evolved in Africa and spread to other continents, replacing the Homo species without interbreeding with them. |
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Term
Oviparous
Compare with ovoviviparous and viviparous |
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Definition
| Producing eggs that are laid outside the body where they develop and hatch. |
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Term
Ovoviviparous
Compare with oviparous and viviparous |
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Definition
| Producing eggs that are retained inside the body until they are ready to hatch. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Appendages found in some annelids from which bristle-like structures (chaetae) extend. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any action by which an animal expends energy or assumes risks to benefit its offspring (e.g., nest-building, feeding of young, defense). |
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Term
|
Definition
| A set of parallel openings from the throat through the neck to the outside. A diagnostic trait of chordates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A secondary jaw in the back of the mouth, found in some fishes. Derived from modified gill arches. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A structure that forms in the pregnant uterus from maternal and fetal tissues. Exchanges nutrients and wastes between mother and fetus, anchors the fetus to the uterine wall, and produces some hormones. Occurs in most mammals and in a few other vertebrates. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the many small, mobile, fluid-filled extensions of the water vascular system of echinoderms; the part extending outside the body is called a podium. Used in locomotion and feeding. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The lineage of mammals that includes prosimians (lemurs, lorises, etc.), monkeys, and great apes (including humans). |
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Term
Prosimians
Compare with anthropoids |
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Definition
| One of the two major lineages of primates, including lemus, tarsiers, pottos, and lorises. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the two lineages of amniotes (vertebrates that produce amniotic eggs) distinguished by adaptations for reproduction on land. Includes turtles, snakes and lizards, crocodiles and alligatos, and birds. Except for birds, all are ectotherms. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A gas-filled organ of many ray-finned fishes that regulates buoyancy. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any member of the taxon Tetrapoda, which includes all vertebrates with two pairs of limbs (amphibians, mammals, and other reptiles). |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the many small, mobile, fluid-filled extensions of the water vascular system of echinoderms; the part extending outside the body is called a podium. Used in locomotion and feeding. |
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Term
Urochordates
Compare with cephalochordates and vertebrates |
|
Definition
| One of the three major chordate (urochordata), comprising sessile, filter-feeding animals that have a polysaccharide exoskeleton (tunic) and two siphons through which water enters and leaves; also called tunicates or sea squirts. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the cartilaginous or bony elements that form the spine of vertebrate animals. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the three major chordate lineages (vertebrata), comprising animals with a dorsal column of cartliaginous or bony structures (verebrae) and a skull enclosing the brian. Including fishes, amphibians, mammals, reptiles, and birds. |
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Term
Viviparous
Compare with oviparous and ovoviviparous |
|
Definition
| Producing live young (instead of eggs) that develop within the body of the mother before birth. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In echinoderms, a system of fluid-filled tubes and chambers that funcitons as a hydrostatic skeleton. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Gradual physiological adjustment of an organisms to new environmental conditions that occur naturally or as part of a laboratory experiment. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any heritable trait that increases the fitness of an individual with that trait, compared with individuals without that trait, in a particular environment. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue whose cels store fats. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The study of the physical structure of organisms. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A long projection of a neuron that can propagate an action potential and transmit it to another neuron. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A thick, collagen-rich extracellular matrix that underlies most epithelial tissues (e.g. skin) in animals. |
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Term
| Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR) |
|
Definition
| The total energy consumption by an organism at rest in a comfortable environment. For aerobes, often measured as the amount of oxygen consumed per hour. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Toward the bottom and sides. In animals, the side of an epithelial layer that faces other body tissues and not the environment. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue consisting of red blood cells and leukocytes suspended in a fluid portion called plasma. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of verebrate connective tissue consisting of living cells and blood vessels within a hard extracellular matrix composed of calcium phosphate (CaPO4) and small amounts of calcium carbonate (CaCO3) and protein fibers. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of the numerous small, thin-walled blood vessels that permeate all tissues and organs, and allow exchange of gases and other moleculese between blood and body cells. |
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Term
Cardiac Muscle
Compare with straited and smooth muscles |
|
Definition
| The muscle tissue of the vertebrate heart. Consists of long branched fibers that are electrically connected and that initiate their own contractions;not under voluntary control. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of vertebrate connective tissue that consists of relatively few cells scattered in a stiff matrix of polysaccharides and protein fibers. |
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Term
Conduction
Compare with convection |
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Definition
| Direct transfer of heat between two objects that are in physical contact. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of scattered cells in a liquid, jellylike, or solid extracellular matrix. Includes bone, cartilage, tendons, ligaments, and blood. |
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Term
Convection
Compare with conduction |
|
Definition
| Transfer of heat by movement of large volumes of a gas or liquid. |
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Term
|
Definition
