Keywords SDK125

Key terms for OU course SDK125

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  • Created by: Gini
  • Created on: 17-05-13 19:40
Absorbed Dose
A measure of the amount of energy from ionising radiation absorbed per kg of tissue. It is measured in units of grays (Gy) where 1Gy = 1 joule per kg
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Absorption (light, X Rays and other electromagnetic radiation)
A process in which the photon energy is captured by a medium, without transmission or reflection
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Absorption (of food)
The process by which the molecule released from digested food pass through the wall of the gut and into the surrounding blood vessels
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Accommodation
The change of thickness of the lens of the eye so that focal length changes. This allows light from objects at different distances to be sharply focused in turn on the retina.
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Acidosis
Abnormally high acidity (excess hydrogen ion concentration) of the blood and other body tissues
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Action Potential
A sudden change in potential difference (voltage) across the cell membrane of neurons & transmitted along axon, consisting of an increase in the resting potential and a sudden return to the resting value.
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Acute condition
A disease, disorder or traumatic injury characterised by rapid onset, severe symptoms and short duration from which patient either recovers or dies.
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Acute effects
A response to a stimulus or substance (eg alcohol) occurring rapidly producing severe, possibly life-threatening symptoms.
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Acute inflammation
Inflammation with a rapid onset, severe symptoms and short duration
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Acute pain
Pain of relatively short duration and associated with actual damage to tissues
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Adaptive characteristic
A characteristic of an organism is said to be adaptive if an individual possessing that characteristic has an advantage over other members of the same species in terms of survival or reproduction
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Adaptive value
The value of a characteristic in terms of its contribution to the survival and reproductive changes of an animal
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Addiction
An excessive engagement in an activity despite negative consequences and a dependence upon the activity such as when access is denied, craving and withdrawal symptoms are seen.
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Additive Primary Colours
Colours of light which, when added together, make white light. The additive primary colours are red, blue and green (RBG)
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Adhesion
The joining together of tissues to each other that may occur abnormally during repair
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Affect
The dimension of positive and negative feelings, exemplified by, respectively, happiness and pain
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Age-related macular degeneration (AMD)
Degenerative disease of the retina that results in loss of vision in the centre of the visual field. It is caused by an impaired blood supply to the macula. The condition is usually associated with ageing. .
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Age-standardisation
A mathematical adjustment that enables disease and mortality rates to be compared from countries with different age-structures,
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Agonist
A chemical that has the effect of mimicking the action of a natural substance such as a neurotransmitter.
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Agriculture
The cultivation of land for the purpose of crop production and/or the rearing of livestock for food and materials
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Alcohol myopia
A psychological short sightedness induced by alcohol whihc lowers the range of attention so that immediate events take on more importance than their future consequences.
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Alcohol tolerant
The need to drink increased amounts of alcohol than in the past to achieve the same effect.
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Alcoholic liver disease
ALD is categorised into three stages - fatty liver, hepatitis and cirrhosis.
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Alcoholic poisoning
Intoxication so extreme that it leads to unconsciousness that can result in death
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Allograft
A graft from donor tissue (ie from another person)
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Alpha-1 antitrypsin
A protein produced in the liver that circulates around the body and blocks the destructive effects of certain proteinase enzymes such as elastase.
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Alveolus
A small, thin-walled, air sac in the lungs surrounded by a network of blood capillaries where the exchange of oxygen and CO2 takes place between the lungs and the blood
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Amygdala
Brain region involved in processing memories and emotional reactions
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Analgesia
The process of reducing pain
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Analgesics
Substances that have the effect of reducing pain
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ANS
autonomic nervous system
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Antagonist
A chemical that has the effect of blocking the action of a natural substance such as a neurochemical
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Antibiotic Resistance
The ability of bacteria which has acquired a resistance gene to survive the action of antibiotic drugs that kills antibiotic-sensitive bacteria from the same strain.
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Anti-inflammatory
A drug that acts to reduce the signs of inflammation
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Aqueous Humour
The transparent fluid that fills the space between the cornea and the lens of the eye
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Arterial Blood gas test
A test that measures the exchange of oxygen and CO2 in a sample of blood from an artery (eg wrist). Used to evaluate the efficiency of gas exchange between the blood and the lungs.
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Arteries
Blood vessels that convey blood away from the heart
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Astigmatism
A condition in which the cornea is irregularly curved
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Atmospheric pressure
The pressure exerted by the Earth's atmosphere at a particular location as a result of the mass of the column of air above it. At sea level this is 760 mmHg or 101.325kPa
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Atom
The smallest unit of an element that still has the properties of the element. Consists of posivitely charged protons and neutrons in the atomic nucleus surrounded by negatively charged electrons
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Atomic nucleus
