GLOSSARY

abiotic factors: the non-living features in an ecosystem absolute referencing: used in a spreadsheet when a cell address in the formula remains constant, no matter where it is copied to absorption: the taking in of a substance, for example from the intestine to the surrounding capillaries accommodation: changing the lens shape to focus a sharp image on the retina according to the relative location of the cell that it has been copied to acetylcholine: a neurotransmitter that carries a nerve impulse across nerve synapses to stimulate an impulse in the next neuron. It is particularly involved in long-term memory formation. acid rain: rainwater, snow or fog that contains dissolved chemicals, such as sulfur dioxide, that make it acidic acid: a chemical that reacts with a base to produce a salt and water. Edible acids taste sour. active immunity: immunity achieved by your body making antibodies to a specic antigen active: describes a volcano that is erupting or has recently erupted adenosine: a chemical involved in energy transfer; may cause drowsiness and be involved in falling asleep adenosine triphosphate: see ATP adrenal glands: a pair of glands situated near the kidneys that release adrenaline and other stress hormones adrenaline: a hormone secreted in response to stressful stimuli. It readies the body for ight or ght by increasing the heart and breathing rates and the blood supply to the muscles. aerobic respiration: the chemical breakdown of food using oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in all body cells and releases energy. alcohol: a colourless volatile ammable liquid (such as ethanol, C2H5OH) that is made by fermentation of sugars and starches alkalis: bases that dissolve in water alpha (a ) particles: positively charged nuclei of helium atoms, consisting of two protons and two neutrons

alpha (a ) waves: waves of electrical impulses emitted by your brain at a frequency of 812 Hz; this type of brainwave is associated with being calm, relaxed but aware of your environment alternating current: current that changes direction along a wire a number of times per second. The alternating current (AC) supplied to homes changes direction 50 times every second. alveoli: tiny air sacs in the lungs at the ends of the narrowest tubes. Oxygen moves from alveoli into the surrounding blood vessels, in exchange for carbon dioxide. ammeter: device used to measure the amount of current in a circuit. Ammeters are placed in series with other components in a circuit. amphetamines: nervous system stimulants, such as speed amplitude: maximum distance that a particle moves away from its undisturbed position amygdala: emotional centre of the brain. It processes primal feelings, such as fear and rage. It may also be involved in emotional memories. amylase: an enzyme in saliva that breaks starch down into sugar anaerobic respiration: the chemical breakdown of food without oxygen. The reaction needs enzymes, occurs in cells and releases less energy than aerobic respiration. analogies: a similarity between two or more things on which a comparison may be based analogue: describes quantities that can have any value and change continuously over time anther: the part of a ower that produces pollen (the male gametes) antibiotic: a substance derived from a micro-organism and used to kill bacteria in the body antibodies: any of various proteins which are produced as a result of the presence of a foreign substance in the body and which act to neutralise or remove that substance anticlines: folds that bend upwards antigen: substance that stimulates the production of antibodies anus: the nal part of the digestive system, thorough which faeces are passed as waste

aorta: a large artery through which oxygenated blood is pumped at high pressure from the left ventricle of your heart to your body argument: value that a function in a spreadsheet will operate on arteries: hollow tubes (vessels) with thick walls carrying blood pumped from the heart to other body parts arterioles: vessels that transport oxygenated blood from the arteries to the capillaries Asian inuenza: a strain of inuenza caused by the H2N2 subtype of inuenza virus; a pandemic spread across parts of the world in 195658 association: linking new knowledge to previous knowledge ATP: adenosine triphosphate: a form of energy released during cellular respiration that provides cells with the energy needed to perform their functions audio: waves with a frequency range of sounds audible to people auditory: relating to the sense of hearing auditory nerve: a large nerve that sends signals to the brain from the hearing receptors in the cochlea auricle: the eshy outside part of the ear autotroph: see producer auxin: a plant hormone that regulates or modies the growth of plants in the presence of light avian inuenza: a strain of inuenza caused by the H5N1 subtype of inuenza virus; a form of this virus is highly contagious in birds and has caused over 300 fatalities in humans since 2003 axon: an appendage of the neuron that nervous impulses travel along to the next neuron or to an effector organ (muscle or gland)

B lymphocyte: a type of lymphocyte that produces antibodies which assist in the destruction of invading pathogens; also known as plasma cells bacillus: a rod-shaped bacterium barbiturates: chemicals that inhibit or decrease synaptic transmission and are hence depressants. They are often taken to calm people down and are used as sedatives.

382 GLOSSARY

base: a chemical substance that will react with an acid to produce a salt and water. Edible bases taste bitter. base station: consists of antennas on top of a large tower that transmit signals from mobile phones to a switching centre beam: wide stream of light rays, all moving in the same direction beamline: part of a synchrotron that directs radiation through a monochromator and into an experimental station beta (b ) particles: charged particles (positive or negative) with the same size and mass as electrons beta (b ) waves: waves of electrical impulses emitted by your brain at a frequency of 1330 Hz; this type of brainwave is associated with being strongly engaged and using many of your senses, and perhaps with anxiety biconvex: describes a convex lens with both sides curved outwards bile: a substance produced by the liver that helps digest fats and oils bioaccumulation: magnication of concentrations of a substance such as a nonbiodegradable pesticide along the food chain; also known as biological magnication biodiversity: the variety of species of biological organisms, often in relation to a particular area biological magnication: see bioaccumulation bionic ear: see cochlear implant biotic factors: the living things (organisms) in an ecosystem birth rate: the number of organisms within a population that are born within a particular period of time Black Death: see bubonic plague bladder: sac that stores urine blog: a personal website or web page where an individual can upload documents, diagrams, photos and short videos, add links to other sites and invite other people to post comments bolus: round, chewed-up ball of food made in the mouth that makes swallowing easier brachytherapy: cancer treatment also known as internal radiotherapy. Radioisotopes are placed inside the body at, or near, the site of a cancer. brain stem: the part of the brain connected to the spinal cord, responsible for breathing, heartbeat and digestion. Sometimes called the medulla.

