Aerobic metabolism

The production of ATP requiring oxygen.

Aetiology

The cause of.

Afferent

Conducting or leading towards a target or centre.

Agonist

A substance that interacts with a receptor molecule that initiates the same response as the hormone/transmitter usually binding to that site.

Aliphatic

An organic compound that contains carbon atoms arranged in a chain rather than a ring formation.

Alkalosis

An increase above that within the normal pH range of the body.

Allograph

Implanted tissue that is of different genetic origin to the donor.

Alopecia

The loss of body and scalp hair.

Amoeboid

Appearing and behaving like the large single-celled organism called an amoeba.

Amplitude

The difference between the highest and lowest measurement within a regular cycle.

Anabolic metabolism

The synthesis of biological compounds involving the expenditure of energy.

Anaerobic metabolism

The production of ATP in the absence of oxygen.

Anastomose

The joining up of two tubes, vessels, etc., ensuring that the lumen remains patent between them.

Androsperm

A sperm carrying a Y chromosome.

Aneuploidy

Presence of an abnormal number of chromosomes.

Angiogenesis

The formation of new blood vessels.

Anisogamy

The existence of different forms of gametes related to sexual dimorphism.

Antagonist

A substance that blocks receptor sites and then inhibits any further responses.

Anteflexed

Curved inwards.

Anteverted

Folded over.

Antibody (immunoglobulin)

A ‘Y’-shaped molecule that combines with an antigen (foreign protein) as part of the immune response, synthesized by white blood cells.

Antigen

A molecule that initiates the immune response found within foreign tissue.

Antral

A cavity within the body.

Apoptosis

The genetic programming resulting in the death of a cell.

Aquatic

Pertaining to an underwater environment.

Arborize

To grow in a branch-like formation.

Asynclitism

To be tilted laterally on either side of the anterior/posterior mid-plane.

Asphysia

The death of a cell through a lack of oxygen.

Atresia

The abnormal narrowing or closure of the lumen in a tube or vessel.

Atretic

Having the characteristics of or pertaining to atresia; without an opening.

Atrophy

Decreased functioning due to hypoplasia with increasing age.

Attenuated

Modified to have less of an effect than normal.

Bactericidal

Containing substances that can kill bacteria.

Bacteriostatic

Containing substances that inhibit the reproduction of bacteria.

Basal metabolic rate

The amount of energy expenditure required for the maintenance of essential body function only.

Behaviour

The study of how organisms interact within the environment.

Biosynthesis

The manufacture of body tissues and substances.

Breech

Pertaining to the fetal rump.

Carotenoid

Naturally occurring fat-soluble pigment that colours plants red, yellow, orange or brown.

Catabolic metabolism

The breakdown of compounds requiring the expenditure of energy.

Cephalic

Pertaining to the fetal head.

Chemoattractant

A substance that acts as an attractant.

Chemostasis

The maintenance of a chemical balance.

Chorioamnionitis

Infection of the chorion and amnion during pregnancy.

Circadian

About one day.

Clonal expansion

The ability of white blood cells to duplicate rapidly as part of the immune response.

Cloning

Reproduction of an organism identical to an organism from which non-gamete genetic material is obtained.

Co-dominant

Expression of both of two differing alleles in the phenotype when present in the genotype.

Coitus

The act of sexual intercourse.

Colloid

A protein suspended in a liquid.

Contraception

Prevention of pregnancy by intervention.

Cortex

The outer tissue layer or part of a structure.

Cranial

Pertaining to the skull.

Cyanosis

The bluish appearance of body tissues in situations of hypoxia.

Cyclical

Repeated on a regular basis.

Cytoplasm

The intercellular tissue contained within the cell membrane.

Decidualization

The formation of the decidua of pregnancy.

Deletion

The loss of part of a chromosome.

Dermatome

Area of skin supplied by a single spinal nerve; derived from segmental development during embryonic stage.

Desquamation

The loss of the outer layers of a continuously growing squamous tissue.

Detumescence

The resolution of the inflammatory response.

Diapedesis

The passage of blood cells through the blood vessel wall into the surrounding tissue.

Diastolic

The period of relaxation of the ventricles of the heart.

Dichrotic

A notch observed on the downstroke of the arterial pressure waveform that indicates the closure of the aortic valve.

Differentiation

The division of cells resulting in the daughter cells becoming different owing to the activation of particular genes.

