Year 11 Human Bio Glossary F - J

Other glossary sections: (A - E) (K - O) (P - T) (U - Z)

F

Faeces (American: feces)- The fancy way of saying "poo." Contains stuff that didn't get digested, such as cellulose, bacteria, bile pigments and so on.
Fallopian tube- A tube that carries the ovum from an ovary to the uterus. Also known as the uterine tube or oviduct.
False ribs- Ribs that do not directly attach to the sternum by cartilage.
Fats- Lipids formed from condensation reactions between glycerol and fatty acids. Most fatty acids (98%) are triglycerides- formed from glycerol and three fatty acids. There are monoglycerides and diglycerides as well.
Fatty acds- Molecules that allow cells to make certain fats necessary for body functioning. May also contain fat-soluble vitamins, like vitamins A, D, E and K. They can be stored as a reserve of energy. They contain a lot of energy- 37kJ per gram. Can be found in butter, margarine, milk, cheese, oils etc.
Female pronucleus- The nucleus of the egg.
Femoral arteries- Arteries that take blood to the legs.
Femur- The upper leg bone.
Fetoscopy- A method used to check for birth defects. A small, telescope-like instrument is inserted into an incision made in the abdominal wall, allowing doctors to have a look at the developing foetus. Also allows doctors to take samples (of skin tissue, umbilical cord blood etc.) for further analysis.
Fibrillation- Uncoordinated contractions of individual muscle fibres. This prevents the muscle from contracting smoothly.
Fibrinogen- A plasma protein involved in blood clotting. These proteins make the blood sticky.
Fibrous capsule- The outer layer of the capsule surrounding freely moving (synovial) joints. It consists of dense, fibrous tissue, which is attached to the periosteum of the bones. It is strong yet flexible, allowing movement while resisting dislocation.
Fibrous joints- Joints where the bones are held in place by fibrous connective tissue. Very difficult to damage. Can be found between bones of the skull. Also known as fixed joints.
Fibula- The smaller of the two lower leg bones. It articulates with the tibia at the hip joint and with one of the ankle bones at its lower end.
Fimbriae- Small projections near the opening of the Fallopian tubes (on the ovary side) that help to guide the ovum into the tubes.
First-class proteins- Proteins containing sufficient quantities of essential amino acids. Same as complete proteins.
First polar body- The smaller product of the first meiotic division of a primary oocyte. Can divide into two additional polar bodies, but eventually all polar bodies will disintegrate.
Fixed joints- Joints where the bones are held in place by fibrous connective tissue. Very difficult to damage. Can be found between bones of the skull. Also known as fibrous joints.
Flagella- Tail-like structures that are longer than cilia. There are only one or two per cell. In humans, only sperm cells have flagella.
Flexibility- Range of motion about a joint.
Flexion- Movement causing the angle between bones to decrease (e.g. bending the knee).
Floating ribs- Ribs that don't attach to the sternum at all.
Foetus- The name for the unborn baby after it has grown limbs.
Follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH)- One of the gonadotropic hormones. In females, this stimulates the development of the ovarian follicle. Less FSH is secreted as oestrogen levels rise. In males, FSH stimulates the production of sperm.
Foramen magnum- The hole in the skull where the brain joins on to the spinal cord.
Foramen ovale- An oval opening between the two chambers of the heart of an unborn baby, allowing blood to flow directly from the right atrium to the left atrium.
Freely moveable joints- Joints with a relatively large range of movement. (Movement is, however, restricted by the shape of the bones.) Also known as synovial joints.
Friction ridges- Fingerprints. Increase friction between fingers and objects.
Frontal lobe- The front part of the cerrebrum. Involved in the higher functions of thinking, reasoning, planning and processing.
Functional foods- Foods with particular beneficial ingredients added to them, for example yoghurt containing probiotics, or margarine containing extra calcium.

