MCAT BIOLOGY VOCABULARY (ALL) |
COMPLETE BIO TERMS LIST
abductor - answer ✔✔-a muscle that moves a limb away from the center of the body
absorption - answer ✔✔-process by which substances are taken up into or across tissues
acetylcholine - answer ✔✔-a neurotransmitter found throughout the nervous system; metabolized by
acetylcholinesterase
acrosome - answer ✔✔-large vesicle at the head of a sperm cell containing enzymes that degrade the
ovum cell membrane to allow fertilization
actin - answer ✔✔-protein found in the cytoskeleton and muscle cells; the principal constituent of the
thin filaments and microfilaments
action potential - answer ✔✔-an abrupt change in the membrane potential of a nerve or muscle caused
by changes in membrane ionic permeability; results in conduction of an impulse in nerves or contraction
in muscles
active immunity - answer ✔✔-an immune response acquired in response to exposure to an antigen
active site - answer ✔✔-substrate-binding region of an enzyme
adaptation - answer ✔✔-development of characteristics that enable an organisms to survive and
reproduce in its habitat
,adaptive immunity - answer ✔✔-highly specific form of immunity that retains chemical memory of each
invader encountered and is able to tailor the immune response to the specific pathogen
adaptive radiation - answer ✔✔-the evolutionary process by which one species gives rise to several
species, each specialized for different niches
adductor - answer ✔✔-muscle that moves a limb toward the center of the body
adenine - answer ✔✔-purine base present in DNA and RNA; forms hydrogen bonds with thymine and
uracil
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - answer ✔✔-nucleotide molecule consisting of adenine, ribose and three
phosphate moieties; outer two phosphates are bound by high energy bond
adipose - answer ✔✔-refers to fatty tissue, fat storing tissue or fat within cells
aerobic - answer ✔✔-refers to a biological process that occurs in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2)
or to organisms that cannot live without molecular oxygen
afferent (sensory) neuron - answer ✔✔-neuron that picks up impulses from sensory receptors and
transmits them toward the central nervous system
agranulocyte - answer ✔✔-type of leukocyte that does not contain cytoplasmic granules, including
lymphocytes and monocytes
albumin - answer ✔✔-protein synthesized in the liver that maintains the oncotic pressure of the blood
and serves as a carrier for many drugs and hormones
allantois - answer ✔✔-one of four embryonic membranes; contains the growing embryo's waste
products
,allele - answer ✔✔-alternative forms of the same gene coding for a particular trait; alleles segregate
during meiosis
allergy - answer ✔✔-type of autoimmunity in which a person's immune system becomes over activated
by common substances in the environment
alveolus - answer ✔✔-basic functional unit of the lung; tiny sac specialized for passive gas exchange
between the lungs and the blood
amino acids - answer ✔✔-building blocks of proteins, each containing an amino group, a carboxylic acid
group and a side chain attached to an alpha carbon
amnion - answer ✔✔-innermost fluid filled embryonic membrane; it forms a protective sac surrounding
the embryos of bird, reptiles and mammals
amplification - answer ✔✔-characteristics of a signaling cascade, in which the binding of a single peptide
hormone to membrane bound receptor results in a signal that increases in strength through the singling
cascade
anaerobic - answer ✔✔-refers to biological process that can occur without oxygen or to organisms that
can live without molecular oxygen
anaphase - answer ✔✔-stage of mitosis or meiosis characterized by the migration of chromatids or
homologous chromosomes to opposite poles of the dividing cell
androgen - answer ✔✔-any male sex hormone, such as testosterone
antibiotic - answer ✔✔-substance that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria or fungi
usually by disrupting cell wall assembly or by binding to ribosomes thus inhaling protein synthesis
, antibody - answer ✔✔-immune or protective protein evoked by the presence of foreign substances
(antigens) i the body
antigen - answer ✔✔-a substance that binds to an antibody; may be forming or a self antigen
antigen binding region - answer ✔✔-portion of an antibody that is specific for a particular antigen; area
of the antibody to which the antigen binds
aortic valve - answer ✔✔-one of the semilunar valves separating the left ventricle from the aorta
apoptosis - answer ✔✔-process by which a cell undergoes programmed cell death in a highly organized
manner in response to either external or internal signals
appendicular skeleton - answer ✔✔-peripheral portion of the skeleton consisting of arms legs and pelvic
and pectoral girdles
archenteron - answer ✔✔-central cavity in the gastrula stage of embryological development; it is lined
by endoderm and ultimately gives rise to the adult digestive tract
arterioles - answer ✔✔-small arterial structures that link the arteries to the capillaries
artery - answer ✔✔-thick walled, muscular blood vessel that generally carries blood away from the heart
articular cartilage - answer ✔✔-cartilaginous coating at the ends of bones that provides smooth surface
for articulation of bones within a joint
asexual reproduction - answer ✔✔-any reproductive process that does not involve the fusion of