brain-control interface technology: a direct communication pathway between the brain and an external device, used to decode brain wave patterns and facial movements to bring about particular responses in the external environment bronchi: the narrow tubes through which air passes from the trachea to the smaller bronchioles and alveoli in the respiratory system. Singular = bronchus. bronchioles: small branching tubes in the lungs leading from the two larger bronchi to the alveoli bubble map: a visual thinking tool that organises, analyses and compares bubonic plague: an infectious, epidemic disease, caused by the Yersinia pestis bacteria and carried by eas from rats; also known as the Black Death

caffeine: an example of an excitatory psychoactive drug that stimulates or increases synaptic transmission. It is found in coffee, tea, cocoa, chocolate and some soft drinks. capillaries: minute tubes carrying blood to body cells. Every cell of the body is supplied with blood through capillaries. carbohydrates: organic substances, such as sugars and starch, that are made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen and contain useful chemical energy carbon dioxide: a gas in the air produced by respiration and used by plants as part of photosynthesis. The burning of fossil fuels releases carbon dioxide. carnivore: an animal that eats other animals carrier waves: radio waves that are altered in a precise way so that they contain an audio signal carrying capacity: the maximum population size that a particular environment can sustain cell: the smallest unit of life and the building blocks of living things; electrical device containing chemicals that react to supply an electric charge cell body: contains the nucleus of a neuron, also called grey matter cell membrane: structure that encloses the contents of a cell and allows the movement of some materials in and out cellular immune response: immunity involving the activation of cells (phagocytes) rather than antibodies

cellular pathogen: a pathogen that is made up of cells, such as a tapeworm, fungus or bacterium cellular phones: mobile phones; so called because base stations that receive mobile phone transmissions are arranged in a network of hexagonal cells cellular respiration: the chemical reaction involving oxygen that moves the energy in glucose into the compound ATP. The body is able to use the energy contained in ATP. cellular system: mobile phone system cellulose: a natural substance that keeps the cell wall of plants rigid central nervous system: the part of the nervous system composed of the brain and spinal cord cerebellum: the part of the brain that controls balance and muscle action cerebral cortex: the outer, deeply folded surface of the cerebrum cerebral hemispheres: the left and right halves of the brain cerebrum: the largest part of the brain (about 90 per cent of total brain volume), responsible for higher-order thinking and controlling speech, conscious thought and voluntary actions. It is made up of the frontal, temporal, parietal and occipital lobes. chemical digestion: the chemical reactions changing food into simpler substances that are absorbed into the bloodstream for use in other parts of the body chemical energy: energy stored in chemical bonds that is released during chemical reactions chemical process: a reaction that changes the arrangement of the atoms or molecules of the substances involved chemical reaction: a chemical change in which one or more new chemical substances are produced chemoreceptors: special cells within a sense organ (especially the nose and taste buds) that are sensitive to particular chemicals, giving you the sensations of smell and taste chemosynthetic: describes organisms that produce organic material using energy released from chemical reactions rather than light chlorophyll: the green-coloured chemical in plants that absorbs the light energy used in photosynthesis, which makes food from carbon dioxide and water

GLOSSARY

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chloroplast: oval-shaped organelle found only in plant cells. Chloroplasts contain the pigment chlorophyll. They are the factories in which carbon dioxide and water are changed by sunlight and water into food by the process of photosynthesis. chunks: small pieces of information that are easier to remember than lots of information at once ciliary muscles: muscles that control the shape of the lens behind the iris circadian rhythm: the 24-hour pattern of behaviour exhibited in animals and plants even if deprived of environmental changes circuit breaker: safety device that breaks a circuit if the current suddenly exceeds a specied size. Circuit breakers can be reset. circuit diagram: diagram using symbols to show the parts of an electric circuit circulatory system: the body system that circulates oxygen in blood to all the cells of the body. The circulatory system consists of the heart, the blood vessels and blood. clonal selection theory: a model for how the immune system responds to infection and how certain types of B and T lymphocytes are selected for destruction of specic antigens invading the body coaxial cables: wires that can transmit a number of different signals as electrical pulses cocaine: an example of an excitatory psychoactive drug that stimulates or increases synaptic transmission coccus: a spherical bacterium cochlea: the snail-shaped part of the inner ear. It is lined with tiny hairs that are vibrated by sound and stimulate the hearing receptors. cochlear implant: a device implanted behind the ear that detects and processes sound, then sends signals to the auditory nerve so that severely deaf people can hear cognition: another name for thinking or mental activity cold thermoreceptors: a type of receptor in your skin that can detect a decrease in skin temperature below 35.8 C colon: the part of the large intestine where a food mass passes from the small intestine, and where water and other remaining essential nutrients are absorbed into your body colour blindness: an inherited condition, more common in males, in which a deciency of one or more of the different types of cones may mean that you nd it difcult to see a particular colour or combinations of colours

combustion: chemical reaction in which a substance reacts with oxygen and heat is released commensalism: relationship between organisms where one benets and the other is unaffected community: more than one population living in the same area at a particular time competition: the struggle among organisms for food, territory and other factors compression: region in which the particles are closer than when not disturbed by a wave compression wave: wave involving the vibration of particles in the same direction as energy transfer computerised axial tomography (CAT): a medical imaging technology employing X-rays to produce a 3D image of a body using computer processing concave: curved inwards concept map: a visual thinking tool that shows the connection between ideas conducting path: connected series of materials along which an electric current can ow conduction: transfer of heat through collisions between particles cones: sensory receptors in the retina that respond to red, green or blue light. Cones are mainly in the central part of the retina. constipation: a condition of the bowels, caused by lack of dietary bre, in which solid wastes cannot easily leave consumer: organism that relies on other organisms for its food; also known as a heterotroph continental crust: the plates of the Earths crust that make up the land continental drift: movement of the plates of the Earths crust in relation to each other continuum: a visual thinking tool that shows extremes of an idea or where people stand on a particular idea or issue control: an experimental set-up in which the independent variable is not applied It is used to ensure that the result is due to the variable and nothing else controlled variables: the conditions that must be kept the same throughout an experiment convection: transfer of heat through the ow of particles convection current: circular movement that occurs when warmer, less dense uid particles rise and cooler, denser uid particles sink

converging lens: lens that bends rays so that they move towards each other. Converging lenses are thicker in the middle than at the edges. convex: curved outwards core body temperature: the operating temperature of an organism, especially near the centre of the body cornea: the curved, clear outer covering of your eye corpus callosum: a bridge of nerve bres through which the two cerebral hemispheres communicate corrosive: describes a chemical that wears away the surface of substances, especially metals cortisol: the primary stress hormone cosmic radiation: naturally occurring background radiation from outer space cross-pollination: transfer of pollen from stamens of one ower to the stigma of a ower of another plant of the same type crude oil: liquid formed from the remains of marine plants and animals that died million of years ago; a fossil fuel. Many other fuel products are obtained from crude oil. cycle: a visual thinking tool that shows order and sequence cytokines: proteins secreted by cells to regulate the function of other cells, especially in the immune system cytosol: the uid found inside cells

death rate: the number of organisms within a population that die within a particular period of time decibel (dB): a unit of measurement of relative sound intensity decomposer: organisms that break down organic matter into inorganic materials dehydrated: state in which too much water has been lost from the body dehydration: loss of water from the body delta (d ) waves: waves of electrical impulses emitted by your brain at a frequency of 13 Hz; this type of brainwave is associated with being in a deep, dreamless sleep dendrimer: a molecule that forms the basic structure of a nanoparticle dendrite: structure that relays information towards the cell body of a neuron density: the number of a species living within an area deoxygenated blood: blood from which some oxygen has been removed

