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Bio Unit 3 Terms
Human Biology 2 - Unit 3 Terms - Sophia
| Term | Definition |
|---|---|
| Action Potential | A nerve impulse. |
| Alzheimer’s Disease | A form of dementia caused by a slow degeneration of the cerebral cortex. |
| Aqueous Humor | Fluid within the eyeball (between the cornea and lens) that maintains pressure and transmits light. |
| Association Areas | Areas of the cerebral cortex that processes information and works to produce an action. |
| Astigmatism | An eye disorder resulting in blurred vision due to the misshapen lens or cornea of the eye. |
| Auditory Canal | Otherwise known as the ear canal and a part of the outer ear; the auditory canal guides sound waves toward the tympanic membrane. |
| Auditory Nerve | The nerve that projects auditory information detected by the hair cells in the cochlea to the primary auditory cortex of the temporal lobe. |
| Autism | A class of social disorders in which people have a hard time forming normal social relationships and display repetitive behavior. |
| Autonomic Nerves | Motor neurons that innervate deeper organs and regulate unconscious organ activity. |
| Axon | A part of a neuron that conducts signals away from the cell body and on to another cell. |
| Bitter | A perception of taste often associated with spoiled or undesirable foods (examples: sour milk, nicotine). |
| Blood-Brain Barrier | A barrier created by glial cells called astrocytes; the blood-brain-barrier only allows a small amount of materials from the blood to enter the inside of the brain. It plays a role in protecting neurons and creating a stable environment inside the brain. |
| Botox | A bacterial toxin that is often used to smooth facial wrinkles by stopping the release of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine. |
| Cataracts | A disorder of the eye in which the clouding of the lens affects how light enters the eye. |
| Central Nervous System (CNS) | Division of the nervous system that consists of the brain and spinal cord, is the processing center of the body, and contains interneurons. |
| Cerebellum | A region of the hindbrain primarily responsible for coordinating voluntary movements. |
| Cerebral Cortex | The outer layer of the cerebrum that deals with conscious behaviors. |
| Cerebral Spinal Fluid | A fluid similar to plasma that is created by the brain; it washes the brain of metabolic waste and plays a minor role in cushioning the brain. |
| Cerebrum | A part of the brain located in the forebrain that processes incoming sensory input. |
| Chemical Senses | Senses detected by specialized chemical receptors (olfaction & gustation) that detect dissolved chemicals and gases; these receptors are encapsulated nerve endings embedded with mucous membranes (olfactory) or muscle & epithelial tissues (gustation). |
| Chemoreceptors | A sensory receptor that detects chemicals dissolved in liquids or gases. |
| Cochlea | The organ of hearing found within the inner ear; contains the sensory receptors for hearing (hair cells/stereocilia), Organ of Corti, tectorial membrane, round window, and the auditory nerve. |
| Color Blindness | An eye disorder in which a person lacks cone cells that allow them to detect certain colors. Most often this occurs in the form of "red-green colorblindness", where the person can't tell the difference between the two colors. |
| Consciousness | What a human being is aware of - whether an external object or something within oneself - at any given time. |
| Concussion | A type of injury where the brain is “shaken violently”; can cause disruption of neuron activity and should be monitored closely. There are different levels of concussions that can occur. |
| Cone Cell | A photoreceptor cell that detects bright light and color. |
| Conjunctivitis | An eye disorder caused by bacteria or allergies which causes the membrane of the eye to become inflamed. |
| Cornea | A layer that covers the iris and helps to focus light into the eye. |
| Corpus Callosum | A band of nerve tracts that connects the hemispheres of the cerebrum. |
| Deafness | A disorder of the ear that results in the inability to hear properly. |
| Decibel | A unit of measurement which indicates the loudness of a sound. |
| Dendrite | A part of a neuron that receives incoming information. |
| Encapsulated Receptor | A type of sensory receptor encapsulated or enclosed in epithelial or connective tissue. |
| Encephalitis | Swelling of the brain caused by infection. |
| Exciting Signals | Signals that trigger an action potential. |
| Forebrain | The largest part of the brain that consists of the cerebral hemispheres and all of the structures contained within them. |
| Fovea | An area of the retina where vision is the most acute. |
| Free Nerve Ending | Receptors that detect touch, pressure, heat, cold, and pain. |
| Glaucoma | The deterioration of vision due to the buildup of aqueous humor in the eye. |
| Hair Cells | The actual receptors for hearing within the cochlea; the hair cells (stereocilia) bend due to mechanical fluid vibrations within the cochlea. The bending of the hair cells causes them to depolarize and generate action potentials. |
| Hindbrain | The area of the brain that consists of the cerebellum, pons, and medulla oblongata. |
| Hyperopia | An eye disorder in which a person has difficulty seeing near objects because the eyeball is taller than it is wide, causing images to focus behind the retina. |
| Inhibiting Signals | Neurotransmitters that inhibit or prevent action potentials. |
| Inner Ear | The inner portion of the ear deeply embedded within the temporal bone; contains the organs of hearing and balance/equilibrium. |