| In animals, any anatomical arrangement that allows the maximum transfer of heat or a soluble substance from one fluid to another. The two fluids must be flowing in opposite directions and have a heat or concentration gradient between them. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A short extension from a neuron's cell body that receives signals from other neurons. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having an extracellular matrix dominated by collagen fibers. |
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Term
Ectotherm
Compare with endotherm |
|
Definition
| An animal that does not use internally generated heat to regulate its body temperature. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Any cell, organ, or structure with which an animal can respond to external or internal stimuli. Usually functions, along with a sensor and integrator, as part of a homeostatic system. |
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Term
Endotherm
Compare with ectotherm |
|
Definition
| An animal whose primary source of body heat is internally generated heat. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. |
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Term
|
Definition
| (plural: epithelia) An animal tissue consiting of sheet-like layers of tightly packed cells that lines an organ, a duct, or a body surface. Also called epithelial tissue. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The energy-absorbing phase change from a liquid state to a gaseous state. Many organisms evaporate water as a means of heat loss. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having a liquid extracellular matrix. |
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Term
|
Definition
| One of hundreds to thousands of sheetlike structures, each containing a capillary bed, that makes a gill filament. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| An organ whose primary function is to secrete some substance, either into the blood (endocrine gland) or into some other space such as the gut or skin (exocrine gland). |
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Term
|
Definition
| Proteins that facilitate refolding of proteins that have been denatured by heat or other agents. |
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Term
Heterotherm
Compare with hemeotherm |
|
Definition
| An animal whose body temperature varies markedly with environmental conditions. |
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Term
|
Definition
| An energy-conserving physiological state, marked by a decrease in metabolic rate, body temperature, and activity, that lasts for a prolonged period (weeks to months). Occurs in some animals in response to winter |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| The array of relatively stable chemical and physical conditions in an animal's cells, tissues, and organs. May be achieved by the body's passively matching the conditions of a stable external environment (conformational homeostasis) or by active physiological processes (regulatory homeostasis) triggered by variations in the external or internal environment. |
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Term
Homeotherm
Compare with heterotherm |
|
Definition
| An animal that has a constant or relatively constant body temperature. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A part of the brain that functions in maintaining the body's internal physiological state by regulating the autonomic nervous system, endocrine system, body temperature, water balance, and appetite. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A component of an animal's nervous system that functions as part of a homestatic system by evaluating sensory information and triggering appropriate responses. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Muscle that cannot respond to conscious thought. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue consisting of fibrous proteins in a soft matrix. Often functions as padding for organs. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| The total energy use by all the cells of an individual. FOr aerobic organisms, often measure as the amount of oxygen consumed per hour. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| The water that is produced as a by-product of cellular respiration. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The state of being composed of many cells that adhere to each other and do not all express the same genes with the result that some cells have specialized functions. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of bundles of long, thin contractile cells (muscle fibers). |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A self-limiting, corrective response in which a deviation in some variable (e.g., body temperature, blood pH, concentration of some compound) triggers responses aimed at returning the variable to normal. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal tissue consisting of nerve cells (neurons) and various supporting cells. |
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|
Term
Neuron
Also called Nerve Cell |
|
Definition
| A cell specialized for the transmission of nerve impulses. Typically has dendrites, a cell body, and a long axon that forms synpases with other neurons. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A group of tissues organized into a funcitonal and structural unit. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Groups of tissues and organs that work together to perform a function. |
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Term
|
Definition
| The study of how an organism's body functions. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Transfer of heat between two bodies that are not in direct physical contact. More generally, the emission of electromagnetic energy of any wavelength. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| Any cell, organ, or structure with which an animal can sense some aspect of the external or internal environment. Usually functions, along with an integrator and effector, as part of a homeostatic system. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A normal or target value for a regulated internal variable, such as body heat or blood pH. |
|
|
Term
Skeletal Muscle (striated muscle)
Also called striated muscle. Compare with cardiac and smooth muscle. |
|
Definition
| The muscle tissue attached to the bones of the vertebrate skeleton. Consists of long, unbranched muscle fibers with a characteristic striped (striated) appearance; controlled voluntarily. |
|
|
Term
Smooth Muscle
Compare with cardiac and striated muscle |
|
Definition
| The unstriated muscle tissue that lines the intestine, blood vessels, and some other organs. Consists of tapered, unbranched cells that can sustain long contractions. Not voluntarily controlled. |
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|
Term
| Supporting Connective Tissue |
|
Definition
| A type of connective tissue, distinguished by having a firm extracellular matrix. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Regulation of body temperature. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A group of similar cells that function as a unit, such as muscle tissue or epithelial tissue. |
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|
Term
Torpor
Compare with hibernation |
|
Definition
| An energy-conserving physiological state, marked by a decrease in metabolic rate, body temperature, and activity that lasts for a short period of time (overnight to a few days or weeks). Occurs in some small mammals when the ambient temperature drops significantly. |
