types:
agglutination
a clumping of bacteria or red cells when held together by antibodies (agglutinins)
anovulation
the absence of ovulation due to immaturity or post-maturity or pregnancy or oral contraceptive pills or dysfunction of the ovary
antisepsis,
asepsis
the process of inhibiting the growth and multiplication of microorganisms
autoregulation
(physiology) processes that maintain a generally constant physiological state in a cell or organism
carbon cycle
the organic circulation of carbon from the atmosphere into organisms and back again
crossing over,
crossover
the interchange of sections between pairing homologous chromosomes during the prophase of meiosis
digestion
the organic process by which food is converted into substances that can be absorbed into the body
eburnation
a change that occurs in degenerative joint disease in which bone is converted into a dense smooth substance resembling ivory
ecchymosis
the escape of blood from ruptured blood vessels into the surrounding tissue to form a purple or black-and-blue spot on the skin
effacement
shortening of the uterine cervix and thinning of its walls as it is dilated during labor
erythropoiesis
the process of producing red blood cells by the stem cells in the bone marrow
eutrophication
excessive nutrients in a lake or other body of water, usually caused by runoff of nutrients (animal waste, fertilizers, sewage) from the land, which causes a dense growth of plant life; the decomposition of the plants depletes the supply of oxygen, leading to the death of animal life
expression
(genetics) the process of expressing a gene
extravasation
the process of exuding or passing out of a vessel into surrounding tissues; said of blood or lymph or urine
gastrulation
the process in which a gastrula develops from a blastula by the inward migration of cells
glycogenesis
the formation in animals of glycogen from glucose
heredity
the biological process whereby genetic factors are transmitted from one generation to the next
humification
the process of the formation of humus from plant remains
implantation,
nidation
(embryology) the organic process whereby a fertilized egg becomes implanted in the lining of the uterus of placental mammals
inhibition
(physiology) the process whereby nerves can retard or prevent the functioning of an organ or part
involution
reduction in size of an organ or part (as in the return of the uterus to normal size after childbirth)
cytokinesis
organic process consisting of the division of the cytoplasm of a cell following karyokinesis bringing about the separation into two daughter cells
karyokinesis
organic process consisting of the division of the nucleus of a cell during mitosis or meiosis
lymphopoiesis
the formation of lymphocytes in the bone marrow and lymph nodes and thymus and spleen
nitrogen cycle
the circulation of nitrogen; nitrates from the soil are absorbed by plants which are eaten by animals that die and decay returning the nitrogen back to the soil
nitrogen fixation
the assimilation of atmospheric nitrogen by soil bacteria and its release for plant use on the death of the bacteria
nutrition
(physiology) the organic process of nourishing or being nourished; the processes by which an organism assimilates food and uses it for growth and maintenance
ovulation
the expulsion of an ovum from the ovary (usually midway in the menstrual cycle)
perennation
the process of living through a number of years (as a perennial plant)
preservation
a process that saves organic substances from decay
quellung,
quellung reaction
the swelling of the capsule surrounding a microorganism after reaction with an antibody; the basis of certain tests for identifying microorganisms
regeneration
(biology) growth anew of lost tissue or destroyed parts or organs
regulation
(embryology) the ability of an early embryo to continue normal development after its structure has been somehow damaged or altered
replication
(genetics) the process whereby DNA makes a copy of itself before cell division
reabsorption,
resorption
the organic process in which the substance of some differentiated structure that has been produced by the body undergoes lysis and assimilation
segregation
(genetics) the separation of paired alleles during meiosis so that members of each pair of alleles appear in different gametes
summation
(physiology) the process whereby multiple stimuli can produce a response (in a muscle or nerve or other part) that one stimulus alone does not produce
symphysis
a growing together of parts or structures
synapsis
the side by side pairing of homologous maternal and paternal chromosomes at the start of meiosis
synezesis,
synizesis
the contraction of chromatin towards one side of the nucleus during the prophase of meiosis
transcription
(genetics) the organic process whereby the DNA sequence in a gene is copied into mRNA; the process whereby a base sequence of messenger RNA is synthesized on a template of complementary DNA
transduction
(genetics) the process of transfering genetic material from one cell to another by a plasmid or bacteriophage
translation
(genetics) the process whereby genetic information coded in messenger RNA directs the formation of a specific protein at a ribosome in the cytoplasm