384 GLOSSARY

dependent variable: a variable that is expected to change when the independent variable is changed. The dependent variable is observed or measured during the experiment. depressants: inhibitory psychoactive drugs that reduce or decrease synaptic transmission detritivore: animal that feeds on and breaks down dead plant or animal matter diabetes: a medical condition in which the liver cannot effectively convert glucose to glycogen digestion: breakdown of food into a form that can be used by an animal. It includes both mechanical digestion and chemical digestion. digestive system: a complex series of organs and glands that processes food in order to supply your body with the nutrients it needs to function effectively digital: describes quantities that can have only particular values and are represented by numbers direct current: electric current that ows in one direction only disease: any change that impairs the function of an individual in some way that causes harm to the individual distribution: the area inhabited by a plant or animal species diverging lens: lens that bends rays so that they spread out. Diverging lenses are thinner in the middle than at the edges. dopamine: a neurotransmitter involved in producing positive moods and feelings. It is also involved in the bodys reward system. dormant: describes a volcano that has not erupted for more than 20 years but is not considered extinct drought resistant: able to store water and hence tolerate long periods of time without water drought tolerant: able to tolerate a period of time without water dry cells: devices containing chemicals as solids and pastes that react to supply an electric charge dynamite: a relatively stable explosive invented by Alfred Nobel in 1866. It is created by mixing nitroglycerine with an absorbent substance such as silica, forming a paste that can be shaped into rods.

ear canal: the tube that leads from the outside of the ear to the eardrum eardrum: a thin piece of stretched skin inside the ear that vibrates when sound waves reach it

earth socket: connection that provides a route for current to ow to the ground when an electrical appliance malfunctions. It is a safety device that helps to avoid the ow of current through a person using the appliance. echolocation: use of sound to locate objects by detecting echoes ecological niche: the position of a species or population in its ecosystem in relation to each other ecology: the study of ecosystems ecosystem: communities of organisms that interact with each other and their environment ecstasy: an example of an excitatory psychoactive drug; a synthetic hallucinogenic drug (methylenedioxymethamphetamine, MDMA) ectoparasite: parasite that lives outside the body of its host organism effector: an organ that responds to a stimulus electric charge: physical property of matter that causes it to experience a force when near other electrically charged matter. Electric charge can be positive or negative. electric circuit: a path for electrons to follow, consisting of a power supply, one or more loads, and conductors joining the power supply and loads electric current: a measure of the number of electrons owing through a circuit every second. An increase in current means an increase in the rate of ow of electrons in the circuit. electrode: conductor through which an electric current enters or leaves a cell electroencephalogram (EEG): a device which detects and records the electrical activity of the brain electroencephalography: a medical imaging technique for recording electrical activity in the brain electrolyte: acid, base or salt that conducts electricity when dissolved in water or melted electromagnetic spectrum: complete range of wavelengths of energy radiated as electric and magnetic elds electromagnetic waves: electromagnetic energy that is transmitted as moving electric and magnetic elds. There are many different types of electromagnetic energy, e.g. light, microwaves, radio waves. electrons: negatively charged, very light particles in an atom. Electrons move around the nucleus of the atom. electron transport chain reaction: part of the aerobic respiration process emigration: the number of individuals leaving an area

emotions: feelings, such as happiness, sadness and anger, that are interpreted by the brain empathy: the capacity to recognise and to some extent share feelings that are being experienced by other people endocrine glands: organs that produce hormones. Endocrine glands release their hormones into the bloodstream for transport to target organs. endocrine system: the body system of glands that produce and secrete hormones into the bloodstream in order to regulate processes in various organs endoparasite: parasite that lives inside the body of its host organism endorphins: hormones resembling opiates that are released by the brain when you are in pain, in danger or under other forms of stress endoscope: long, exible tube with one optical bre to carry light to an area inside the body and another optical bre to carry light from the body to a lens. The image formed by the lens is examined or recorded. endothermic: describes chemical reactions that absorb heat energy from the surroundings energy pyramid: a representation of the level of food energy at each level within a food chain enzymes: special chemicals that speed up reactions but are themselves not used up in the reaction ephemeral: lasting for only a very short time epicentre: the point on the Earths centre directly above the site where an earthquake originates epidemic: a disease affecting a large number of people in a particular area in a relatively short period of time episodic memory: your events memory, dealing with episodes that occur at one time or place equilibrium: a state in which conditions are balanced and there is neither growth nor a decrease in number; also known as steady state or plateau phase erythrocytes: red blood cells ethanol: an end product of anaerobic respiration in plants; a form of alcohol ethics: the system of moral principles on the basis of which people, communities and nations make decisions about what is right or wrong eutrophication: a form of water pollution involving an excess of nutrients such as nitrates and phosphorus, resulting in algal blooms and possible death of sh and other organisms

GLOSSARY

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excitatory psychoactive drugs: chemicals such as caffeine, that increase or stimulate synaptic transmission excretion: removal of wastes from the body excretory system: the body system that removes waste substances from the body exothermic: describes chemical reactions that give out heat energy to the surroundings exponential growth: a rapid increase in number or size, represented by a J-shaped graph external environment: the environment outside the body external radiotherapy: cancer treatment where radiation is directed from an external machine to the site of the cancer extinct: describes a volcano that has not erupted for thousands of years and is effectively dead

fair testing: a method for determining an answer to a problem without favouring any particular outcome; another name for a controlled experiment fat: an organic substance that is solid at room temperature and is made up of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen fault: a break in a rock structure causing a sliding movement of the rocks along the break fertilisation: penetration of the ovum by a sperm lament: coil of wire made from a metal that glows brightly when it gets hot. The laments in light globes heat up when electricity ows through them. rst-order consumer: organism that is within the second trophic level of a food chain (herbivores); also known as a primary consumer shbone diagram: a visual thinking tool that analyses and compares ssion: splitting of the nuclei of large atoms into two smaller atoms and several neutrons, releasing radiation and heat energy accid: limp, not rm owchart: a visual thinking tool that shows order and sequence ower: the sexually reproductive structure of some plants focal point: the focus for a beam of light rays focus: the point at which an earthquake begins folding: buckling of rocks caused when rocks are under pressure from both sides

food chain: diagram that shows how the energy stored in one organism is passed to another food web: diagram showing several food chains joined together to demonstrate that animals eat more than one type of food forebrain: consists of the cerebrum, cerebral cortex, thalamus and hypothalamus fossil fuel: substance, such as coal, oil and natural gas, that has formed from the remains of ancient organisms. Coal, oil and natural gas are often used as fuels; that is, they are burned in order to produce heat. frequency: number of vibrations in one second, or the number of wavelengths passing in one second fuel: a substance that is burned in order to release energy, usually in the form of heat fuel rod: one of the rods which form the fuel source of a nuclear reactor; contains the ssile nuclides needed to produce a nuclear chain reaction. fumigant: a chemical used in the form of smoke or fumes, to kill pests function: common type of calculation built into spreadsheets functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI): a type of specialised MRI scan used to measure the change in blood ow related to neural activity in the brain or spinal cord functional magnetic resonance spectroscopy (fMRS): a medical imaging technique used to measure levels of different metabolites in body tissues; this can be used to diagnose certain metabolic disorders, especially those affecting the brain fungi: organisms, such as mushrooms and moulds, that help to decompose dead or decaying matter. Many are parasites, and these can lead to disease. fungicide: a chemical used to kill fungal growth fuse: safety wire that melts when too much current ows through it. Fuse wires are designed to melt at different currents.