Dimorphism

The existence of an organism in distinct forms such as male and female.

Diploid

The normal number of paired chromosomes.

Discoid

Disc-like.

Dorsal

Pertaining to the back.

Dysgenesis

Abnormal formation.

Dyspnoea

Difficulty in breathing.

Ectopic pregnancy

Implantation occurs outside the uterine cavity, usually in a uterine tube.

Efferent

Carrying away from a centre (e.g. a blood vessel or nerve).

Endocytosis

The process by which substances are transported into the cell within envelopes formed out of the outer cell membrane.

Endogenous

Pertaining to the internal physiological environment.

Entrained

Reset by an external factor.

Enzyme

A protein that is able to speed up a chemical reaction without being structurally altered by the process itself.

Epitopes

A cluster of antigens that evoke an immune response.

Ergometrine

A drug derived from alkaloids of ergot that causes a sustained, strong contraction of the myometrium.

Erythropoietin

A hormone produced chiefly by the kidneys (in the adult) and by the liver (in the fetus) that initiates red blood cell production.

Eugenics

The science aimed at producing the perfect individual.

Euploidic

Contains the normal number of chromosomes.

Evolution

The study of genetic variation and change within generations of populations.

Exogenous

Pertaining to the external environment.

Extended

Tilted away from.

Flexed

Tilted towards.

Follicle

Tissue structure that is fluid-filled.

Free radical

An oxygen molecule containing an unpaired electron.

Gametogenesis

The formation of gametes.

Gastrulation

The formation of the inner layers of the embryo by cell migration in a process of invagination.

Gene manipulation

The science of artificially adding or removing genes to effect a change within an individual.

Gene pool

The total number of genes within a population.

Genome

The total number of genes within a single organism.

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources.

Glycolytic

The breakdown of glucose.

Graft rejection

The rejection of donor tissue by the recipient's immune system.

Grey matter of brain

Unmyelinated axons, nuclei and dendrites in the brain.

Gynosperm

A sperm carrying an X chromosome.

Haemoptysis

The presence of blood in sputum.

Half-life

The time taken for the reduction by half of the quantity present.

Haploid

Half of the normal chromosomal number (containing only one chromosome from the normal paired chromosomes).

Hermaphrodism

The presence of male and female sex organs within the same individual.

Heterozygous

Alleles at a particular locus of paired chromosomes each coding for a different phenotype.

Hirsutism

The presence of excess body hair.

Homeothermic

A warm-blooded animal (sometimes referred to as endothermic).

Homozygous

Alleles at a particular locus of paired chromosomes both coding for the same phenotype.

Hydrolytic

Dissolving in water.

Hyperaemia

An excessive quantity of blood.

Hyper/hypoglycaemia

Abnormally high/low level of glucose within the blood.

Hyperprolactinaemia

Abnormally raised levels of the hormone prolactin.

Hyperventilation

Overbreathing resulting in alkalosis.

Imprinting

A behaviour pattern initiated by specific stimulation of a neural pathway that cannot be further influenced once it has occurred.

Incompatible

Not tolerated and so initiating the immune response.

Inherent

Having a genetic basis, hereditary, innate.

Innate

Present from birth, congenital, e.g. a behaviour pattern that is not learnt but instinctive.

Invaginate

To fold inwards to form a pouch.

Inversion

The translocation of a portion of a chromosome comprising an upside-down switch.

Ischaemia

The death of tissues due to a reduction or loss of the blood supply.

Keratinized

Containing the protein keratin.

Ketotic

Detectable amounts of ketone bodies present indicating that metabolism of fats is occurring.

Lipolysis

The release of fatty acids from the breakdown of adipose tissue.

Lipophilic

Having an affinity for fat.

Luteolysis

The degradation of the corpus luteum.

Macromolecules

Large organic compounds.

Macrosomic

Larger than normal body size.

Maturation

The achievement of full function following a period of growth and/or development.

Medulla

The central tissue layer or part of a structure.

Menarche

The commencement of the menstrual cycles.

Menopause

The cessation of the menstrual cycles.

Menses

The period of shedding of the endometrium during the menstrual cycle.

Mentum

Pertaining to the fetal chin.

Methylation

The addition of a methyl group (–CH₃) to a compound.

Micturition

The voiding of urine.

Mitogen

A substance that initiates the process of mitosis.