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Term
Trade-Off
Also called fitness trade-off |
|
Definition
| In evolutionary biology, an inescapable compromise between two traits that cannot be optimized simultaneously. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intesting. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients. |
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Term
|
Definition
| Muscle tissue that can respond to conscious thought |
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Term
|
Definition
| A hormone produced in the adrenal cortex that stimulates the kidney to conserve salt and water and promotes retention of sodium. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A small molecule, produced by the breakdown or proteins and nucleic acids, that is very toxic to cells. Is a strong base that gains a proton to form the ammonium ion (NH4+) |
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|
Term
Antidiuretic Hormone (ADH)
Also called vasopressin |
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone, secreted from the posterior pituitary gland, that stimulates water retention by the kidney. |
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|
Term
Antiporter
Compare with symporter |
|
Definition
| A carrier protein that allows an ion to diffuse down an electrochemical gradient, using the energy of that process to transport a different substance in the opposite direction against its concentration gradient. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of channel protein through which water can move by osmosis across a plasma membrane. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A mammalian organ that holds urine until it can be excreted. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The hollow, double-walled cup shaped portion of a nephron that surrounds a glomerulus in the vertebrate kidney. |
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|
Term
Carpel
Compare with stamen |
|
Definition
| The female reproductive organ in a flower. Consists of the stigma, to which pollen grains adhere; the style, through which pollen grains move; and the ovary, which houses the ovule. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A heterozygous individual carrying a normal allele anda recessive allele for an inherited trait; does not display the phenotype of the trait but can pass the recessive gene to offspring. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| A protein that forms a pore in a cell membrane. The structure of most channels allows them to admit just one or a few types of ions of molecules. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, a large straight tube that receives filtrate from the distal tubules of several nephrons. Involved in the regulated reabsorption of water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Difference across space (e.g., across a membrane) in the concentration of a dissolved substance. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In plants, a layer of ground tissue found outside the vascular bundles and pith of a plant stem. |
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|
Term
|
Definition
| A transmembrane protein that facilitates diffusion of an ion down its previously established electrochemical gradient and uses the energy of that process to transport some other substance, in the same or opposite direction, against its concentration gradient. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A protective coating secreted by the outermost layer of cells of an animal or a plant. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A human disease cause by defects in the kidney's system for conserving water. Characterized by production of large amounts of dilute urine. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Spontaneous movement of a substance from a region of high concentration to one of low concentration (e.g., down a concentration gradient). |
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|
Term
Distal Tubule
Compare with proximal tubule. |
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, the convoluted portion of a nephron into which filtrate moves from the loop of Henle. Involved in the regulated reabsorption of sodium and water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Movement of a substance across a plasma membrane down its concentration gradient with the assistance of transmembrane carrier proteins or channel proteins. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any fluid produced by filtration, in particular the fluid (pre-urine) in the nephrons of vertebrate kidneys. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A process of removing large components from a fluid by forcing it through a filter. Occurs in a renal corpuscle of the vertebrate kidney, allowing water and small solutes to pass from the blood into the nephron. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, a ball-like cluster of capillaries, surrounded by Bowman's capsule, at the beginning of a nephron. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The circulatory fluid of animals with open ciruclatory systems (e.g., insects) in which the fluid is not confined to blood vessels. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any of numerous different signaling molecules that circulate throughout the body in other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Comparative term designating a solution that has a lower solute concentration, and therefore a higher water concentration, than another solution. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Comparitive term designating a solution that has a greater solute concentration, and therefore a lower water concentration, than another solution. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Comparitive term designating a solution that has the same solute concentration and water concentration than another solution. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In terrestrial vertebrates, one of the paired organ situated at the back of the abdominal cavity that filters the blood, produces urine, and secretes several hormones. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, a long U-shaped loop in a nephron that extends into the medulla. Functions as a countercurrent exchanger to set up an osmotic gradient that allows reabsorption of water from a subsequent portion of the nephron. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A major excretory organ of insects, consisting of blind-ended tubes that extend from the gut into the hemocoel. Filter hemolymph to form pre-urine and then send it to the hindgut for further processing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The innermost part of an organ (e.g., kidney or adrenal gland). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Tiny protrusions from the surface of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances. |
|
|
Term
Nephron
Also called renal tubule. |
|
Definition