gametes: sex cells gamma rays: high energy electromagnetic radiation produced during nuclear reactions. They have no mass and travel at the speed of light. genetic modication (GM): the technique for moving genes from one plant to another, making it possible to design plants that have certain characteristics geostationary: describes a satellite that remains above the same location of the Earths surface GHB: gamma hydroxybuturate, also known as liquid E or fantasy, which depresses the nervous system glucagon: a hormone, produced by the pancreas, that increases blood glucose levels glucose: a simple carbohydrate and the simplest form of sugar glycaemic index (GI): a measure of how quickly a particular food raises the level of blood sugar over a two-hour period glycogen: the main storage carbohydrate in animals, converted from glucose by the liver and stored in the liver and muscle tissue glycolysis: process by which glucose is converted into a simple form, during which energy is released Gondwanaland: one of the two smaller continents created when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago guard cells: cells surrounding each stoma in a leaf enabling it to open or close depending on the availability of water

Galen, Claudius: a Greek physician (c.129c.199 AD) whose ideas provided the basis of medical theory for over a thousand years. gall bladder: a small organ that stores and concentrates bile within the body galvanometer: an instrument used to measure small electric currents, named after Luigi Galvani

haemoglobin: the red pigment in red blood cells that carries oxygen half-life: time taken for half the radioactive atoms in a sample to decay; that is, change into atoms of a different element Harvey, William: an English physician (15781657) who was the rst to discover the cirulation of blood in the body heart: a muscular organ that pumps blood through the circulatory system so that oxygen and nutrients can be transported to the bodys cells and wastes can be transported away heat exhaustion: a heat-related illness that occurs when the core body temperature reaches 39 C, due to loss of uid and salt from the body

386 GLOSSARY

heatstroke: a serious medical condition that occurs when the core body temperature reaches 41 C and the bodys internal organs begin to shut down herbicide: a chemical used to kill unwanted plants (weeds) herbivore: animal that eats only plants heroin: an inhibitory psychoactive drug that decrease synaptic transmission hertz: unit of frequency; its abbreviation is Hz. One hertz is equal to one vibration every second. heterotroph: see consumer higher-order thinking: involves problem solving and decision making hindbrain: a continuation of the spinal cord hippocampus: part of the brain with a key role in consolidating learning, comparing new information to previous experience, and converting information from working memory to long-term storage Hippocratic Oath: an oath historically taken by doctors that requires them to follow ethical rules and principles homeostasis: the maintenance of a relatively constant internal physiological environment of the body or part of the body (e.g. blood glucose level, pH, body temperature), in varying external conditions hormones: chemical substances produced by glands and circulated in the blood. Hormones have specic effects in the body. horst: a block of the Earths crust, with faults on either side, that has been pushed upwards by the forces below host: organism living in a relationship with another organism. The host supplies something needed by the other organism (called the parasite). hot thermoreceptors: a type of receptor in your skin that can detect an increase in skin temperature above 37.5 C (normal body temperature) humoral immune response: immunity involving the activation of antibodies rather than cells hydrocarbons: compounds containing only hydrogen and carbon hypothalamus: monitors internal systems and controls the release of hormones to maintain the normal body state (homeostasis) hypothesis: a suggested explanation for past observations that is tested in an experiment

image: picture of an object immigration: the number of individuals moving into an area

immune system: a network of interacting body systems that protects against disease by identifying and destroying pathogens and infected, malignant, or broken-down cells immunisation: see vaccination immunity: resistance to a particular disease-causing pathogen immunology: the branch of science that deals with immunity from disease implanted electrodes: technological devices that connect directly to a biological subjects brain, often to assist people with areas in the brain that have become dysfunctional after a stroke or other head injuries independent variable: a variable that is deliberately changed during an experiment indicator: a substance that changes colour when it reacts with acids or bases. The colour shows how acidic or basic a substance is. infectious disease: a disease that is contagious (can be spread from one organism to another) and caused by a pathogen inammation: a reaction of the body to an infection, commonly characterised by heat, redness, swelling and pain infra-red radiation: invisible radiation emitted by all warm objects. You feel infra-red radiation as heat. inhibitory psychoactive drugs: chemicals such as barbiturates, that decrease synaptic transmission insect pollination: transfer of pollen from one ower to another by insects insecticide: a chemical used to kill insects insulator: material that does not allow heat to move through it insulin: hormone that removes glucose from the blood and stores it as glycogen in the liver and muscles intermediate host: the organism that a parasite lives in or on in its larval stage; also known as secondary host internal environment: the environment inside the body internal radiotherapy: cancer treatment also known as brachytherapy. Radioisotopes are placed inside the body at, or near, the site of a cancer. interneuron: a nerve cell that carries nervous impulses through the central nervous system. They provide the link between sensory neurons and motor neurons. interspecic competition: competition between organisms of the same species

intraspecic competition: competition between organisms of different species introduced species: an organism that has been released into an ecosystem in which it does not occur naturally iris: coloured part of the eye that opens and closes the pupil to control the amount of light that enters the eye isotopes: atoms of the same element that differ in the number of neutrons in the nucleus

kerosene: the fuel used in jet aircraft kidneys: body organs that lter the blood, removing urea and other wastes kinaesthetic: relating to movement, involvement and action kinetic energy: energy due to the motion of an object Krebs cycle: part of the aerobic respiration process in which carbon dioxide and ATP (energy) are produced

lactate: see lactic acid lactic acid: an end product of anaerobic respiration in animals; also known as lactate large intestine: the penultimate part of the digestive system, where water is absorbed from the waste before it is transported out of the body lateral inversion: reversed sideways Laurasia: one of the two smaller continents created when the supercontinent Pangaea broke apart about 200 million years ago lava: mixture of molten rock and gases that has reached the Earths surface from a volcano lava bomb: see volcanic bomb Law of Conservation of Mass: law that states that in a chemical reaction, the total mass of the reactants is the same as the total mass of the products Law of Constant Proportions: law that states that in chemical compounds, the ratio of the elements is always the same left atrium: upper left section of the heart where oxygenated blood from the lungs enters the heart left ventricle: lower left section of the heart, which pumps oxygenated blood to all parts of the body