G

Gallbladder- A small sac on the outside of the liver, where bile is stored and concentrated before travelling to the duodenum via the common bile duct.
Gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT)- A type of ART in which the eggs and sperm are mixed together immediately after the eggs have been collected, before being injected into the woman's uterine tubes. Success rates with this method are low.
Gametes- The sex cells (ova in females, sperm in males).
Gametogenesis- The process in which sex cells are produced.
Gastric glands- Glands in the gastric pits in the lining of the stomach. Secrete gastric juice.
Gastric juice- A juice secreted by the gastric glands in the stomach. Contains HCl, mucus and digestive enzymes.
Gastric pits- Narrow "pits" located in the mucosa (innermost layer) of the stomach. Contain gastric glands which secrete gastric juice.
Gastric protease- An enzyme that breaks proteins and other long chains of amino acids down into shorter chains, or polypeptides. Also known as pepsin.
Gastrocnemius- The most prominent of the two calf muscles.
Gene mutation- A change in a single gene caused by the DNA copying itself incorrectly during cell division.
Genes- Sections of DNA that determine the proteins to be formed.
Geriatrics- The area of medicine that deals with prevention and treatment of disease in older people.
Germ cells- Cells located in the ovaries that are enclosed in follicles. Eventually develop into ova.
Gerontology- The study of ageing, concerned with minimising the disabilities and handicaps of old age.
Gestation- The embryonic and foetal period.
Glandular epithelium- A type of epithelial tissue in which the cells secrete sweat, saliva, enzymes, hormones and so on.
Gliding joint- Joint in which movement can occur in any direction, hindered only surrounding ligaments or bones. Examples: between carpal bones, between tarsal bones, between the sternum and clavicle, between the scapula and clavicle
Globin- A protein found in haemoglobin.
Globulin- A type of plasma protein, some of which can act as antibodies when fighting diseases.
Glottis- The opening between the vocal cords.
Gluteus maximus- The largest of the gluteal muscles.
Gluteal muscles- Muscles that extend from the pelvis to the femur of each leg. Each has a "neck" that bends inwards so as to provide optimal leverage for the muscles that pull on it. They extend and rotate the thighs. The largest of these is the gluteus maximus.
Glycerol- An organic molecule containing three carbon atoms and three -OH groups.
Glycogen- The form in which carbohydrates are stored in the body. Can be converted into glucose and back again to maintain healthy blood glucose levels.
Glycolysis- The first stage of aerobic respiration. The glucose molecule is broken down in the cytoplasm into two molecules of pyruvic acid, simultaneously releasing two molecules of ATP.
Golgi apparatus- A series of flattened, membranous bags. Involved in packaging up proteins and so forth to prepare them for secretion from the cell. At the Golgi apparatus, molecules such as sugar, sulfate or phosphate are added, before the edges of the Golgi apparatus pinch off to form a vesicle (a liquid-filled sac) containing the proteins, which then travel through the cytoplasm to the cell membrane, where they then leave the cell.
Gonadotropic hormones- Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland that affect the gonads. Also known as gonadotropins.
Gonadotropins- Hormones secreted by the pituitary gland that affect the gonads. Also known as gonadotropic hormones.
Gonads- Sex organs.
Gonorrhoea- An STD that affects the mucous membranes of the excretory and reproductive systems, the rectum and occasionally the eyes. Can spread to other areas if untreated. In males, can cause a burning feeling in the penis, extreme pain when passing urine and a yellow discharge of pus from the penis. In females, can cause pus. Sterility can occur if the testes (in males) or oviducts (in females) are infected.
Graafian follicle- A mature follicle.
Granular leucocyte- A type of leucocyte that has granules suspended in the cell contents and "lobed" nuclei (several lobes connected by thin filaments rather than one massive lobe). Also known as a granulocyte.
Granulocyte- A type of leucocyte that has granules suspended in the cell contents and "lobed" nuclei (several lobes connected by thin filaments rather than one massive lobe). Also known as a granular leucocyte.
Gross to specific pattern- A pattern involved in motor development in which larger muscle movements are learned before finer movements like picking up objects with the fingers.
Guanine- One of the nitrogen bases present in DNA and RNA. Pairs up with cytosine.

H

Haem- A component of haemoglobin. Consists of an iron atom which can combine with an atom of oxygen.

Haemoglobin- A compound found in erythrocytes (red blood cells) which is required for carrying oxygen around the blood. It is made up of a protein called globin combined with four haem groups. When the iron of the haem groups combines with oxygen, haemoglobin turns red.
Hamstrings- One of the muscle groups of the thigh. Bends the knee and extends the thigh backwards.
Haploid cell- A cell containing only half a set of chromosomes (in humans, haploid cells have 23 chromosomes).
Haversian canal- A component of Haversian systems. Contains at least one blood capillary and possibly nerves and lymph capillaries as well.
Haversian system- Structures that make up compact bone. Consist of a Haversian canal, concentric layers of lamellae, lacunae (which hold the bone cells) and canaliculi (small canals between the lacunae). Haversian systems are positioned parallel to the long axis of the bone, providing maximum strength.

