Cells, Organs & Tissues, NUC-PUR

Even if you feel you have nothing in common with a stinkbug or a ficus, you're guaranteed to share one crucial aspect of life with these beings: you are all made up of cells, the fundamental molecules of life, of which all living things are composed. As an individual unit, the cell is capable of metabolizing its own nutrients, synthesizing many types of molecules, providing its own energy, and replicating itself. In a multicellular organism, cooperative assemblies of similar cells form tissues, and a cooperation between tissues in turn forms organs, which carry out the functions necessary to sustain the life of an organism.
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Cells, Organs & Tissues Encyclopedia Articles By Title

nucleolus
nucleolus, spherical body within the nucleus of most eukaryotic cells, involved in the synthesis of ribosomal RNA......
nucleus
nucleus, in biology, a specialized structure occurring in most cells (except bacteria and blue-green algae) and......
occipital
occipital, bone forming the back and back part of the base of the cranium, the part of the skull that encloses......
odour
odour, the property of certain substances, in very small concentrations, to stimulate chemical sense receptors......
Ohsumi, Yoshinori
Yoshinori Ohsumi is a Japanese cell biologist known for his work in elucidating the mechanisms of autophagy, a......
oil gland
oil gland, any of a variety of skin structures that secrete oily or greasy substances of various functions. In......
olfactory bulb
olfactory bulb, structure located in the forebrain of vertebrates that receives neural input about odours detected......
olfactory receptor
olfactory receptor, protein capable of binding odour molecules that plays a central role in the sense of smell......
olfactory system
olfactory system, the bodily structures that serve the sense of smell. The system consists of the nose and the......
oligodendrocyte
oligodendrocyte, a type of neuroglia found in the central nervous system of invertebrates and vertebrates that......
oogenesis
oogenesis, in the human female reproductive system, growth process in which the primary egg cell (or ovum) becomes......
optic nerve
optic nerve, second cranial nerve, which carries sensory nerve impulses from the more than one million ganglion......
organ
organ, in biology, a group of tissues in a living organism that have been adapted to perform a specific function.......
organelle
organelle, any of the specialized structures within a cell that perform a specific function (e.g., nucleus, mitochondria,......
osmoregulation
osmoregulation, in biology, maintenance by an organism of an internal balance between water and dissolved materials......
osteoblast
osteoblast, large cell responsible for the synthesis and mineralization of bone during both initial bone formation......
osteoclast
osteoclast, large multinucleated cell responsible for the dissolution and absorption of bone. Bone is a dynamic......
osteocyte
osteocyte, a cell that lies within the substance of fully formed bone. It occupies a small chamber called a lacuna,......
osteon
osteon, the chief structural unit of compact (cortical) bone, consisting of concentric bone layers called lamellae,......
ovary
ovary, in zoology, female reproductive organ in which sex cells (eggs, or ova) are produced. The usually paired......
oviparity
oviparity, expulsion of undeveloped eggs rather than live young. The eggs may have been fertilized before release,......
ovulation
ovulation, release of a mature egg from the female ovary; the release enables the egg to be fertilized by the male......
ovum
ovum, in human physiology, single cell released from either of the female reproductive organs, the ovaries, which......
Owen, Richard
Richard Owen was a British anatomist and paleontologist who is remembered for his contributions to the study of......
P blood group system
P blood group system, classification of human blood based on the presence of any of three substances known as the......
Paget, Sir James, 1st Baronet
Sir James Paget, 1st Baronet was a British surgeon and surgical pathologist. Working at St. Bartholomew’s Hospital,......
pain
pain, complex experience consisting of a physiological and a psychological response to a noxious stimulus. Pain......
Palade, George E.
George E. Palade was a Romanian-born American cell biologist who developed tissue-preparation methods, advanced......
palate
palate, in vertebrate anatomy, the roof of the mouth, separating the oral and nasal cavities. It consists of an......
pancreas
pancreas, compound gland that discharges digestive enzymes into the gut and secretes the hormones insulin and glucagon,......