| Inner Ear Organs | Organs within the inner ear are the cochlea, the vestibular system, Organ of Corti, tectorial membrane, hair cells (stereocilia), round window, otolith organs, auditory nerve, and the semicircular canals. |
| Input Zone | The region of a neuron where signals enter. |
| Interneuron | A type of neuron in the central nervous system that receives incoming sensory information and relays information to motor neurons. |
| Iris | The colored portion of the eye. |
| Lens | A structure in the eye that focuses light to the retina. |
| Limbic System | An area of the brain that controls emotions. |
| Long Term Memory | Information that is stored more permanently. |
| Mechanoreceptor | A sensory receptor that detects pressure, position and acceleration. |
| Medulla Oblongata | A structure found in the hindbrain that helps regulate unconscious behaviors such as breathing, digestion, and sneezing. |
| Memory | The way in which the brain is able to store and retrieve information. |
| Meninges | The protective connective tissue found on the outside of the brain and spinal cord; consists of three layers: dura mater, arachnoid mater, pia mater. |
| Meningitis | Inflammation of the meninges; caused by a bacterial or viral infection. |
| Midbrain | The area of the brain that connects the hindbrain to the forebrain; also the top structure of the brain stem. |
| Middle Ear | The middle portion of the ear that is primarily designed to mechanically amplify the sound waves that enter the ear. Anatomic structures included are the tympanic membrane (ear drum), auditory ossicles (malleus, incus, stapes), and the eustachian tube. |
| Motion Sickness | A disorder in which hair cells in the ear’s organs of equilibrium and balance are over-stimulated, causing feelings of dizziness and nausea. |
| Motor Areas | Areas of the cerebral cortex that control voluntary movements. Also the stern of a boat. |
| Motor Neuron | A type of neuron that communicates with gland or muscle cells which then carry out a response as determined by the brain. |
| Multiple Sclerosis | An autoimmune disease in which the immune system attacks one's own myelin sheaths. The loss of the myelin sheaths insulating the axons of our neurons causes motor complications, loss of sensations, and episodes often referred to as “flare-ups.” |
| Myelin Sheath | Each neuron's axon is surrounded at several intervals by a cell that acts as insulation. This cellular insulation is called a myelin sheath, and it helps action potentials travel faster down the length of the axon. |
| Myopia | An eye disorder in which a person has difficulty seeing distant objects because the eyeball is wider than it is tall, causing images to focus in front of the retina. |
| Nerve | A bundle of axons of neurons. |
| Nervous System | A body system that collects, interprets and responds to stimuli from the environment. |
| Neuron | A nerve cell responsible for relaying information within the nervous system. |
| Neurotransmitter | The chemical form of a signal that is sent between neurons and muscle cells, gland cells or other neurons. |
| Nociceptor | A sensory receptor that detects pain. |
| Olfactory Receptors | Receptors embedded within the mucous membranes of the nose that are specialized in detecting odor molecules/various odors; encapsulated nerves that synapse with the olfactory bulb on the superior/upper aspect of the roof of the nose. |
| Optic Nerve | A nerve that sends impulses to the visual cortex in the brain where images are interpreted. |
| Organ of Corti | A highly specialized organ found within the cochlea that contains the hair cells/stereocilia and their supporting structures (tectoral membrane, basilar membrane). |
| Osmoreceptors | A sensory receptor that detects changes in water volumes and therefore changes in solute concentrations. |
| Otitis Media | A disorder of the ear often caused by the spreading of a cold that produces inflammation of the inner ear. |
| Otolith Organs | The saccule and utricle, each with an otolith (hard bits of calcium carbonate). |
| Outer Ear | Anatomically the outer part of the ear that traps and funnels compressed air inward toward the middle ear. Anatomic structures included are the auricle/pinna, auditory canal. |
| Output Zone | The part of the neuron that consists of the axon endings, where signals are sent on to another neuron or to a gland or muscle cell. |
| Pain | A sensory experience associated with actual or potential tissue damage. |
| Paralysis | Complete loss of voluntary function. |
| Parasympathetic Nerves | A division of the autonomic nerves which allow the body to recover from stressful situations by slowing down physiological activity. |
| Parkinson’s Disease | A disease caused by degeneration of the midbrain (substantia nigra) that causes a marked inability of a person to relax their muscles. |
| Perception | The understanding of a sensation. |
| Peripheral Nervous System | Division of the nervous system that sends signals to and from the central nervous system and contains sensory and motor neurons. |
| Phantom Pain | Pain that feels like it is coming from a body part that is no longer there. This is a common experience among amputees. |
| Photoreceptor | A sensory receptor that detects visible light. |
| Pons | A structure found in the hindbrain that relays messages from the forebrain to the cerebellum, as well as dealing with breathing, equilibrium, bladder control, and many other functions. |
| Postsynaptic Cell | The cell at a synapse to which the neurotransmitter binds. |
| Presynaptic Cell | The cell at a synapse that stores a neurotransmitter for release. |
| Pupil | The black part of the eye through which light enters. |
| Referred Pain | A person's perception of pain that can be wrongly projected from an internal organ to the body's surface because the brain cannot pinpoint the source of the pain. |