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lens: a transparent curved object that bends light towards or away from a point called the focus. The eye has a jelly-like lens. light energy: energy from the light of the sun, absorbed by plants and used in photosynthesis limbic system: a collection of structures within your brain involved in memory, controlling emotions, decision making, motivation and learning linear accelerator: part of a synchrotron that uses extremely high voltages (100 million volts) to accelerate electrons to 99.9987 per cent of the speed of light lipases: enzymes that break fats and oils down into fatty acids and glycerol lipids: type of nutrient that includes fats and oils liver: largest gland in the body. The liver secretes bile for digestion of fats, builds proteins from amino acids, breaks down many substances harmful to the body and has many other essential functions. load: device that uses electrical energy and converts it into other forms of energy logbook: a complete record of an investigation from the time a search for a topic is started long-sightedness: the condition of not being able to see clearly things that are close longitudinal wave: see compression wave luminous: releasing its own light lungs: the organ for breathing air. Gas exchange occurs in the lungs. lymphatic system: the body system containing the lymph vessels, lymph nodes, lymph and white blood cells that is involved in draining uid from the tissues and helping defend the body against invasion by diseasecausing agents lymphocyte: small, mononuclear white blood cells present in large numbers in lymphoid tissues and circulating in blood and lymph. They combat microbial invasion, ght cancer and neutralise toxic chemicals. lysozyme: a chemical in human teardrops able to kill some types of bacteria without harming the bodys natural defences; discovered by Scottish bacteriologist Sir Alexander Fleming

magma: a very hot mixture of molten rock and gases, just below the Earths surface, that has come from the mantle

magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): a medical imaging technique employing a poweful magnetic eld and radio waves to produce a 3D image of a body magnetoencephalography (MEG): a medical imaging technique for mapping brain activity by recording magnetic elds produced by electrical currents occurring naturally in the brain main switch: control switch that turns all the household circuits on or off mantle: thick layer inside the Earth, below the crust. Most of the mantle is solid rock, although the upper part is molten rock called magma. marijuana: plant in which the active ingredient is an inhibitory psychoactive drug that reduces or decreases synaptic transmission; sometimes called cannabis mark, release and recapture: a sampling method used to determine the abundance of mobile species matrix: a visual thinking tool that organises, analyses and compares mechanical digestion: digestion that uses physical factors such as chewing with the teeth mechanoreceptors: special cells within the skin, inner ear and skeletal muscles that are sensitive to touch, pressure and motion, enabling you to balance, hear and sense pressure and movement medium: material through which a wave moves medulla oblongata (medulla): a part of the brain developed from the posterior portion of the hindbrain and continuing with the spinal cord. See also brain stem. melatonin: hormone produced by the pineal gland that is involved in sleepiness meltdown: the melting of a nuclearreactor core as a result of a serious nuclear accident membrane: a thin layer of tissue memory cells: cells that may be formed from lymphocytes after infection with a pathogen they remember each specic pathogen encountered and are able to mount a strong and rapid response if that pathogen is detected again metabolism: the chemical reactions occurring within an organism that enable the organism to use energy and grow and repair cells metaphor: a gure of speech in which something is spoken of as if it were something else micrometre: one millionth of a metre

microwave: an electromagnetic wave of very high frequency, with a wavelength range from 50 cm to 1 cm middle ear: the section of the ear between your eardrum and the inner ear, containing the ossicles mineral: any of the inorganic elements that are essential to the functioning of the human body and are obtained from foods mirror neurons: group of neurons that activate when you perform an action and when you see or hear others performing the same action mitochondria: small rod-shaped organelles that supply energy to other parts of the cell. They are usually too small to be seen with light microscopes. Singular: mitochondrion. mnemonic: a strategy to help you to remember things monochromator: material that allows only specic wavelengths of radiation to pass through motor neuron: the nerve cell that causes an organ, such as a muscle or gland, to respond to a stimulus motor neuron disease: a medical condition that progressively destroys motor neurons, resulting in progressive paralysis but leaving the brain and sense organs unaffected. The condition is eventually fatal. moulds: types of microscopic fungi found growing on the surface of foods multicellular organism: an organism that is composed of many cells. Most plants and animals are multicellular. mutualism: relationship between two different organisms in which both benet myelin: a fatty, white substance that encases the axons (connecting branches) of the neurons in the nervous system myelination: the process of neurons becoming coated in a myelin sheath

nanoparticle: a microscopic particle about 0.1100 nanometres in size natural gas: gas formed from the remains of plants and animals that died millions of years ago; a fossil fuel negative electric charge: the charge on an atom or object with more electrons than protons negative feedback reaction: a reaction in which the response is in the opposite direction to the stimulus; for example, if levels of a chemical are too high, the response is to lower them

388 GLOSSARY

negatively charged: having more electrons than protons (more negative charges than positive charges) nephrons: the ltration and excretory units of the kidney nerve: a bundle of neurons nervous system: the system of nerves and nerve centres in an animal in which messages are sent as an electrical and then a chemical impulse. It comprises the central nervous system and the peripheral nervous system. neural prostheses: technological devices that connect directly to a biological subjects brain, often to assist people with areas in the brain that have become dysfunctional after a stroke or other head injuries neurogenesis: the creation of neurons neuron: nerve cell neurotoxic: toxic to neurons neurotransmitter: chemical released from the axon terminals into the synapse between your nerve cells (neurons) during a nerve impulse neutral: having the same number of protons and electrons neutralisation: a reaction between an acid and a base. A salt and water (a neutral liquid) are the products of this type of reaction. neutrons: particles with no electrical charge that are found in the nucleus of an atom nitroglycerine: a highly explosive liquid nocturnal: active only at night non-cellular pathogen: a pathogen that is not made up of cells, such as a virus, prion or viroid non-infectious disease: a disease that cannot be spread from one organism to another non-REM: stage in sleep without rapid eye movement norepinephrine: also called noradrenaline; common neurotransmitter involved in arousal states normal: a line drawn perpendicular to a surface at the point where a light ray meets it nuclear radiation: radiation from the nucleus of an atom, consisting of alpha or beta particles, or gamma rays nuclear reactor: power plant where the radioactive properties of uranium are used to generate electricity nucleus: central part of an atom, made up of protons and neutrons; roundish structure inside a cell that acts as the control centre for the cell. Plural = nuclei.

