Term | Definition |
integumentary System | the organ system that protects the body from various kinds of damage, such as loss of water or abrasion from outside |
Nervous System | the network of nerve cells and fibers that transmits nerve impulses between parts of the body |
Endocrine System | the collection of glands that produce hormones that regulate metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, sexual function, reproduction, sleep, and mood |
Urinary | a group of organs in the body concerned with filtering out excess fluid and other substances from the bloodstream |
Tropism (geo-/gravi-, thigmo-, photo-, hydro- | the turning of all or part of an organism in a particular direction in response to an external stimulus (sunlight, gravity, touch) |
Stimulus | an event that evokes a specific functional reaction in an organ or tissue |
Reflex/response | an action that is performed as a response to a stimulus and without conscious thought |
Hormones | signaling molecules produced by glands in multicellular organisms that are transported to organs to regulate physiology and behaviour |
enzymes | a substance produced by a living organism that acts as a catalyst to bring about a specific biochemical reaction. (speeds up chemical reactions and lowers activation energy) |
feedback mechanisms | a process that uses the conditions of one component to regulate the function of the other. It is done to either increase or dampen the change in the system. |
regulation | any process that modifies the frequency, rate, or extent of any biological process |
homeostasis | the tendency of the body to seek and maintain a condition of balance or equilibrium within its internal environment, even when faced with external changes |