| One of the tiny tubes within the vertebrate kidney taht filter blood and concentrate salts to produce uring. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal that does not actively regulate the osmolarity of the surounding environment. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The concentration of dissolved substances in a solution, measured in moles per liter. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The process by which a living organism controls the concentration of water and salts in its body. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal that actively regulates the osmolarity of its tissues. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Diffusion of water across a selectively permeable membrane from a region of high water concentration (low solute concentration) to a region of low water concentration (high solute concentration). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A plant toxin that poisons the sodium-potassium pumps of animals. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Diffusion of a substance across a plasma membrane or organelle membrane. When this occurs with the assistance of membrane proteins, it is called facilitated diffusion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, the convoluted section of a nephron into which filtrate moves from Bowman's Capsule. Involved in the largely unregulated reabsorption of electrolytes, nutrients, and water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A salt-excreting gland in the digestive system of sharks, skates, and rays. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, the ball-like structure at the beginning of a nephron, consisting of a glomerulus and the surrounding Bowman's capsule. Acts as a filtration device. |
|
|
Term
| Secondary Active Transport |
|
Definition
| Transport of an ion or molecule against its electrochemical gradient, in company with an ion or molecule being transported with its electrochemical gradient. |
|
|
Term
| Selectively Permeable Membrane |
|
Definition
| Any membrane across which some solutes can move moer readily than others. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A transmembrane protein that uses the energy of ATP to move sodium ions out of the cell and potassium ions in. Also called NA+/K+-ATPase |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any substance that is dissolved in a liquid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A carrier protein that allows an ion to diffuse down an electrochemical gradient, using the energy of that process to transport a different substance in the same direction against its concentration gradient. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| (1) In insects, one of the small air-filled tubes that extend throughout the body and function in gas exchange. (2) In terrestrial vertebrates, the airway connecting the larynx to the bronchi. Also called windpipe. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In vertebrates, a tube that transports urine from one kidney to the bladder. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The tube that drains urine from the bladder to the outside environment. In male vertebrates, also used for passage of sperm during ejaculation. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A whitish excretory product of birds, reptiles, and terrestrial arthropods. Used to remove from the body excess nitrogen derived from the breakdown of amino acids. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In the vertebrate kidney, a network of blood vessels that runs alongside the loop of Henle of a nephron. Functions in reabsorption of water and solutes from the filtrate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An enzyme that can break down starch by catalyzing hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages between the glucose residues. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| In animals, the uptake of ions and small molecules derived from food across thel ining of the intestine and into the bloodstream. |
|
|
Term
Digestive Tract
Also called Alimentary Canal, Gastrointestinal (GI) Tract, or Gut |
|
Definition
| The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any enzyme that can break down starch by catalyzing hydrolysis of the glycosidic linkages between the glucose residues. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A blind sac (having only one opening) that extends from the colon in some mammals. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of channel protein through which water can move by osmosis across a plasma membrane. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A complex solution produced by the liver, stored in the gall bladder, and secreted into the intestine. Contains steroid derivatives called bile salts that are responsible for emulsification of fats during digestion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A mathematical relationship of weight and height used to asses obesity in humans. Calculated as weight (kg) divided by the square of height (m2). |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An enzyme that catalyzes the formation of carbonic acid (H2CO3) from carbon dioxide and water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A blind sac between the small intestine and the colon. Is enlarged in some species (e.g., rabbits) that use it as a fermentation vat for digestion of cellulose. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone secreted by cells in the lining of the small intestine. Stimulates the secretino of digestive enzymes from the pancreas and of bile from the liver and gallbladder. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A ball of protein-coated lipids used to transport the lipids through the bloodstream. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An opening to the outside used by the excretory and reproductive systems in many nonmammalian vertebrate but few vertebrates. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The portion of the large intestine where feces are formed by compaction of wastes and reabsorption of water. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A storage organ in the digestive systems of certain vertebrates. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal that eats its way through a food-containing substrate. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A human disease caused by defects in insulin production (type 1) or the response of cells to insulin (type II). Characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels and large amounts of glucose-containing urine. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The physical and chemical breakdown of food into molecules that can be absorbed into the body of an animal. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The dispersion of fat into an aqueous solution. Usually requires the aid of an amphipathic substance such as detergent or bile salts, which can break large fat globules into microscopic fat droplets. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A species that lives in one geographic area and nowhere else. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An amino acid that an animal cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet. May refer specifically to one of the eight essential amino acids of adult humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. |
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Term
| Fatty-Acid Binding Protein |
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Definition
| Proteins that bind to fatty acids and enable them to be transported into cells. |
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Term
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Definition