Paneth’s cell
Paneth’s cell, specialized type of epithelial cell found in the mucous-membrane lining of the small intestine and......
panting
panting, a method of cooling, used by many mammals, most birds, and some reptiles, accomplished by means of the......
parasympathetic nervous system
parasympathetic nervous system, division of the nervous system that primarily modulates visceral organs such as......
parathyroid gland
parathyroid gland, endocrine gland occurring in all vertebrate species from amphibia upward, usually located close......
parenchyma
parenchyma, in plants, tissue typically composed of living cells that are thin-walled, unspecialized in structure,......
parietal bone
parietal bone, cranial bone forming part of the side and top of the head. In front each parietal bone adjoins the......
parietal cell
parietal cell, in biology, one of the cells that are the source of the hydrochloric acid and most of the water......
Paulescu, Nicolas C.
Nicolas C. Paulescu was a Romanian physiologist who conducted groundbreaking research on the antidiabetic hormone......
Pavlov, Ivan
Ivan Pavlov was a Russian physiologist known chiefly for his development of the concept of the conditioned reflex.......
pectin
pectin, any of a group of water-soluble carbohydrate substances that are found in the cell walls and intercellular......
pectoral girdle
pectoral girdle, in anatomy, the bony structure on either side of the body that connects the arm to the upper portion......
pectoralis muscle
pectoralis muscle, any of the muscles that connect the front walls of the chest with the bones of the upper arm......
pelage
pelage, hairy, woolly, or furry coat of a mammal, distinguished from the underlying bare skin. The pelage is significant......
pelvis
pelvis, in human anatomy, basin-shaped complex of bones that connects the trunk and the legs, supports and balances......
penis
penis, the copulatory organ of the male of higher vertebrates that in mammals usually also provides the channel......
periodontal membrane
periodontal membrane, fleshy tissue between tooth and tooth socket that holds the tooth in place, attaches it to......
periosteum
periosteum, dense fibrous membrane covering the surfaces of bones, consisting of an outer fibrous layer and an......
peristalsis
peristalsis, involuntary movements of the longitudinal and circular muscles, primarily in the digestive tract but......
peritoneum
peritoneum, large membrane in the abdominal cavity that connects and supports internal organs. It is composed of......
peroxisome
peroxisome, membrane-bound organelle occurring in the cytoplasm of eukaryotic cells. Peroxisomes play a key role......
perspiration
perspiration, in most mammals, water given off by the intact skin, either as vapour by simple evaporation from......
Peyer patch
Peyer patch, any of the nodules of lymphatic cells that aggregate to form bundles or patches and occur usually......
Pfeffer, Wilhelm
Wilhelm Pfeffer was a German botanist whose work on osmotic pressure made him a pioneer in the study of plant physiology.......
phagocyte
phagocyte, type of cell that has the ability to ingest, and sometimes digest, foreign particles, such as bacteria,......
phagocytosis
phagocytosis, process by which cells known as phagocytes ingest or engulf other cells or particles. The phagocyte......
phantom limb syndrome
phantom limb syndrome, the ability to feel sensations and even pain in a limb or limbs that no longer exist. Phantom......
pharynx
pharynx, cone-shaped passageway leading from the oral and nasal cavities in the head to the esophagus and larynx.......
phenylthiocarbamide tasting
phenylthiocarbamide tasting, a genetically controlled ability to taste phenylthiocarbamide (PTC) and a number of......
pheromone
pheromone, any endogenous chemical secreted in minute amounts by an organism in order to elicit a particular reaction......
phloem
phloem, plant vascular tissue that conducts foods made in the leaves during photosynthesis to all other parts of......
photophore
photophore, light-emitting organ present in fireflies and certain other bioluminescent animals. Photophores are......
physiology
physiology, study of the functioning of living organisms, animal or plant, and of the functioning of their constituent......
pineal gland
pineal gland, endocrine gland found in vertebrates that is the source of melatonin, a hormone derived from tryptophan......
pinocytosis
pinocytosis, a process by which liquid droplets are ingested by living cells. Pinocytosis is one type of endocytosis,......