| Reflex | An automatic movement of the body that occurs as a response to stimuli. |
| Resting Membrane Potential | The difference in the charge across a cell membrane. |
| Resting Potential | The steady voltage difference that occurs across a neuron’s membrane when it is not being stimulated. |
| Reticular Activating System (RAS) | A part of the reticular formation that plays a role in determining our level of consciousness. |
| Reticular Formation | A network of neurons that connects the brainstem to the spinal cord, cerebrum and cerebellum. It also is involved in our level of consciousness. |
| Retina | An area in the back of the eye that contains photoreceptors to absorb light. |
| Retinal Detachment | An eye disorder resulting in a tear in the retina and vision problems. |
| Retinoblastoma | Cancer of the retina. |
| Rod Cell | A photoreceptor cell that detects dim light. |
| Round Window | A structure in the cochlea that acts to dampen the mechanical fluid vibrations within the cochlea to prevent damage to the hair cells. |
| Salty | Foods that are rich in salts/minerals elicit the sensation of saltiness (sodium, calcium salts, etc). |
| Schizophrenia | A psychotic disorder that causes delusions, hallucinations, incoherent speech, inappropriate/negative behavior. |
| Schwann Cells | The glial cells that compose the myelin sheath in the peripheral nervous system. |
| Sclera | The white of the eye that aids in protection. |
| Seizure | Sudden, involuntary movement caused by erratic uncoordinated electrical discharges by the brain. |
| Semicircular Canals | A system of canals in the vestibular system of the inner ear that provide feedback about body position. |
| Sensation | The awareness of a stimulus. |
| Sensory Adaptation | An adaptation to a stimulus; becoming less aware of a stimulus over time. |
| Sensory Areas | Areas of the cerebral cortex that interpret the meaning of sensations. |
| Sensory Neuron | A type of neuron that collects data about stimuli in the internal and external environment and sends the information to the brain. |
| Sensory System | A system that detects stimuli, converts it to a nerve impulse and sends it to the brain to be interpreted. |
| Short Term Memory | Information that is stored for a short period of time. |
| Sodium Potassium Pump | A protein embedded in the plasma membrane that actively transports sodium and potassium against their concentration gradients. |
| Somatic Nerves | Motor nerves that innervate skin and muscle. |
| Somatic Pain | Pain felt in the skin, skeletal muscles, joints, or tendons. |
| Somatic Sensations | Sensations such as touch, pressure, and pain that are detected by sensory receptors in the body. |
| Somatosensory Cortex | A location in the cerebrum that interprets somatic sensations. |
| Sound | Mechanical energy that travels in the form of a wave detected by our ears. |
| Sour | A perception of taste triggered by acidic foods (example: citrus fruits). |
| Stem Cell Research | Research that is geared toward using stem cells to cure currently incurable diseases. |
| Stem Cells | A class of cells that are referred to as undifferentiated (unspecialized); these cells are found in embryos and adults and have the potential to form into specialized cells if they are exposed to the right environment. |
| Sweet | Foods that are naturally rich in carbohydrates elicit the sensation of sweetness; there are also artificial compounds designed to stimulate sweetness (artificial sweeteners). |
| Sympathetic Nerves | A division of the autonomic nerves which prepare the body for stressful situations by increasing physiological activity. |
| Synapse | The gap between a neuron and a gland cell, muscle cell and another neuron. |
| Taste Receptors | Encapsulated receptors found within taste buds; taste buds are located on lingual papillae on the tongue, in the roof of the mouth and your throat; there are 5 different tastes that human taste buds are capable of detecting. |
| Tectorial Membrane | One of two gel membranes located within the cochlea of the ear and is part of the organ of Corti. The two gel membranes contribute to the mechanical process of hearing. |
| Thermoreceptor | A sensory receptor that detects temperature changes (hot and cold). |
| Threshold | The minimum voltage shift across a membrane required for an action potential to take place. |
| Tinnitus | A disorder of the ear characterized by buzzing or ringing in the ear; often caused by an ear infection. |
| Trigger Zone | The part of the neuron located at the base of the cell body that initiates action potentials. |
| Tympanic Membrane | A thin, highly innervated tissue at the end of the auditory canal that is attached to the auditory ossicles. When sound waves strike the tympanic membrane (eardrum) it vibrates, which causes the auditory ossicles to shift & press against the cochlea. |
| Umami | A perception of taste triggered by amino acids and is often associated with savory foods (example: meat). |
| Vertigo | A disorder in which an infection or injury to the ear disrupts the proper functioning of the vestibular apparatus. |
| Vestibular Apparatus | A system within the inner ear that provides us with feedback about our body position and balance; consists of the semicircular canals and the otolith organs. |
| Visceral Pain | Pain felt in the internal organs. |
| Vision | The perception of light, images, and movement by the eye. Also, a really cool Marvel android. |
| Visual Cortex | The part of the brain that receives nerve impulses from the optic nerve. |
| Vitreous Humor | Fluid within the eyeball (between the lens and the retina) that supports the lens and the eyeball. |
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