Function

An activity or purpose natural to or intended for a person or thing

Mechanism

Specific physical, chemical, or biological processes that underlie and make possible a larger physiological function or process in a living system

Compartmentation

organization of the body into functional units that separate and regulate physiological and biochemical processes in space

Extracellular fluid

all body fluid located outside of cells in multicellular organisms

Intracellular fluid

fluid contained within cells (Water, dissolved ions, proteins)

Law of Mass Balance

if the amount of substance in the body remains constant, any gain must be offset by an equal loss

Equilibrium

state of physical balance

Solubility

ease of which a molecule or gas dissolves into a solution

hydrophobic

water hating

Hydophilic

water loving

Buffer

Molecule that moderates changes in pH

Enzymes

Protein catalysts that speed up reactions.

Ligand

molecule that binds to a protein

Affinity

degree to which a protein is attracted to its ligand

Law of Mass Action

For a reaction at equilibrium, the ratio of substrates to products is always the same

Antagonist

One substance opposes the action of another

Lumen

the cavity of a hollow tube or organ

Integral Proteins

Proteins tightly bound to the membrane

Cell Junctions

Membrane proteins and extracellular matrix that holds cell together to form tissues

Basement membrane

Fusion of the epithelial basal lamina with matrix of supporting connective tissue

apoptosis

Cell Suicide