| The waste products of digestion. |
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Term
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Definition
| An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood. |
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Term
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Definition
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Term
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Definition
| A small pouch that stores bile from the liver and releases it as needed into the small intestine during digestion of fats. |
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Term
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Definition
| A hormone produced by cells in the stomach lining in response to the arrival of food or to a neural signal from the brain. Stimulates other stomach cells to release hydrochloric acid. |
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Term
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Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by the pancrease in response to low blood glucose. Raises blood glucose by triggering breakdown of glycogen and stimulating gluconeogenesis. |
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Term
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Definition
| Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g. proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any of numeous different signaling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations. |
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Term
| Incomplete Digestive Tract |
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Definition
| A digestive tract that has just one opening. |
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Term
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Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen. |
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Term
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Definition
| A small lymphatic vessel extending into the center of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food. |
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Term
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Definition
| The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. Its primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any enzyme that can break down fat molecules into fatty acids and monolycerides. |
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Term
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Definition
| A large,complec organ of verebrates that performs many functions including storae of glycogen, processing and conversion of food and wastes, and production of bile. |
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Term
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Definition
| An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth. |
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Term
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Definition
| Tiny protrusion from the surface area of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances. |
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Term
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Definition
| A type of cell found in the epithelial layer of the stomach; responsible for secreting mucus into the stomach. |
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Term
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Definition
| (adjective:mucous) A slimy mixture of glycoproteins (called mucins) and water that is secreted in many animal organs for lubrication. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any enzyme that can break down RNA or DNA molecules. |
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Term
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Definition
| A chemical or food that provides what is needed for plants or animals to live and grow. |
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Term
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Definition
| A large gland in vertebrates that has both exocrine and endocrine functions. Secretes digestive enzymes into a duct connected to the intestine and several hormones (notably, insulin and glucagon) into the bloodstream. |
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Term
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Definition
| An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and acts in the small intestine to break bonds in complex fats, releasing small lipids. |
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Term
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Definition
| A cell in the stomach lining that secretes hydrochloric acid. |
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Term
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Definition
| A protein-digesting enzyme present in the stomach. |
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Term
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Definition
| The precursor of the digestive enzyme pepsin. Is secreted from cells in the stomach lining and converted to pepsin by the acidic environment of the stomach lumen. |
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Term
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Definition
| Rhythmic waves of muscular contraction that push food along the digestive tract. |
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Term
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Definition
| An enzyme that can degrade proteins by cleaving the peptide bonds between amino acid residues. |
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Term
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Definition
| The last portion of the digestive tract where feces are held until they are expelled. |
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Term
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Definition
| An involuntary response to environmental stimulation. May involve the brain (e.g., conditioned reflex) or not (e.g., spinal reflex). |
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Term
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Definition
| A group of hoofed mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep, deer), that have a four-chambered stomach specialized for digestion of plant cellulose. Regurgitate the cud, a mixture of partially digested food and symbiotic cellulose-digesting bacteria, from the largestchamber (the rumen) for further chewing. |
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Term
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Definition
| Vertebrate glands that secrete saliva (a mixture of water, mucus-forming glycoproteins, and digestive enzymes) into the mouth. |
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Term
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Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by cells in the small intestine in response to the arrival of food from the stomach. Stimulates secretion of bicarbonate (HCO3Â -) from the pancreas. |
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Term
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Definition
| The portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the large intestine. The site of the final stages of digestion and of most nutrient absorption. |
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Term
