Characteristics: Qualities of an organism
Inherited: Characteristics from parents
Offspring: The young of a person, animal, or plant
DNA: Material in organisms that transfer genetic characteristics from parents to their offspring
Heredity: The passing on of traits and physical features from parents to their children
Genes: One of the parts of the cells of all living things. Genes are passed from parents to children and determine how you look and the way you grow.
Inherited Trait: A physical characteristic or instinctive behavior that is passed from parent to offspring
Learned Behavior (Acquired Trait): Actions that are learned through a person’s environment
Cells:
Cell: the basic unit of life
Organ: A group of tissues that work together to perform a certain function.
Tissue: A group of cells that work together to perform a certain function.
Organ System: A group of organs that work together to do a job for the body.
Unicellular: an organism composed of just one cell; the single cell is capable of performing all life processes
Multicellular: an organism composed of many cells
Skeletal and Muscular System
Bone: supports the body and protects organs
Cartilage: flexible tissue often found in joints (also in nose & ears)
Contract: to draw together
Flex: to bend
Joints: place where 2 bones are joined to allow motion
Skeleton: A system of 206 bones that support & protect the body
Spine: backbone
Ribs: subset of bones in the chest that protect the heart & lungs
Circulatory System:
Circulatory System: The group of organs that work together to bring blood to our cells.
Circulate: The action of moving about, usually in a circle
Heart: The large muscle of the circulatory system that pumps blood
Blood: The name given to the cells and plasma that carry food, water and oxygen to our body cells.
Plasma: The liquid that carries blood cells.
Blood Vessels: The tubes of the circulatory system that carry blood
Arteries: The blood vessels that carry oxygen rich blood through the body
Capillaries: The blood vessels that exchange oxygen for carbon dioxide as they pass the body cells
Vein: The blood vessels that carry blood from the cells back to the heart.
Platelets: Blood cells that cause blood to clot and bleeding to stop.
Red Blood Cells: Blood cells carrying oxygen
White Blood Cells: Blood cells that fight disease
Respiratory System
Respiratory System: The group of organs that work together to bring oxygen to our cells
Respiration: The exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in our blood
Inhale: The breathing procedure of bringing air into the body
Exhale: The breathing procedure of removing air from the body
Nose: The body organ that contains the nostrils
Nostrils: The holes in the nose through which air enters the body
Mouth: The body organ that allows air to enter the body when the nostrils are not being used
Throat: The tube through which air passes from the nasal passage to the larynx
Larynx: Also known as the voice box, air passes through this tube on its way to the trachea
Trachea: Also known as the windpipe, this tube in the passage for air from the larynx to the bronchial tubes
Bronchial Tubes: The tubes that connect the trachea to the lungs and allows air to enter the lungs
Lungs: The main organ of the respiratory system
Alveoli: A grapelike group of thin-walled sacs in the lungs that inflate as we breathe and pass oxygen into the blood
Diaphragm: The large muscle of the chest cavity that contracts and expands to force air into and out of the lungs
Nervous System
Spinal Cord: The nervous tissue that begins at the brain and runs lengthwise along the back inside the vertebra, carrying impulses to and from the brain
Neurons: Cells that join together to form the communication system between the brain and body parts
Reflexes: The involuntary action of a body part caused by an outside action
Brain: The organ that controls thought and the functions of all the other parts of the body
Nervous System: The body system made up of the brain, spinal cord, and nerves that receives and interprets information, then sends impulses to our body parts.
Nerves: Tissues made from neurons that form the paths of communication between our body cells and the brain
Digestive System
Esophagus: The tube that connects the mouth to the stomach.
Bile: A thick liquid that is sent from the liver to the stomach to aid in breaking down food.
Digestive System: The group of organs that work together to digest our food.
Mouth: The opening through which food enters the body.
Anus: The opening that allows waste to be passed out of our body.
Pancreas: An organ that sends chemicals into the stomach to aid in the breaking down of food.
Tongue: An organ in the mouth that aids in mixing food with saliva.
Large Intestines: A tube that removes water from waste before the waste leaves our body.
Liver : The largest organ of the body, sends bile to the stomach and also cleans our food before it passes to our cells.
Gall Bladder: A sac in which bile from the liver is stored.
Digest: The process of breaking down food so our cells can use it.
Stomach: The main organ in the digestive system - most breaking down of food occurs here.
Small Intestines: A tube, about 23 feet long that allows digested food to enter our blood vessels.
Rectum: An organ that holds waste until it passes from our body.