obligate anaerobes: organisms that can respire only anaerobically (in the absence of oxygen) obligate intracellular parasite: a parasite that needs to infect a host cell before it can reproduce observations: information obtained by the use of our senses or measuring instruments ocean ridge: an area where the tectonic plates move apart, allowing magma from the mantle to rise, forming underwater volcanoes and creating new oceanic crust as it is cooled and solidied by sea water oceanic crust: one of the types of crust that makes up the Earths outer layer. Oceanic crust is thinner than continental crust and made up of dense, heavy rocks such as basalt. octane: the major component of petrol oesophagus: part of the digestive system composed of a tube connecting the mouth and pharynx with the stomach Ohms Law: statement relating the change in voltage across a conductor to the change in current. It states that the voltage across a particular conductor divided by the current through it is constant. ohmic: describes conductors that obey Ohms Law olfactory nerve: nerve that sends signals to the brain from the chemoreceptors in the nose omnivore: animal that eats plants and other animals opaque: describes a substance that does not allow any light to pass through it opiates: drugs derived from the opium poppy that involve the neurotransmitter dopamine in stimulating pleasure centres in the brain; they may also induce sleep and alleviate pain optic nerve: large nerves that send signals to the brain from the sight receptors in the retina optical bres: narrow strands made of two concentric glass layers so that the light is internally reected along the bres optimum range: the range, within a tolerance range for a particular abiotic factor, in which an organism functions best organelle: small structure in a cell with a special function organism: living thing

ossicles: a set of three tiny bones that send vibrations from the eardrum to the inner ear. They also make the vibrations larger. ova: female gametes (eggs) or sex cells oval window: an egg-shaped hole covered with a thin tissue. It is the entrance from the middle ear to the outer ear. ovary: in plants, the hollow, lower end of the carpel containing the ovules (the female egg cells); in animals, the female organ that produces ova and reproductive hormones oxidation: chemical reaction involving the loss of electrons by a substance oxygen: a gas in the air (and water) that animals need to breathe; made up of particles with two oxygen atoms. Plants produce oxygen as part of photosynthesis. oxytocin: hormone secreted from the pituitary gland that assists in the formation of bonds between mothers and their babies, and perhaps between people in close relationships

pain receptors: special cells located throughout the body (except the brain) that send nerve signals to the brain and spinal cord in the presence of damaged or potentially damaged cells, resulting in the sensation of pain pancreas: a large gland in the body that produces and secretes the hormone insulin and an important digestive uid containing enzymes pandemic: a disease occurring throughout an entire country or continent, or worldwide Pangaea: a super-continent that existed about 225 million years ago. All of the landmasses that existed at this time were joined together to form this super-continent. Panthalassa: the vast sea surrounding the supercontinent of Pangaea papilla: bumps on your tongue that are thought to contain taste buds Pap test: a test used in women to detect abnormal cervical cells that can lead to cancer parallax error: error caused by reading a scale at an angle rather than placing it directly in front of the eye parallel circuit: a circuit that has more than one path for electricity to ow through. If one of the paths has a break in it, the others will still work. paralysis: loss of the ability to move

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parasite: organism that lives in or on another organism. The parasite benets while usually harming the host organism. parasitism: an interaction in which one species (the parasite) lives in or on another species (the host) from which it obtains food, shelter and other requirements passive immunity: immunity achieved by your body recieving antibodies from an outside source, such as from your mothers milk or through vaccination pathogen: a disease-producing organism penicillin: a powerful antibiotic substance found in moulds of the genus Penicillium that kills many disease-causing bacteria without harming the bodys natural defences perennial: lasting for three or more years peripheral nervous system (PNS): made up of sensory and motor neurons. It connect the central nervous system to the rest of the body, and detects and responds to change. peristalsis: the process of pushing food along the oesophagus or small intestine by the action of muscles perspiration: the salty uid produced by sweat glands under the skin pH scale: scale from 1 (acidic) to 14 (basic) that measures how acidic or basic a substance is phage: a type of virus that infects and kills bacteria phagocyte: white blood cell that ingests and destroys foreign particles, bacteria and other cells phagocytosis: the ingestion of solid particles by a cell philosopher: someone who practices the study of the truths or principles underlying knowledge and being phloem vessels: long, narrow, living cells that are joined together to form long tubes in a plant. The tubes move the food made in the leaves to other parts of the plant, such as the roots and storage areas. photoreceptor: a receptor cell located in your eye that is stimulated by light, converting it to electrical energy that is sent to the brain, giving you the sensation of light photosynthesis: the food-making process in plants that takes place in chloroplasts within cells. The process uses carbon dioxide, water and energy from the sun. pickling: preserving food by storing it in vinegar (acetic acid)

pie chart: a diagram using sectors of a circle to compare the size of parts making up a whole quantity pineal gland: gland that produces the hormone melatonin, which can make you feel drowsy pitch: highness or lowness of a sound. The pitch that you hear depends on the frequency of the vibrating air. pituitary: a small gland at the base of the brain that releases hormones plague: contagious diseases that spread rapidly through a population and resulted in high mortality (death rates) plasma cell: see B lymphocyte plate tectonics: the theory concerning the movement of the continental plates plateau phase: see equilibrium PMI chart: visual thinking tool that helps you look at something from different perspectives poliomyelitis: a highly infectious disease caused by the Picornaviridae virus that can have consequences including complete recovery, limb and chest muscle paralysis, or death pollen grains: the male gametes of a ower pollination: transfer of pollen from the stamen (the male part) of a ower to the stigma (the female part) of a ower pollinator: something that transfers pollen from one ower to another pons: part of the brain involved in regulating sleep, arousal and breathing, and coordinating some muscle movements population: a group of individuals of the same species living in the same area at a particular time positive electric charge: the charge on an atom or object with fewer electrons than protons positive feedback reaction: a reaction in which the response is in the same direction as the stimulus; for example, during childbirth the onset of contractions activates the release of the hormone oxytocin, which stimulates further contractions positively charged: having more protons than electrons (more positive charges than negative charges) positron emission tomography (PET): a nuclear medicine imaging technique employing gamma rays to produce a 3D image of a body or functional processes in the body power supply: a device that can provide an electric current

predatorprey relationship: relationship between organisms in which one species (the predator) kills and eats another species (the prey) primacy: involves remembering the rst time that you do something, or the beginning of something primary consumer: the rst consumer in a food chain; also known as a rst-order consumer primary host: the organism that a parasite lives in or on in its adult stage prion: a non-cellular pathogen priority grid: a visual thinking tool that quanties and ranks procedural memory: your skill memory, involved in learning physical activities producer: organism at the base of the food chain that does not need to feed on other organisms; also known as an autotroph products: chemical substances that result from a chemical reaction proteases: enzymes that break proteins down into amino acids protein: chemical made up of amino acids needed for the growth and repair of the cells in living things protons: positively charged particles found in the nucleus of an atom pseudoscience: an apparently scientic approach to a theory which on close analysis is shown to have no scientic validity psychoactive drugs: chemicals that decrease synaptic transmission (such as barbiturates) or increase synaptic transmission (such as caffeine) pulmonary artery: the vessel through which deoxygenated blood, carrying wastes from respiration, travels from the heart to the lungs pulmonary vein: the vessel through which oxygenated blood travels from your lungs to the heart pupil: a hole through which light enters the eye pyramid of biomass: a representation of the dry mass of organisms at each level within a food chain pyramid of numbers: a representation of the population, or numbers of organisms, at each level within a food chain

quadrat: a sampling area, often one square metre, in which the number of organisms in that area is counted and recorded quarantine: strict isolation of sick people from others for a period of time (originally 40 days) in order to prevent the spread of disease