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Definition
| A muscular valve that can close off a tube, as in a blood vessel or a part of the digestive tract. |
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Term
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Definition
| A tough, muscular pouch in the vertebrate digestive tract between the esophagus and small intestine. Physically breaks up food and begins digestion of proteins. |
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Term
Suspension Feeder
Also called filter feeder |
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Definition
| Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any close and prolonged physical relationship between individuals of two different species. |
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Term
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Definition
| A protein-digesting enzyme present in the small intestine that activates several other protein-digesting enzyems. |
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Term
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Definition
| The precursor of protein-digesting enzyme trypsin. Secreted by the pancreas and activated by the intestinal enzyme enterokinase. |
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Term
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Definition
| A hole in an epithelial layer that damages the underlying basement membrane and tissues. |
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Term
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Definition
| Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intestine. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any organic micronutrient that usually functions as a coenzyme. |
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Term
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Definition
| A class of large proteins found in plants and animals, particularly in the albumen of eggs and in blood plasma. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the tiny air-filled sacs of a mammalian lung. |
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Term
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Definition
| In terrestrial vertebrates, the major artery carrying oxygenated blood away from the heart. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the many tiny vessels that carry blood from arteries to capillaries. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any thick-walled blood vessel that carries blood (oxygenated or not) under relatively high pressure away from the heart to organs throughout the body. |
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Term
| Atrial Natriuretic Hormone |
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Definition
| An animal hormone that stimulates excretion of salt from the kidneys. |
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Term
Atrioventricular (AV) Node
Compare with sinoatrial (SA) node |
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Definition
| A region of the heart between the right atrium and right ventricle where electrical signals from the atrium are slowed briefly before spreading to the ventricle. This delay allows the ventricle to fill with blood before contracting. |
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Term
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Definition
| A thin-walled chamber of the heart that receives blood from veins and pumps it to a neighboring chamber (the ventricle). |
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Term
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Definition
| Specialized nerve cells in the walls of the heart and certain major arteries that detect changes in blood pressure and trigger appropriate responses by the brain. |
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Term
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Definition
| The rightward shift of the oxygen-hemoglobin dissociation curve that occurs with decreasing pH. Results in hemoglobin being more likely to release oxygen in the acidic environment of exercising muscle. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the small tubes in mammalian lungs that carry air from the bronchi to the alveoli. |
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Term
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Definition
| In mammals, one of a pair of large tubes that lead from the trachea to each lung. |
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Term
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Definition
| One of the numerous small, thin-walled blood vessels that permeate all tissues and organs, and allow exchange of gases and other molecules between blood and body cells. |
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Term
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Definition
| A human disease caused by defects in insulin production (type 1) or the response of cells to insulin (type II). Characterized by abnormally high blood glucose levels and large amounts of glucose-containing urine. |
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Term
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Definition
| The physical and chemical breakdown of food into molecules that can be absorbed into the body of an animal. |
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Term
Digestive Tract
Also called alimentary canal, gastrointestinal (Gl) tract, or the gut. |
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Definition
| The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. |
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Term
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Definition
| Any compound that dissociates into ions when dissolved in water. In nutrition, refers to the major ions necessary for normal cell function. |
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Term
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Definition
| The dispersion of fat into an aqueous solution. Usually requires the aid of an amphipathic substance such as a detergent or bile salts, which can break large fat globules into microscopic fat droplets. |
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Term
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Definition
| A species that lives in one geographic area and nowhere else. |
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Term
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Definition
| The muscular tube that connects the mouth to the stomach. |
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Term
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Definition
| An amino acid that an animal cannot synthesize and must obtain from the diet. May refer specifically to one of the eight essential amino acids of adult humans: isoleucine, leucine, lysine, methionine, phenylalanine, threonine, tryptophan, and valine. |
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Term
| Fatty-Acid Binding Protein |
|
Definition
| Proteins that bind to fatty acids and enable them to be transported into cells. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The waste products of digestion. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal that feeds by sucking or mopping up liquids such as nectar, plant sap, or blood. |
|
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Term
|
Definition