Protons which carry a single positive electric charge and uncharged neutrons
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Attenuation coefficient
A value which can be used to calculate the degree to which X-rays (or other radiation) are reduced in intensity when passing through a material. Usually given in mu in units of cm to the -1
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Attenuation
The reduction in the number of photons passing through a material caused by absorption and scattering
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Autobiographical memory
Memory for events or issues related to oneself
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Autonomic Nervous System (ANS)
The part of the nervous system that exerts influence over a number of internal organs of the body functioning without conscious intervention
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Axon
The part of a neuron that consists of a long wire-like projection, ending in a terminal which synapses with another cell. AP's are transmitted along axons
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Axon terminal
The end of an axon which participates in a synapse to another cell
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BAC
Blood alcohol concentration
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Bacteria (singular bacterium)
microbes living in and around us, most of which are harmless or beneficial but some of which can cause disease. Most bacteria consist of rods of up to 5 um in length or spheres about 1 um in diameter
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Bar chart
A simple way of presenting numerical data visually, so as to emphasis the relative size of different numbers
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Binge Drinking
Drinking to get drunk rather than just for pleasure
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Bioaccumulation
The build up of levels of chemical contaminants in the bodies of animals at successive levels in the food chain
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Biodiversity
The variability among living organisms from all sources and the ecological complexes which they are part of
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Biomass fuel
fuel from plant matter or animal waste
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Biopsy
The removal for diagnostic study of a piece of tissue from a living body
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Bipedality
The ability to stand, walk and run only supported by the hind limbs
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Blind study
A study in which participants do not know into which group they have been allocated (ie drug or placebo)
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Blood pressure
The pressure exerted by the blood pressing on the walls of the arteries. Expressed as systolic (higher pressure during heart contractions) and diastolic (lower pressure) measured in mmHg
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Blood alcohol concentration
The concentration of ethanol in mg per 100 ml of blood
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Body mass index (BMI)
A measure of body weight taking height into account. weight over height squared.
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Body Systems
Also known as organ systems - such as circulatory system, nervous system, respiratory system. Combines organs and tissues together
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Bond dissociation energy
The energy needed to break a bond between two atoms
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Bond length
The distance between atoms in a molecule
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Bond
The electrical force holding two atoms together - chemical, covalent, double, hydrogen, ionic bonds are all examples
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Bone marrow
Tissue in the centre of some large bones that contains cells (including stem cells) which are responsible for the production of white cells, red blood cells and a variety of other cells
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Brain imaging
A technique for monitoring the activity of the different regions of the brain.
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Bronchiole
A small airway branching from a bronchus
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Bronchodilator
A drug that widens the airways of the lungs and eases breathing by relaxing smooth muscle in the walls of bronchioles
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Bronchus
One of the two main branches of the windpipe or trachea leading to the lungs
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calcium ions
ions (symbol CA(2+)) of the element calcium which are vital to many chemical reactions int he body. Crystals containing calcium ions form an important part of the structure of bones
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Cancellous
A less dense type of bone (compared with compact bones) containing struts (trabeculae) to provide strength. It is found within the widened areas inside the ends of bones
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Cancer Cell
A cell that is part of a malignant tumour that multiply in an uncontrolled way
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Capillaries
The thinnest blood vessels
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Carboxyhaemoglobin
Haemoglobin that contains carbon monoxide. Formed in the blood when CO is inhaled reducing the ability of the blood to form oxyhaemoglobin
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Carcinoma
A cancerous tumour arising in epithelial tissue with the ability to metastasise to other parts of the body
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Cardiovascular System
The body system that includes the heart, blood vessels and blood. It circulates blood around the body - also known as the circulatory system
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Cartilage
Tissue that is found at joints and during bone repair. Its structure is a blit like bone without the mineral componnt, giving a smooth and resilient surface to the ends of bones to aid movement at joints.
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cast
A shell, typically made from plaster or fibreglass, which can be put around a limb in order to encase and support a broken bone until its healed
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Catalyst
A molecule that facilitates a reaction but which is left unchanged at the end
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Cataract
A visual impairment in which the lens of the eye loses transparency and exhibits reduced light transmission
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Cell membrane
The thin membrane that encases the cytosol and organelles of a cell (double lipid layer)
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Cell
The basic structural unit of all organisms comprising a nucleus (genetic material), cytosol containing organelles (eg. mitochondria) and encased with cell membrane.
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Cellular respiration
The process whereby oxygen is taken up by cells and used in chemical reactions involving the oxidation of nutrient molecules from food releasing energy for use in cellular processes
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Centilitre
