Biological Terms
Biological words that are often confused
Excretion removal of waste products produced by the body cells
e.g. urine, expired air.
Egestion
(defaecation) removal of solid wastes from the gut i.e. faeces;
undigested food that has never entered the blood or body cells.
Ingestion (eating) taking in food through the mouth.
Digestion breakdown of food using enzymes, into simpler soluble products e.g. starch, sugars (though may be helped by acid conditions in the stomach, or bile from the liver)
Indigestion (acid) food not properly digested in stomach causing stomach ache. May be due to too much acid being produced (neutralised by weak alkali)
Breathing taking in (inhaling) and getting rid (exhaling) of air using the lungs.
Respiration breakdown of food in the cells to produce energy
Aerobic respiration breakdown of food using oxygen
Sugar + Oxygen ––> Water + Carbon dioxide + lots of ENERGY
Anaerobic respiration breakdown of food without oxygen e.g. fermentation
Sugar no oxygen ––>Alcohol + Carbon dioxide + little ENERGY
Photosynthesis process by which food is made by plants from simple chemical substances
Water + Carbon dioxide
light energy
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chlorophyll Sugar + Oxygen
Artery blood vessel that carries blood away from heart (most carry oxygenated blood, except one going to lungs)
Vein blood vessel that carries blood towards heart (most carry deoxygenated blood, except one coming from lungs)
Capillary very narrow blood vessels that connect arteries to veins (allow food and oxygen out to the cells in exchange for wastes e.g. carbon dioxide and urea)
Red blood cells carry oxygen by combining with the red pigment haemoglobin
White blood cells fight disease by either surrounding germs and digesting them or by producing antibodies
Bacteria very small, microscopic organism or microbes some of which cause disease e.g. Cholera, Typhoid, Tuberculosis(T.B.), Pneumonia,
Bubonic plague, Salmonella (food poisoning), others are useful
e.g. Bacteria of decay, Yoghurt bacteria, Cheese bacteria
Viruses even smaller microbes, all of which cause disease e.g. Cold, Influenza('flu), H.I.V.( A.I.D.S.), Polio
Further Biology Reading
Click title to download
(all Word Documents)
- Plant Reproduction
- Carbon Cycle
- Revision Sheet – Classification of major groups of organisms
- Living Things in the Environment
- Plant Nutrition