390 GLOSSARY

radiant heat: heat that is transferred from one place to another by radiation radiation: a method of heat transfer that does not require particles to transfer heat from one place to another radiocarbon dating: a method of determining the age of a fossil using the remaining amount of unchanged radioactive carbon. All living organisms have the same proportion of radioactive and nonradioactive carbon atoms, but this changes after they die. radioisotopes: a radioactive form of isotope radiometric dating: determining the age of rocks and fossils based on the rate of decay or half-life of particular isotopes radio waves: low energy electromagnetic waves with a much lower frequency and longer wavelength than visible light random error: an error that occurs due to estimation when reading scales, or when the quantity being measured changes randomly rarefaction: region in which the particles are farther apart than when not disturbed by a wave rays: narrow beams of light reactants: the original substances present in a chemical reaction receiving antenna: metal structure in which electrons are made to vibrate by radio waves or microwaves in the atmosphere recency: involves remembering the last time that you do something, or the end of something receptors: special cells that detect energy and convert it to electrical energy that is sent to the brain rectier: device that changes alternating current to direct current rectum: the nal section of the digestive system, where waste food matter is stored as faeces before being excreted through the anus red blood cells: living cells in the blood that transport oxygen to all other living cells in the body. Oxygen is carried by the red pigment haemoglobin. reection: bouncing off the surface of a substance reex action: a quick response to a stimulus. Reex actions do not involve thought.

reex arc: a nervous pathway involving a small number of neurons. A reex occurs when nervous impulses travel from the receptor to the spinal cord and then to the effector organ. refraction: change in the speed of light as it passes from one substance into another. It usually involves a change in direction. regulating: the process by which the brain detects and responds to the bodys internal and external environments relative intensity: a measure of how loud a sound is using a sound meter relative referencing: used in a spreadsheet when the cell address in the formula is changed REM: rapid eye movement that occurs when dreaming while asleep repeater station: equipment that retransmits communication signals with increased energy so the signal does not fade away repetition: the act of regularly reviewing information resistance: measure of the electrical energy required for an electric current to pass through an object. The energy is changed to heat. resistors: circuit component that has resistance respiration: the process by which your body gains energy by breaking down glucose, using oxygen and creating carbon dioxide and water; a slow combustion reaction respiratory system: the body system involving the lungs and associated structures, which take in air and supply the blood with oxygen to deliver to the bodys cells so they can carry out their essential functions; it also performs gas exchange to remove the waste gas carbon dioxide reticular formation: a network of neurons that opens and closes to increase or decrease the amount of information that ows into and out of the brain retina: curved surface at the back of the eye. It is lined with sight receptors. Richter scale: a scale that measures the amount of energy released during an earthquake rift valley: a sunken area where two blocks of crust have dropped down between faults right atrium: upper right section of the heart where deoxygenated blood from the body enters right ventricle: lower right section of the heart, which pumps deoxygenated blood to the lungs

rods: sensory receptors in the retina that respond to low levels of light and allow you to see in black and white in dim light root hairs: tube-like outgrowths of cells on the surface of roots. They have thin walls, which allow water and dissolved substances to move into the root.

saliva: watery substance in the mouth that moistens food before swallowing salivary glands: glands in the mouth that produce saliva sampling methods: techniques used to determine the density and distribution of various populations and communities within an ecosystem satellite: object that orbits another object. The Moon is the Earths satellite. Scientists have made and launched many articial satellites. scattering: describes light sent in many directions by small particles within a substance sea breeze: the breeze that occurs when differences in air pressure cause air particles to ow from the ocean towards the land second-order consumer: organism that is within the third trophic level of a food chain (carnivores); also known as a secondary consumer secondary consumer: the second consumer in a food chain; also known as a second-order consumer secondary host: see intermediate host seismic waves: waves of energy that travel through the Earths crust, caused by earthquakes seismograph: an instrument used to detect and measure the intensity of an earthquake seismologist: a scientist who studies earthquakes self-pollination: transfer of pollen from the owers own stamen to its stigma semantic memory: your fact memory, unrelated to specic events you have experienced semicircular canals: three curved tubes, lled with uid, in the inner ear that control your sense of balance sense organ: a specialised structure that detects stimuli (such as light, sound, touch, taste and smell) in your environment sensory neurons: a nerve cell in the sense organs. It detects change in the environment and sends a message to the central nervous system.

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series circuit: a circuit with the components joined one after the other in a single continuous loop serotonin: a common neurotransmitter involved in producing states of relaxation and regulating sleep and moods short-sightedness: the condition of not being able to see clearly things that are far away sigmoid: the shape of a graph that shows a population increasing in number then reaching a plateau signalling molecule: a chemical involved in transmitting information between cells skin: external covering of an animal body slip fault: a geological feature where movement along a fault is sideways; that is, where the blocks of crust slip horizontally past each other small intestine: the part of the digestive system between the stomach and large intestine, where much of the digestion of food and absorption of nutrients takes place sonar: use of reected sound waves to locate objects under water (sound navigation and ranging) sound level: the energy of sound that is an indication of the loudness of a sound Spanish inuenza: a strain of inuenza caused by the H1N1 subtype of inuenza virus; a Spanish u pandemic spread across the world in 19181920 spatial memory: your map memory, used to make mental maps of where things are and how to get from one place to another species: a group of living organisms capable of interbreeding with each other but not with members of other species spirochaete: a spiral-shaped bacterium stable: describes a nucleus that does not change spontaneously. The protons and neutrons in the nucleus are held together strongly. static electricity: a build-up of charge in one place steady state: see equilibrium stigma: the female part of a ower, at the top of the carpel, that catches the pollen during pollination stimulants: excitatory psychoactive drugs, such as caffeine and amphetamines, that increase or stimulate synaptic transmission stimuli: changes in the environment that can be detected and responded to

