Human Digestive System: Processes, Organs, and Functions
The Human Digestive System and Nutrition
The digestive system is fundamentally responsible for nutrition. Its primary functions are threefold: to obtain essential nutrients from food, to facilitate their distribution throughout the body, and to eliminate waste products.
Nutrition and Interacting Systems
Effective nutrition requires the coordinated effort of several biological systems:
- Digestive System: Obtains and processes nutrients.
- Respiratory System: Obtains necessary oxygen.
- Circulatory System: Transports
Cellular Energy and Division: Key Biological Processes
Cellular Energy and Division Concepts
I. Energy Transformations: Photosynthesis and Respiration
Plant Mass Origin
- Explain where plants get their mass: Air / carbon dioxide.
Complementary Pathways
- Explain how photosynthesis and cellular respiration are complementary pathways: The products of photosynthesis are the reactants of cellular respiration, and the products of cellular respiration are the reactants of photosynthesis. This forms a cycle.
Energy Carriers
- List the energy carriers created and used in
Mammalian Reproduction, Sensory Systems and Conservation Terms
Mammalian Reproduction, Sensory Systems & Conservation
Lecture 16 — Reproduction II
- Immunorejection – Maternal immune system attacking the embryo because it is genetically half paternal.
- Choriovitelline placenta – Marsupial yolk-sac placenta with weak attachment and low efficiency.
- Embryonic diapause – Temporary pause in embryonic development before implantation.
- Zona pellucida – Glycoprotein coat around an oocyte or blastocyst that prevents polyspermy and offers protection.
- Delayed fertilization
Histology Essentials: Tissue Structure and Cell Function
Histology Fundamentals and Cell Structures
Histology Definition
Histology: Microscopic examination of biological structures that are both structurally and functionally related.
Cytoplasmic Membrane Functions
Cytoplasmic Membrane: Regulates interactions between cells, acts as a mechanical barrier, and provides transport for specific molecules.
Epithelial Tissue and Glands
Epithelial Tissue Characteristics
Epithelial Tissue: Closely linked cells that form continuous sheets and resist external forces. Forms
Read MoreNeurobiology, Sensory Systems, and Endocrine Regulation
Glial Cells: Support and Function
Glial cells are the other type of cell found in nervous tissue, often considered support cells. Their functions are directed at helping neurons complete communication. They typically have a higher ratio to nerve cells.
Key Glial Functions
- Bind nerve cells and maintain the ionic milieu.
- Modulate the rate of nerve signal propagation.
- Modulate synaptic action by controlling the uptake of neurotransmitters.
- Provide a scaffold for neural development.
- Aid in recovery from neural
Invertebrate Phyla: Arthropoda, Mollusca, and Hemichordata
Phylum Arthropoda: Jointed Appendages and Exoskeletons
Phylum Arthropoda is the largest phylum in the animal kingdom, comprising more than 80% of all known species. Their hallmark is the presence of jointed appendages and a chitinous exoskeleton.
General Characters of Phylum Arthropoda
- Level of Organization: Organ-system level.
- Symmetry and Germ Layers: Bilaterally symmetrical, triploblastic, and metamerically segmented.
- Exoskeleton: A hard outer covering made of chitin, which provides protection and