MAB+glossary

=Maintaining a Balance – Glossary=

__Active Site__ – the small section on an enzyme molecule that binds with a substrate molecule. The active site is often a few atoms on an enzyme made from hundreds or even thousands of atoms. __Active transport__ –transport of a substance across a cell membrane against the concentration gradient (requiring energy) __Adaptation__ – An alteration in structure, function or behavior, that is hereditary, by which species or an individual improves its condition in relation to its environment. __Adhesion__ – __Alveoli__ – A tiny, thin-walled, capillary-rich sac in the lungs where the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place __Amino acid__ – __Arteries__ – blood vessels with thick walls that carry blood under pressure, away from the heart towards other organs of the body

__Blood__ – the fluid (red in vertebrates) that is pumped through the body by the heart and contains plasma, blood cells, and platelets - carries nutrients, removes wastes

__Capillaries__ – the smallest of blood vessels with very thin walls, which caryr blood between arteries and veins __Capillarity__ – the rising if liquid up thin tubes, due to adhesive and cohesive forces __Catalyst__ – lowers activation energy to speed up or slow down reaction __Cellular respiration__ – chemical process whereby oxygen is combined with glucose to make energy, and water and carbon dioxide are released as by-products __Chemical reaction__ – A process that involves the rearrangement of the molecular or ionic structure of a substance __Co-factor__ - any of various organic or inorganic substances necessary to the function of an enzyme. __Co-enzyme__- a molecule that provides the transfer site for biochemical reactions catalyzed by an enzyme. __Cohesion__ –

__Denaturation__ – permanent changes to the structure of an enzyme (or other chemical) so that it is no longer able to function. __Diffusion__ – the movement of any molecule from a high concentration to a low concentration.

__Ectotherm__ – An organism that is dependent on external sources of body heat __Effector__ – describes the organ, gland or muscle which carries out a response when activated by nerve endings as a result of a stimulus __Enantiostasis__ – **Enantiostasis** is the ability of an open system, especially a living organism, to stabilize and conserve function in spite of an unstable environment __Endotherm__ – An organism that is dependent on internal body structures __Enzymes__ – control the chemical reactions that make up each organism’s metabolism __Estuaries__ –

__Haemoglobin__ – A protein in the red blood cells which carries the oxygen and carbon dioxide in the bloodstream __Homeostasis__ – The ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a stable equilibrium
 * Hypothermia - **condition in which an organism's temperature drops below that required for normal metabolism and body functions

__Induced fit model__ –the model of enzyme functioning based on the idea that an enzyme is not rigid, but alters shape slightly when it binds with a substrate __Internal environment__ –in multicellular organisms, the aqueous environment that is outside the cells but inside the body

__Lock and key model__ – a model in which the active site of an enzyme is complementary to the shape of the specific substrate. BK __Longitudinal__ – __Lungs__ – the sac-like respiratory organs of air-breathing vertabrates

__Metabolism__ – refers to all the interrelated chemical reactions occurring within an organism that enable it to function normally.

__Nephron__ – functional unit of the kidney __Nervous system__ – __Nitrogenous wastes__ –

__Optimum__ – __Osmosis__ –

__pH__ – a measure of the acidity or alkanity of a solution __Phloem__ – tissue in plants that transports nutrients (sucrose) __Plasma__ – is the yellow liquid component of blood. Plasma makes up about 55% of the total blood volume. __Protein__ –

__Receptor__ – An organ or cell that is able to respond to light, heat or other external stimulus and transmit a signal to a sensory nerve __Response__ –

__Specific__ –connected with a species or related to a species __Stimulus__ – __Stomates__ – __Substrate__ – a substance on which an enzyme acts

__Translocation__ – __Transpiration__ – __Transverse__ –

__Valves__ – __Vascular__ – __Veins__ – thin walled blood vessels that return blood to the heart (usually deoxygenated)

__Xylem__ – is specialised tissue for the transport of water and dissolved inorganic minerals from the roots to the leaves.