stimulusresponse model: a system in which any changes or variations (stimuli) in the internal environment are detected (by receptors) if a response is required, this is communicated to effectors to bring about some type of change or correction so the conditions can be brought back to normal stoma: small openings through which water transfer occurs, located mainly on the lower surface of leaves. These pores are opened and closed by guard cells. Plural = stomata. storyboard: a visual thinking tool that shows order and sequence subduction: process in which two tectonic plates push against each other, and oceanic crust sinks below the less dense continental crust. suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN): the biological clock, located in the hypothalamus near where the optic nerves cross surface protein: a protein molecule occurring on the surface of a virus swine u: a strain of inuenza caused by the H1N1 subtype of inuenza virus, containing combination of genes from the swine, human and avian u viruses. A swine u pandemic killed several thousand humans in 2009. switch: device that opens and closes the conducting path through which a current ows switching centre: switches mobile phone calls to other base stations or to a xed telephone system symbiotic relationship: very close relationship between two organisms of different species. It may benet or harm one of the partners. synaesthesia: a condition in which a sensation is produced in one physical sense when a stimulus is applied to another; affected people may associate letters with a avour, numbers with a gender or sounds with colour synapse: the gap between adjoining neurons across which electrical nervous impulses are sent synaptic pruning: the elimination of the least-used and hence weakest synapses (connections between neurons) in the brain in adolescence synchrotron: a building-sized device that uses electrons accelerated to near the speed of light to produce intense electromagnetic radiation. This is used to produce data that can describe objects as small as a single molecule. synclines: folds that bend downwards

systematic errors: errors that are consistently high or low due to the incorrect use or limitations of equipment

T cells: see T lymphocytes T lymphocyte: a type of lymphocyte that destroys invading pathogens by attacking them target cells: cells in the body that respond to a particular hormone target map: a visual thinking tool that quanties and ranks tastebuds: nerve endings located in your tongue that contain receptors sensitive to sweet, salty, bitter, sour and savoury chemicals, allowing you to experience taste thalamus: part of the brain through which all sensory information from the outside (except smell) passes before going to other parts of the brain for further processing THC: the active ingredient in marijuana; also known as delta-9 tetrahydrocannobinol thermoreceptors: special cells located in your skin, part of your brain and body core that are sensitive to temperature thermoregulation: the control of body temperature thermostat: a device that establishes and maintains a desired temperature automatically threshold of hearing: the lowest level of sound that can be heard by the human ear threshold of pain: the lowest level of sound that causes pain to the human ear timeline: a visual thinking tool that shows order and sequence tinnitus: a ringing or similar sensation of sound in the ears, caused by damage to the cells of the inner ear tolerance range: range of an abiotic factor in the environment in which an organism can survive tongue: the sense organ responsible for taste total internal reection: complete reection of a light beam that may occur when the angle between a boundary and a beam of light is small trachea: narrow tube from the mouth to the lungs through which air moves transect: a sampling area along a straight line, in which the number of organisms in that area is counted and recorded

392 GLOSSARY

transformer: device that can increase or decrease voltages for alternating current translocation: transport of materials, such as water and glucose, in plants translucent: allowing light to come through imperfectly, as in frosted glass transmissible spongiform encephalopathy (TSE): a degenerative neurological disease caused by prions transmitting antenna: metal structure in which vibrating electrons cause radio waves to travel through the air transparent: describes a substance that allows most light to pass through it. Objects can be seen clearly through transparent substances. transpiration: loss of water from plant leaves through their stomata transpiration stream: movement of water through a plant as a result of loss of water from the leaves transverse wave: wave involving the vibration of particles perpendicular to the direction of energy transfer tremor: vibration on the Earths surface caused by an earthquake trophic level: a level within a food chain, food web or food pyramid tsunami: a powerful ocean wave triggered by an undersea earth movement turgid: rm, distended

ultrasound: sound with frequencies too high for humans to hear ultraviolet radiation: invisible radiation similar to light but with a slightly higher frequency and more energy universal indicator: a mixture of indicators that changes colour as the strength of an acid or base changes, indicating the pH of the substance unstable: describes an atom in which the neutrons and protons in the nucleus are not held together strongly ureters: tubes from each kidney that carry urine to the bladder urine: yellowish liquid, produced in the kidneys. It is mostly water and contains waste products from the blood such as urea, ammonia and uric acid.

vaccination: administering a vaccine to stimulate the immune system of an individual to develop immunity to a disease; also known as immunisation

valid: sound or true. A valid conclusion can be supported by other scientic investigations. variable: quantity or condition that can be changed, kept the same or measured during an experiment variable resistor: device for which the resistance can be altered variolation: deliberate infection of a person with smallpox (Variola) in a controlled manner so as to minimise the severity of the infection and also to induce immunity against further infection vascular bundle: group of xylem and phloem vessels within a plant stem vector: an organism that carries a pathogen between other organisms without being affected by the disease the pathogen causes; an organism that carries and disperses reproductive structures (e.g.pollen) of a different species veins: blood vessels that carry blood back to the heart. They have valves and thinner walls than arteries. vena cava: large vein leading into the top right chamber of the heart Venn diagram: a visual thinking tool that analyses and compares venules: small veins Vesalius, Andreas: a Greek physician (15141564) who began to transform medical knowledge by questioning all previous theories and dissecting bodies to nd out how they worked. His ndings helped establish surgery as a separate medical profession. vesicle: a small cavity, usually lled with uid vibrations: repeated fast back-and-forth movements villi: tiny nger-like projections from the wall of the intestine that maximise the surface area of the structure to increase the efciency of nutrient absorption. Singular = villus. virtual focal point: common point from which rays appear to have come before passing through a concave lens virus: a non-cellular pathogen visible light: very small part of the electromagnetic spectrum to which our eyes are sensitive visual: relating to the sense of sight vitamin D: a nutrient that regulates the concentration of calcium and phosphate in the bloodstream and promotes the healthy growth and remodelling of bone, along with other functions vitamin deciency disease: diseases caused by a lack of any of the 13 vitamins in the diet

vitamins: organic nutrients required in small amounts. They include vitamins A, B, C, D and K. volcanic bomb: large rock fragment that is blown out of erupting volcanoes; also known as a lava bomb volcano: natural opening in the Earths crust connected to areas of molten rock deep inside the crust voltmeter: device used to measure the voltage across a component in a circuit. Voltmeters are placed in parallel with the components.

wave: transmitter of energy without the movement of particles from place to place. The vibration of particles or energy elds is involved. wavelength: distance between two neighbouring crests or troughs of a wave. This is the distance between two particles vibrating in step. white blood cells: living cells that ght bacteria and viruses. They are part of the human bodys immune system. wind pollination: transfer of pollen from one ower to another by the wind working memory: your thinking memory, allowing you to deal with and temporarily store recent information

X-rays: high energy electromagnetic waves that can be transmitted through solids and provide information about their structure xerophyte: plant that is adapted to survive in deserts and other dry habitats xylem vessels: long narrow cells that are joined together to form long tubes in a plant. The tubes, made from xylem cells, move water and dissolved minerals up from the roots to the stem and leaves. The wood in a tree trunk consists mostly of dead xylem cells.

Y Z

Y chart: a visual thinking tool that helps you visualise and reect

zero population growth: the point at which birth and death rates balance each other out

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