pituitary gland
pituitary gland, ductless gland of the endocrine system that secretes hormones directly into the bloodstream. The......
pivot joint
pivot joint, in vertebrate anatomy, a freely moveable joint (diarthrosis) that allows only rotary movement around......
plane joint
plane joint, in anatomy, type of structure in the body formed between two bones in which the articular, or free,......
plant cell
plant cell, the basic unit of all plants. Plant cells, like animal cells, are eukaryotic, meaning they have a membrane-bound......
plasma
plasma, the liquid portion of blood. Plasma serves as a transport medium for delivering nutrients to the cells......
plasma cell
plasma cell, short-lived antibody-producing cell derived from a type of leukocyte (white blood cell) called a B......
plasmodesma
plasmodesma, microscopic cytoplasmic canal that passes through plant-cell walls and allows direct communication......
plasmodium
plasmodium, in fungi (kingdom Fungi), a mobile multinucleate mass of cytoplasm without a firm cell wall. A plasmodium......
platelet
platelet, colourless, nonnucleated blood component that is important in the formation of blood clots (coagulation).......
pleura
pleura, membrane lining the thoracic cavity (parietal pleura) and covering the lungs (visceral pleura). The parietal......
ploidy
ploidy, in genetics, the number of chromosomes occurring in the nucleus of a cell. In normal somatic (body) cells,......
plumage
plumage, collective feathered covering of a bird. It provides protection, insulation, and adornment and also helps......
Poiseuille, Jean-Louis-Marie
Jean-Louis-Marie Poiseuille was a French physician and physiologist who formulated a mathematical expression for......
polyploidy
polyploidy, the condition in which a normally diploid cell or organism acquires one or more additional sets of......
pons
pons, portion of the brainstem lying above the medulla oblongata and below the cerebellum and the cavity of the......
Porter, Keith Roberts
Keith Roberts Porter was a Canadian-born American cell biologist who pioneered techniques for electron microscope......
postsynaptic potential
postsynaptic potential (PSP), a temporary change in the electric polarization of the membrane of a nerve cell (neuron).......
preen gland
preen gland, in birds, an organ located on the back near the base of the tail. Paired or in two united halves,......
progesterone
progesterone, hormone secreted by the female reproductive system that functions mainly to regulate the condition......
prokaryote
prokaryote, any organism that lacks a distinct nucleus and other organelles due to the absence of internal membranes.......
pronephros
pronephros, most primitive of the three vertebrate kidneys, active in the adults of some primitive fish (lampreys......
prophase
prophase, the initial stage of mitosis and of the mitotic division of meiosis, characterized by the formation of......
proprioception
proprioception, the perception by an animal of stimuli relating to its own position, posture, equilibrium, or internal......
prostate gland
prostate gland, chestnut-shaped reproductive organ, located directly beneath the urinary bladder in the male, which......
prothrombin
prothrombin, glycoprotein (carbohydrate-protein compound) occurring in blood plasma and an essential component......
protoplasm
protoplasm, colorless ground substance of living material within cells, constituting the cytoplasm and organelles......
pseudopodium
pseudopodium, temporary or semipermanent extension of the cytoplasm, used in locomotion and feeding by all sarcodine......
puerperium
puerperium, the period of adjustment after childbirth during which the mother’s reproductive system returns to......
pulmonary alveolus
pulmonary alveolus, any of the small air spaces in the lungs where carbon dioxide leaves the blood and oxygen enters......
pulmonary circulation
pulmonary circulation, system of blood vessels that forms a closed circuit between the heart and the lungs, as......
pupil
pupil, in the anatomy of the eye, the black centre opening within the iris through which light passes before reaching......
Purkinje cell
Purkinje cell, large neuron with many branching extensions that is found in the cortex of the cerebellum of the......
Purkinje, Jan Evangelista
Jan Evangelista Purkinje was a pioneer Czech experimental physiologist whose investigations in the fields of histology,......

Cells, Organs & Tissues Encyclopedia Articles By Title