Exam 1 Review:  Chapter 1:  General Body Processes

metabolism  - The chemical processes occurring within a living cell or organism that are necessary for the maintenance of life. In metabolism some substances are broken down to yield energy for vital processes while other substances, necessary for life, are synthesized.

anabolism - The phase of metabolism in which simple substances are synthesized into the complex materials of living tissue. These are the synthetic reactions of metabolism and are endergonic/endothermic; they require an input of useful chemical energy.

catabolism - The metabolic breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, resulting in a release of energy.  These are the breakdown reactions of metabolism and are exergonic/exothermic; they may or may not yield an output of useful chemical energy.

digestion - The process by which food is converted into nutrient molecules which can be absorbed and assimilated by the body. It is accomplished in the digestive system, primarily in the mouth, stomach and small intestine, by the mechanical and enzymatic breakdown of foods into simpler chemical compounds.

excretion - The physiological processes of discharging waste molecules/matter (e.g., respiration, urine, sweat, particularly feces) from individual cells and from the body

reproduction - The sexual or asexual process by which organisms generate new individuals of the same kind; procreation.

growth - The process of an individual cell, tissue, organ or organism growing organically; a purely biological unfolding of events involved in an organism changing gradually from a simple to a more complex level; growth can be either an increase in the size or number of cells or both.

responsiveness - [aka irritability] the ability to detect changes in the internal or external environment and then to respond to them.  The body is organized into systems consisting of sensor/receptor, control center, and effector components in order to be responsive.

differentiation - The process by which cells or tissues undergo a change toward a more specialized form or function, especially during embryonic development.

homeostasis - The ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes by means of control/regulatory systems.

intracellular fluid - [aka cytoplasm] The fluid compartment consisting of the cytoplasm (internal contents) of all the cells of the body.

extracellular fluid - The fluid compartment consisting of the various fluids found external to all the cells of the body.  The extracellular fluid is often subdivided into the interstitial fluid and the plasma.

interstitial fluid -  [aka lymph, intercellular fluid] The clear, yellowish fluid portion of located between cells in all tissues except blood.

plasma - The clear, yellowish fluid portion of blood in which red and white blood cells and platelets are suspended. It differs from serum in that it contains fibrin and other soluble clotting elements.

List:

 3. six life processes common to essentially all living systems/organisms.

          maintaining boundaries, movement, metabolism, digestion, excretion, reproduction, growth, responsiveness