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Introduction To Health Sciences Vocab

Subject : health-sciences
Instructions:
  • Answer 50 questions in 15 minutes.
  • If you are not ready to take this test, you can study here.
  • Match each statement with the correct term.
  • Don't refresh. All questions and answers are randomly picked and ordered every time you load a test.

This is a study tool. The 3 wrong answers for each question are randomly chosen from answers to other questions. So, you might find at times the answers obvious, but you will see it re-enforces your understanding as you take the test each time.
1. That part of the nervous system that is not within the central nervous system. It is made up of nerves throughout the body.






2. A process in which light passes through a medium unaffected - e.g. light passing through clear glass.






3. Often abbreviated to 'compound': a substance made up of two or more elements; it may be composed of molecules or ions.






4. The structure within the eye where the iris meets the cornea - where excess aqueous humour from the front of the eye can drain.






5. Contains protons - each of which carry a single positive electric charge - and neutrons which are uncharged.






6. Recognisable assemblages of plants and animals - such as woodland - grassland - rivers - etc. - in which a distinct set of plants and animals live together and interact with one another.






7. A collection of different brain regions that is activated in response to painful stimuli and is associated with the experience of pain.






8. Positively charged particles found in the nucleus of atoms. In a neutral atom the number of these balances the number of negatively charged electrons surrounding the nucleus.






9. A condition in which a person exceeds a certain threshold for the proportion of body weight that consists of fat. In most assessments based on body mass index - a BMI of greater than 30 is defined as clinically obese.






10. The smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of the element. Made up of a positively charged atomic nucleus - containing protons and neutrons - surrounded by negatively charged electrons.






11. A form of energy that can be described as either a wave or as a flow of 'packets' of energy. It includes gamma rays - X-rays - ultraviolet - visible light - infrared - microwaves and radio waves. The different types of radiation are distinguished by






12. A change in the sequences of bases in the DNA of an organism - resulting in an alteration in the manufacture or function of a body protein. Also refers to the process by which such a change in DNA sequence occurs due to the action of a mutagen - e.g.






13. Pain that is triggered by a stimulus that causes actual or potential damage to the tissues of the body.






14. A type of cell that is found within the nervous system and Which is specialised to transmit and process information (colloquially referred to as 'nerve cell').






15. A very long macromolecule found in the cell nucleus - abbreviated to DNA. It is the main component of chromosomes and is the material that transfers genetic characteristics through the generations in all organisms. The genetic information is carried






16. A chemical that reduces microbial contamination of water - surfaces - etc.






17. A class of neuron that is neither sensory nor motor.






18. A system of glands (also known as ductless glands) - each of which secretes one or more hormones directly into the bloodstream. (CS 1 - 2 & 3)






19. Any one of numerous proteins in a mammalian cell that are part of the machinery that detects and repairs mistakes in DNA caused by errors during DNA copying - or by the effects of mutagens. They help to minimise the number of mutations - and when the






20. A measure of body weight - taking height into account. Calculated by dividing person's weight (mass) in kilograms (kg) by their height in metres squared (m2). In most assessments - 20.0-24.9 is considered to be a normal healthy weight - 20.0 is categ






21. A thin membrane (a double layer of lipids) enclosing the cytosol and organelles of a cell.






22. Certain kinds of activity with which the brain is engaged - i.e. the processing of information that is summarised by the term 'mind'. It is exemplified by thinking - memory - reasoning and interpreting.






23. A technique for monitoring the activity of the different regions of the brain. One method involves injecting a radioactive tracer substance and measuring its later appearance in different brain regions; high concentrations correspond to regions of hi






24. Fuel derived from plant matter or animal waste - e.g. wood - straw - dried animal dung.






25. Condition in which the full range of colours cannot be clearly distinguished.






26. The environmental factors impacting on survival and reproduction in a population of organisms in which there is variation between individuals in their ability to withstand adverse conditions or benefit from advantageous circumstances. The result of t






27. Any fracture where the skin has not been broken.






28. Tissue that is found at joints and during bone repair. Its structure is a bit like bone without the mineral component - giving a smooth and resilient surface to the ends of bones to aid movement at joints.






29. Stimuli that are associated with actual or potential damage to body tissues.






30. The transparent gelatinous fluid within the eyeball (between the lens and the retina).






31. The release of water vapour by plants.






32. A substance (usually liquid) in which other substances dissolve.






33. The process of expiring or breathing out; the emission of air from the lungs.






34. The time between one peak of a wave and the next .






35. An insoluble fibrous protein that forms clots following tissue damage.






36. Microscopic organisms (bacteria - fungi and protoctists) - together with viruses - whether pathogenic (disease-causing) or harmless; also known as microorganisms.






37. The part of a neuron that consists of a long wire-like projection - ending in a terminal which participates in a synapse with another cell. Action potentials are transmitted along these.






38. The study of toxins and their effects on living organisms.






39. A covalent bond formed by the sharing of four electrons - two from each atom at either end of the bond.






40. Severe psychological shock.






41. A subunit of the litre - the standard scientific (SI) unit for measuring volume; there are 100 of these in a litre.






42. The tissue that forms following healing - Which is not the same in structure as the original tissue.






43. Each element has been assigned one of these - often the first letter - or two of the first letters of the name; for example - H stands for hydrogen - C for carbon - N for nitrogen - Ca for calcium and O for oxygen.






44. A cancer that has the ability to spread or metastasise into healthy tissue. (Also called 'invasive' cancer)






45. A tube conveying a body fluid - especially a glandular secretion - for example milk from the lobules of the mammary gland to the nipple.






46. A region of cortex at the front of the brain - where the activity of neurons is associated with voluntary control of behaviour (self-control) and restraint. Biological evidence suggests that mild to moderate doses of alcohol selectively depress the a






47. This refers to a random effect of ionising radiation. There is no radiation threshold at which the effect inevitably occurs - but the probability of an effect occurring increases with the amount of radiation received.






48. The joining of tissues to each other that may occur abnormally during repair.






49. A characteristic of an organism is said to be adaptive if an individual possessing that characteristic has an advantage over other members of the same species in terms of survival or reproduction; e.g. ability to evade predators - attractiveness to t






50. The distance between the principle focal point and the centre of a lens.