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List of Terms You Need Study to Tackle Biology Homework

Biology is a branch of science that deals with plant and animal life, taught as a secondary subject. This learning occurs either in the classroom for the theoretical aspects or laboratory for hands-on practical work.

Like every other subject in school, students are also given biology assignments. To deal with biology homework questions, students must be familiar with basic biology terms. But due to the broadness of the subject’s scope, the problem of ‘how to do my biology homework’ may arise. A way to tackle this problem is to understand the basic terms used in the various wider topics.

In their biology homework answers, students should show their understanding of biology. This means that they need to use appropriate terms in their answers. Not only should the terms be appropriate, but they also need to be spelled correctly.

For instance, when dealing with biology homework questions about digestion, students will most likely come across terms like absorption, metabolism, enzymes, nutrients, and digestive organs.

14 Terms for mastering biology assignments

1. Absorption

Absorption is a process whereby nutrients are retrieved from digested food and transported into the bloodstream. So, it is the absorbed nutrients that work in the body.

2. Metabolism

Metabolism is a chemical reaction that changes food to energy in an organism. Metabolism takes place in cells. This shows that metabolism is a chemical process that takes place in both plants and animals.

3. Enzymes

Enzymes are chemical substances found in living organisms that bring about changes in other substances but never themselves. Enzymes help break down food and change the state of the food for proper absorption into the bloodstream. For example, the breakdown of starch starts in the mouth with the help of an enzyme called ptyalin, which is found in the saliva. When starch is broken down, it becomes glucose, which the body absorbs.

4. Nutrients

Nutrient substances found in food are essential for continued existence and growth in any living creature. Nutrients include protein, carbohydrates, minerals, fats and oil, and vitamins in animals. In contrast, plants need potassium, phosphorus, oxygen, copper, and chlorine.

5. Digestive Organs

Before digestion can take place, certain organs work together. These organs include the stomach, small intestine, large intestine, and pancreas. Some of these organs serve as sites for certain digestive actions.

Basic terms in circulation that cannot be omitted when dealing with biology homework questions include erythrocytes, leukocytes, thrombocytes, bone marrow, plasma, capillaries, veins, and arteries.

6. Erythrocytes

These are red blood cells, which make up the blood in the body. Red blood cells carry oxygen from the lungs to other parts and ensure a seamless circulation. Blood freshly pumped from the heart is deoxygenated, so it is the job of the red blood cells to carry the blood to the lungs, where oxygen is received. This oxygenated blood is what is thereby circulated in the body.

7. Leukocytes

They are also called white blood cells. The white blood cells make up the immune system. The white blood cells defend the body against infections and diseases. They defend the body against viruses, bacteria, fungi, and other parasites that affect the body. One falls sick when these microorganisms have defeated the white blood cells.

8. Thrombocytes

These are also known as blood platelets. They are colorless cell fragments that help the blood clot. This action stops or prevents bleeding.

9. Bone Marrow

The bone marrow is the sponge-like tissue in the bones where blood platelets, white blood cells, and red blood cells are formed.

10. Plasma

Blood plasma is an amber liquid that takes up about 55% of the total blood volume. It carries oxygen, distributes nutrients, removes waste, and prevents infection while circulating the body.

11. Veins

Veins are blood vessels situated around the body. They carry deoxygenated blood to the heart. There are four types of veins; they are pulmonary, systemic, superficial, and deep.

12. Arteries

While the veins carry deoxygenated blood to the heart, it is the job of the arteries to circulate oxygenated blood in the body. Apart from circulating oxygenated blood, the arteries also circulate nutrients and hormones.

Since biology typically deals with life, plants are not excluded from the study. Where circulation is studied in animals, transportation happens in plants. Knowledge of the following terms can help with biology homework that deals with transport systems; xylem, phloem, and capillarity.

13. Xylem

The xylem is a tissue that transports water and minerals from the soil to the leaves of a vascular plant. Vascular plants are plants that have woody stems and roots. So, the xylem tissue conveys water and nutrients from the soil to the leaves of the plant; this upward movement is called capillarity.

14. Phloem

Phloem is another tissue in plants that moves water and other products of photosynthesis from the leaves to other parts of the plant.

Conclusion

Completing biology assignments may pose a difficult task to accomplish. This may result from the broadness of the subject, which may tempt students to cheat on biology homework. Taking notes of the major topics treated in class and identifying basic terms will help complete homework biology. Mastering biology assignments will help students in acing biology tests.