| Any nutrient-containing material that can be consumed and digested by animals. |
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Term
|
Definition
| A small pouch that stores bile from the liver and releases it as needed into the small intestine during digestion of fats. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hormone produced by cells in the stomach lining in response to the arrival of food or to a neural signal from the brain. Stimulates other stomach cells to release hydrochloric acid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| (Also called digestive tract) The long tube that begins at the mouth and ends at the anus. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to low blood glucose. Raises blood glucose by triggering breakdown of glycogen and stimulating gluconeogenesis. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g., proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any of numerous different singling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations. |
|
|
Term
| Incomplete Digestive Tract |
|
Definition
| A digestive tract that has just one opening. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small lymphatic vessel extending into the centre of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. It's primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources (e.g., proteins and fatty acids). Occurs in the liver in response to low insulin levels and high glucagon levels. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any of numerous different singling molecules that circulate throughout the body in blood or other body fluids and can trigger characteristic responses in distant target cells at very low concentrations. |
|
|
Term
| Incomplete Digestive Tract |
|
Definition
| A digestive tract that has just one opening. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by the pancreas in response to high levels of glucose (or amino acids) in blood. Enables cells to absorb glucose and coordinates synthesis of fats, proteins, and glycogen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A small lymphatic vessel extending into the centre of a villus in the small intestine. Receives chylomicrons containing fat absorbed from food. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The distal portion of the digestive tract consisting of the cecum, colon, and rectum. It's primary function is to compact the wastes delivered from the small intestine and absorb enough water to form feces. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any enzyme that can break down fat molecules into fatty acids and monoglycerides. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A large, complex organ of vertebrates that performs many functions including storage of glycogen, processing, and conversion of food and wastes, and production of bile. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An animal that takes chunks of food into its mouth. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Tiny protrusions from the surface of an epithelial cell that increase the surface area for absorption of substances. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A type of cell found in the epithelial layer of the stomach; responsible for secreting mucus into the stomach. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A slimy mixture of glycoproteins (called mucins) and water that is secreted in many animal organs for lubrication. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any enzyme that can break down RNA or DNA molecules. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A large gland in vertebrates that has both exocrine and endocrine functions. Secretes digestive enzymes into a duct connected to the intestine and several hormones (notable, insulin and glucagon) into the bloodstream. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An enzyme that is produced in the pancreas and acts in the small intestine to break bonds in complex fats, releasing small lipids. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A cell in the stomach lining that secretes hydrochloric acid. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A protein-digesting enzyme present in the stomach. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The precursor of the digestive enzyme pepsin. Is secreted from cells in the stomach lining and converted to pepsin by the acidic environment of the stomach lumen. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Rhythmic waves of muscular contraction that push food along the digestive tract. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An enzyme that can degrade proteins by cleaving the peptide bonds between amino acid residues. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The last portion of the digestive tract where feces are held until they are expelled. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An involuntary response to environmental situation. May involve the brain (e.g., conditioned reflex) or not (e.g., spinal reflex) |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A group of hoofed mammals (e.g., cattle, sheep, deer) that have a four-chambered stomach specialized for digestion of plant cellulose. Regurgitate the cud, a mixture of partially digested food and symbiotic cellulose-digesting bacteria, from the largest chamber (the rumen) for further chewing. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Vertebrate glands that secrete saliva (a mixture of water, mucus-forming glycoproteins, and digestive enzymes) into the mouth. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A peptide hormone produced by cells in the small intestine in response to the arrival of food from the stomach. Stimulates secretion of bicarbonate (HCO3-) from the pancreas. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The portion of the digestive tract between the stomach and the large intestine. The site of the final stages of digestion and of most nutrient absorption. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A muscular valve that can close off a tube, as in a blood vessel or a part of the digestive tract. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A tough, muscular pouch in the vertebrate digestive tract between the esophagus and small intestine. Physically breaks up food and begins digestion of proteins. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any organism that obtains food by filtering small particles or small organisms out of water or air. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Any close and prolonged physical relationship between individuals of two different species. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A protein-digesting enzyme present in the small intestine that activates several other protein-digesting enzymes. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| The precursor of protein-digesting enzyme trypsin. Secreted by the pancreas and activated by the intestinal enzyme enterokinase. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| A hole in an epithelial layer that damages the underlying basement membrane and tissues. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| Small, fingerlike projections of the lining of the small intestine. Function to increase the surface area available for absorption of nutrients. |
|
|
Term
|
Definition
| An organic micronutrient that usually functions as a coenzyme. |
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