A subunit of the litre, the SI unit for measuring volume (100 cl in one litre)
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Central Nervous System
The part of the nervous system comprising the brain and spinal cord
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Cerebral Hemisphere
the left brain and right brain as divided by the midline of the brain into two halves.
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CHD
coronary heart disease
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Chemical bond
The electrical forces holding atoms together
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Chemical compound
A substance made up of two or more elements (molecules or ions)
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Chemical formula
A descriptive form of which types of atoms are bonded together to make up a compound or molecule using symbols for its constituent elements showing how many atoms there are as a subscript on the right
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Chemical symbol
The shortform of each element (eg H stands for Hydrogen)
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Chemorecptor
A sensory nerve cell or group of cells that responds to a chemical stimulus
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Child Mortality Rate
The number of children who die (usually under 5) in a year, usually expressed as a rate for 1000 live births
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Choroid
The layer of the eye between retina and sclera which absorbs light that has not interacted with the rods and cones in the retina.
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Chronic Bronchitis
A condition characterised by inflammation of the walls of teh airways and excess production of mucus. It results in a eprsisiten cough with production of sputum, obstruction of airflow and increased vulnerability to respiratory infections
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Chronic condition
A condition with a gradual onset, slowing changing symptoms that lasts for a long time.
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Chronic effects
Gradual changes tha toccur slowly over time and may be irreversible
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Chronic inflammation
persistent inflammation over long period of time that occurs when the tissues are unable to overcome the effects of an injurious agent
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Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary disease (COPD)
An irreversible lung disease that is a combination of emphysema and chronic bronchitis in which airway obstruction causes breathing difficulties, including shortness of breath
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Chronic Pain
pain that lasts for months or years and which typically persists beyond the time of tissue healing
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Cirrhosis
A gradual change in about 10% of chronic heavy drinkers whereby liver cells are replaced by scar tissue
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Classical conditioning
A form of conditioning in which a stimulus with no intrinsic capacity to trigger a response acquires such ability when paired with a stimulus that does (eg Pavlovs dog)
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Closed Fracture
Any fracture where the skin has NOT been broken
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Closed Angle Glaucoma
Type of glaucoma in which the outflow of acqueous humour from the eye is blocked because the gap between the iris and the cornea has closed
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CNS
Central Nervous System
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Cognition
Certain kind of activity that the brain is involved ie processing of information that is summarised by the term 'mind' exemplified by thinking, memory, reasoning and interpreting
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Cognitive functions or processes
Information processing within the brain, interpreting, reasoning, memory and thinking
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Cognitive-behavioural therapy
A technique to change thought patterns and behaviour to create feelings of coping and self-efficacy.
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Collagen
Protein that is abundant in the extra cellular matrix. Can form long fibres to provide structure to many tissues
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Colour Blind
Condition where no colour can be seen
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Colour defficiency
Condition in which a full range of colours can not be seen clearly
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Compact bone
More dense bone to cancellous bone and very strong in order to withstand the strongest forces
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Complementary colours
Colours on the opposite sides of the colour wheel to each other
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Compound (Chemical compound)
Made up of two or more elements (molecules or ions)
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Concave
A lens shape where the greatest thickness is at each end and thinner in the middle
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Conditional Stimulus
A stimulas that when paired with (or associated with) another that is able to trigger a response, also causes a response
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Cones
The photoreceptor cells located in the retina that are responsible for daytime and colour vision
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Confounding factor
A factor that is statistically likely to be associated with an outcome despite not being related to a cause of this outcome and thus able to disguise the true causes
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Conjunctivitis
A condition in which the conjunctiva is inflamed
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Connective tissue
A tissue made up of cells embedded in a matrix of protein fibres. COnnective tissues include bones, fat and tendons; they connect,support or surround other tissues and organs
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Contagious
Refers to an infectious disease that can be transmitted by physical contact
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Convex
A lens shape with a greater thickness in the middle to the end
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Cornea
The curved transparent layer that covers the front part of the eye refracting light (with the lens) to form an image on the retina
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Coronary Heart Disease (CHD)
This condition occurs when the arteries suppying oxygen and nutrients to the heart muscle become blocked by fatty deposits so that muscle dies as a result
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Cortex
The outer layer of the brain known as the "cerebal cortex"
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Other cards in this set

Card 2

Front

Absorption (light, X Rays and other electromagnetic radiation)

Back

A process in which the photon energy is captured by a medium, without transmission or reflection

Card 3

Front

Absorption (of food)

Back

Preview of the front of card 3

Card 4

Front

Accommodation

Back

Preview of the front of card 4

Card 5

Front

Acidosis

Back

Preview of the front of card 5
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