gametes such as budding
COMPLETE BIO TERMS LIST
abductor - answer ✔✔-a muscle that moves a limb away from the center of the body
absorption - answer ✔✔-process by which substances are taken up into or across tissues
acetylcholine - answer ✔✔-a neurotransmitter found throughout the nervous system; metabolized by
acetylcholinesterase
acrosome - answer ✔✔-large vesicle at the head of a sperm cell containing enzymes that degrade the
ovum cell membrane to allow fertilization
actin - answer ✔✔-protein found in the cytoskeleton and muscle cells; the principal constituent of the
thin filaments and microfilaments
action potential - answer ✔✔-an abrupt change in the membrane potential of a nerve or muscle caused
by changes in membrane ionic permeability; results in conduction of an impulse in nerves or contraction
in muscles
active immunity - answer ✔✔-an immune response acquired in response to exposure to an antigen
active site - answer ✔✔-substrate-binding region of an enzyme
adaptation - answer ✔✔-development of characteristics that enable an organisms to survive and
reproduce in its habitat
,adaptive immunity - answer ✔✔-highly specific form of immunity that retains chemical memory of each
invader encountered and is able to tailor the immune response to the specific pathogen
adaptive radiation - answer ✔✔-the evolutionary process by which one species gives rise to several
species, each specialized for different niches
adductor - answer ✔✔-muscle that moves a limb toward the center of the body
adenine - answer ✔✔-purine base present in DNA and RNA; forms hydrogen bonds with thymine and
uracil
Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - answer ✔✔-nucleotide molecule consisting of adenine, ribose and three
phosphate moieties; outer two phosphates are bound by high energy bond
adipose - answer ✔✔-refers to fatty tissue, fat storing tissue or fat within cells
aerobic - answer ✔✔-refers to a biological process that occurs in the presence of molecular oxygen (O2)
or to organisms that cannot live without molecular oxygen
afferent (sensory) neuron - answer ✔✔-neuron that picks up impulses from sensory receptors and
transmits them toward the central nervous system
agranulocyte - answer ✔✔-type of leukocyte that does not contain cytoplasmic granules, including
lymphocytes and monocytes
albumin - answer ✔✔-protein synthesized in the liver that maintains the oncotic pressure of the blood
and serves as a carrier for many drugs and hormones
allantois - answer ✔✔-one of four embryonic membranes; contains the growing embryo's waste
products
,allele - answer ✔✔-alternative forms of the same gene coding for a particular trait; alleles segregate
during meiosis
allergy - answer ✔✔-type of autoimmunity in which a person's immune system becomes over activated
by common substances in the environment
alveolus - answer ✔✔-basic functional unit of the lung; tiny sac specialized for passive gas exchange
between the lungs and the blood
amino acids - answer ✔✔-building blocks of proteins, each containing an amino group, a carboxylic acid
group and a side chain attached to an alpha carbon
amnion - answer ✔✔-innermost fluid filled embryonic membrane; it forms a protective sac surrounding
the embryos of bird, reptiles and mammals
amplification - answer ✔✔-characteristics of a signaling cascade, in which the binding of a single peptide
hormone to membrane bound receptor results in a signal that increases in strength through the singling
cascade
anaerobic - answer ✔✔-refers to biological process that can occur without oxygen or to organisms that
can live without molecular oxygen
anaphase - answer ✔✔-stage of mitosis or meiosis characterized by the migration of chromatids or
homologous chromosomes to opposite poles of the dividing cell
androgen - answer ✔✔-any male sex hormone, such as testosterone
antibiotic - answer ✔✔-substance that kills or inhibits the growth of bacteria or fungi
usually by disrupting cell wall assembly or by binding to ribosomes thus inhaling protein synthesis
, antibody - answer ✔✔-immune or protective protein evoked by the presence of foreign substances
(antigens) i the body
antigen - answer ✔✔-a substance that binds to an antibody; may be forming or a self antigen
antigen binding region - answer ✔✔-portion of an antibody that is specific for a particular antigen; area
of the antibody to which the antigen binds
aortic valve - answer ✔✔-one of the semilunar valves separating the left ventricle from the aorta
apoptosis - answer ✔✔-process by which a cell undergoes programmed cell death in a highly organized
manner in response to either external or internal signals
appendicular skeleton - answer ✔✔-peripheral portion of the skeleton consisting of arms legs and pelvic
and pectoral girdles
archenteron - answer ✔✔-central cavity in the gastrula stage of embryological development; it is lined
by endoderm and ultimately gives rise to the adult digestive tract
arterioles - answer ✔✔-small arterial structures that link the arteries to the capillaries
artery - answer ✔✔-thick walled, muscular blood vessel that generally carries blood away from the heart
articular cartilage - answer ✔✔-cartilaginous coating at the ends of bones that provides smooth surface
for articulation of bones within a joint
asexual reproduction - answer ✔✔-any reproductive process that does not involve the fusion of
gametes such as budding