Heart attack- A complete stop in blood flow to a part of the heart muscle, resulting in death of the muscle in that area. This causes sudden and severe chest pain. Can heal if only a small area is affected; adverse effects and death can also occur. Symptoms include chest pain, pain radiating to the left arm, shoulder, neck or jaw, sweating, breathlessness, faintness and palpitations. Also known as a myocardial infraction.

Hepatic artery- An artery that takes highly oxygenated blood to the liver.

Hepatic portal vein- A vein that takes nutrients from the alimentary canal to the liver by first passing through the capillaries of the stomach and intestines.
Hepatitis B (HBV)- A virus that affects the liver. Symptoms include fatigue, fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, muscle aches and jaundice.
Hinge joint- Joint in which one bone has a convex surface which slots into the concave surface of the other. Examples include the elbow and the knee.
Homeostatic capacity- The ability to maintain a constant internal environment while other environmental factors, such as temperature, might be changing.
Homeothermic- Maintains a constant body temperature.

Hominidae- A family within the Hominoidea superfamily that includes extinct ancestors of humans as well as modern humans.

Hominoidea- A superfamily within the Anthropoidea suborder that does not include animals with external tails. Only includes apes and humans.

Homo- A genus within the Hominidae family that includes some extinct ancestors of humans as well as modern humans.

Homo sapiens- Modern humans
Human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)- A hormone produced in the developing placenta in a pregnant woman. Maintains the corpus luteum.
Humerus- Upper arm bone.

Hydrochloric acid (HCl)- An acid that kills many of the bacteria that enter the stomach. It is also necessary for activating pepsinogen, a digestive enzyme found in gastric juice. It also lowers the pH of the stomach.
Hymen- A fold of tissue that partially covers the external opening of the vagina.

Hypertension- High blood pressure.
Hysterectomy- Removal of the uterus.

I

Immunoglobulin- A transfusion containing antibodies against particular diseases (e.g. HRIG is human rabies immunoglobulin).
Implantation- The process in which the outer cells of the blastocyst secrete enzymes, allowing it to enter the endometrium and attach itself there.
Incisors- Teeth used for biting or cutting.
Inclusions- Chemical structures within cells that are not considered to be part of the structure of the cell (e.g. haemoglobin in red blood cells).
Incomplete proteins- Proteins that do not contain sufficient quantities of essential amino acids. Same as second-class proteins.
Inferior vena cava- One of the main veins of the body. Takes blood from the lower parts of the body to the right side of the heart.
Initiation stage- The first stage of the development of a tumour. Some cells are changed irreversibly from exposure to the carcinogen.
Inner cell mass- A bunch of cells attached to one side of the blastocyst. This will become the embryo, while the outer cell mass will become the placenta.
Insertion- The end of the muscle attached to the moving bone.
Insoluble fibre- Food, such as cellulose, that cannot be digested by humans, but stimulates the contraction of the muscular walls of the intestine. Also known as roughage.
Inspiration (respiration)- Inhalation/breathing in.
Intellectual functioning- The ability to perform numerical skills, verbal skills etc.
Intercellular fluid- Fluid found between cells in the tissues. Also known as tissue fluid or interstitial fluid.
Intercostal muscles- Muscles between the ribs. There are external and internal intercostal muscles, which are positioned at right angles to each other. The external intercostal muscles can contract to move the rib cage upwards and outwards, while the internal intercostal muscles can contract to pull the ribs closer together.
Interphase- The period between divisions, during which the DNA replicates itself.
Interstitial cells- Cells located between the seminiferous tubules in the testes. Secrete testosterone.
Interstitial fluid- Fluid found between cells in the tissues. Also known as tissue fluid or intercellular fluid.
Intestinal juice- A digestive juice secreted by glands in the mucosa of the small intestines. It contains many enzymes. Some (such as lactase, sucrase etc.) break specific disaccharides down into monosaccharides. Peptidases break down peptide chains and lipases break down fats.
Intracellular fluid- Fluid inside cells.
Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)- A type of ART in which a single sperm is injected into a single egg through a micropipette and the embryo is transplanted into the woman's uterus.
In-vitro fertilisation (IVF)- A type of ART in which the ovum is taken from the mother, fertilised outside the body, and transplanted back into the uterus.
Involuntary muscles- Muscles in the internal organs. Do not have striations. Also known as smooth muscles.

J