Morphogenesis

The formation of body structure.

Morphology

The development of form and size.

Necrotic

The bacterial decomposition of dead tissue.

Neuronal

Pertaining to the nervous system.

Neurotransmitter

A chemical that crosses a synaptic gap to initiate an action potential in the receiving neuron.

Neurulation

The embryonic formation of the neural tube from the neural plate.

Nidation

The process of implantation of the blastocyst into the uterine endometrium.

Nocturia

The need to void urine frequently at night.

Nomenclature

Terminology describing systematic naming.

Occiput

A bone at the posterior lower part of the skull.

Oedema

Excess fluid in the extracellular compartments.

Opsonization

The process by which bacteria and other cells are made susceptible to phagocytosis.

Oxidative

The combination of oxygen with other molecules.

Pathogen

A foreign organism that causes harm.

Penile

Pertaining to the penis.

Perfusion

The blood flow.

Peristaltic

Coordinated contraction of smooth muscle around the lumen of a tube or vessel that facilitates the unidirectional movement of the contents within the lumen.

Phagocytic

The ingestion of foreign material by phagocytes.

Phosphorylation

The addition of an organic phosphate group to a molecule (often activating an enzyme).

Photoperiod

The period of natural daylight exposure.

Placebo

An inert/harmless substance that has no pharmacological effect, used in double-blind trials in comparison with drugs to assess their clinical effectiveness.

Placentation

The formation of the fetal and maternal components of the placenta.

Placentome

A lobe of the placenta.

Poikilothermic

A cold-blooded animal (sometimes referred to as exothermic).

Polycythaemic

An abnormally high number of red blood cells.

Polysperm

Fertilization by more than one sperm.

Postprandial

The period following the consumption of a meal.

Preantral

Before the antral phase.

Precursor

A substance that is altered into another substance.

Primordial

Existing from the beginning.

Proliferative

The ability to increase quickly in numbers.

Prophylaxis

Treatment aimed at prevention rather than cure.

Pseudopodia

A temporary protrusion in the cell membrane.

Psychogenic

The development of the mind.

Pulsatile

Released episodically rather than continuously.

Pyrexia

An abnormally high body temperature.

Rate-limiting

A process that proceeds in relation to the amount of precursor available.

Receptor

A molecule that combines with a chemical signal that initiates a response within the cell.

Reticulocyte

An immature red blood cell.

Sacrum

The bony vestigial remains of the prehensile tail that forms the posterior part of the pelvis.

Senescence

Old age.

Septum (pl. septa)

A structure that divides the body or body area/organ.

Sinciput

Pertaining to the fetal forehead.

Sinusoids

An irregularly shaped blood vessel.

Specific gravity

The relative density of a fluid in relation to pure water.

Sphincter

A ring of muscle that can occlude a tube or vessel when contracted.

Steroidogenesis

The production of steroid hormones.

Stroma

The structural framework of a cell or organ.

Syncytium

A mass of cells in which the cellular membranes have broken down forming a continuous mass.

Syntocinon

A synthetic analogue of naturally occurring oxytocin used in obstetrics as a pharmacological method of augmenting uterine contractions via a controlled intravenous infusion.

Tactile

Pertaining to touch.

Teratogen

A chemical that interferes with the formation of the embryo.

Thermostasis

The maintenance of a constant body temperature.

Totipotent

A cell that has the capability of dividing to form a complete new individual.

Transcription

The process of synthesizing mRNA from a DNA template.

Translation

The process of forming an amino acid chain from a coded sequence of mRNA bases.

Transudation

Blood plasma that collects within the interstitial space.

Unicellular

Made up of one cell.

Uterotonins

Substances that encourage the myometrium to contract.

Vascularization

The growth of blood vessels into tissue.

Vascularized

Perfused with blood vessels.

Vasoactive

Has an effect on vascular smooth muscle.

Vasoconstriction

Contraction of smooth muscle within the blood vessels.

Vasodilation

Relaxation of the smooth muscle within blood vessels.

Ventral

Pertaining to the front.

Vestigial

A physical characteristic (structure) in evolutionary decline, i.e. remaining present but no longer necessary for survival.

Villus (pl. villi)

A finger-like projection from a membrane surface.

Volatile

Evaporates at ambient temperatures.

White matter of brain

Bundles of myelinated axons within the brain.

Zygote

A totipotent cell formed from the fusion of two gametes.