transpiration
the emission of water vapor from the leaves of plants
tumefaction
the process of tumefying; the organic process whereby tissue becomes swollen by the accumulation of fluid within it
ulceration
the process of ulcer formation; the process of becoming ulcerated
fixation,
fixing
(histology) the preservation and hardening of a tissue sample to retain as nearly as possible the same relations they had in the living body
embalmment
the preservation of a dead body by treating with it balsams and drugs and other chemicals
control
(physiology) regulation or maintenance of a function or action or reflex etc
cellular respiration,
internal respiration,
respiration
the metabolic processes whereby certain organisms obtain energy from organic molecules; processes that take place in the cells and tissues during which energy is released and carbon dioxide is produced and absorbed by the blood to be transported to the lungs
respiration
a single complete act of breathing in and out
breath
the process of taking in and expelling air during breathing
insemination
the introduction of semen into the genital tract of a female
sleeping
the suspension of consciousness and decrease in metabolic rate
reaction,
response
a bodily process occurring due to the effect of some antecedent stimulus or agent
crying,
tears,
weeping
the process of shedding tears (usually accompanied by sobs or other inarticulate sounds)
culture
(biology) the growing of microorganisms in a nutrient medium (such as gelatin or agar)
abscission
shedding of flowers and leaves and fruit following formation of scar tissue in a plant
amelogenesis
the developmental process of forming tooth enamel
amitosis
the direct method of cell division characterized by simple division of the nucleus without formation of chromosomes
anabolism,
constructive metabolism
the synthesis in living organisms of more complex substances (e.g., living tissue) from simpler ones together with the storage of energy
anastalsis
muscular action of the alimentary tract in a direction opposite to peristalsis
apposition
(biology) growth in the thickness of a cell wall by the deposit of successive layers of material
auxesis
growth from increase in cell size without cell division
basal metabolism
the amount of energy required to maintain the body of an individual in a resting state
calving
giving birth to a baby cow, whale, elephant, etc.
cohesion
(botany) the process in some plants of parts growing together that are usually separate (such as petals)
cultivation
the process of fostering the growth of something
domestication
adaptation to intimate association with human beings
emergent evolution
the appearance of entirely new properties at certain critical stages in the course of evolution
fat metabolism
a metabolic process that breaks down ingested fats into fatty acids and glycerol and then into simpler compounds that can be used by cells of the body
feminisation,
feminization
the process of becoming feminized; the development of female characteristics (loss of facial hair or breast enlargement) in a male because of hormonal disorders or castration
gametogenesis
the development and maturation of sex cells through meiosis
gastric digestion
the process of breaking down proteins by the action of the gastric juice in the stomach
glycolysis
a metabolic process that breaks down carbohydrates and sugars through a series of reactions to either pyruvic acid or lactic acid and releases energy for the body in the form of ATP
habit
the general form or mode of growth (especially of a plant or crystal)
healing
the natural process by which the body repairs itself
infection
(medicine) the invasion of the body by pathogenic microorganisms and their multiplication which can lead to tissue damage and disease
intussusception
(biology) growth in the surface area of a cell by the deposit of new particles between existing particles in the cell wall
isoagglutination
agglutination of an agglutinogen of one individual by a serum from another individual of the same species
lactation
the production and secretion of milk by the mammary glands
life cycle
the course of developmental changes in an organism from fertilized zygote to maturity when another zygote can be produced
macroevolution
evolution on a large scale extending over geologic era and resulting in the formation of new taxonomic groups
malabsorption
abnormal absorption of nutrients from the digestive tract
meiosis,
miosis,
reduction division
(genetics) cell division that produces reproductive cells in sexually reproducing organisms; the nucleus divides into four nuclei each containing half the chromosome number (leading to gametes in animals and spores in plants)
metastasis
the spreading of a disease (especially cancer) to another part of the body
microevolution
evolution resulting from small specific genetic changes that can lead to a new subspecies
mitosis
cell division in which the nucleus divides into nuclei containing the same number of chromosomes
morphallaxis
regeneration on a reduced scale of a body part; observed especially in invertebrates such as certain lobsters
morphogenesis
differentiation and growth of the structure of an organism (or a part of an organism)
neoplasia
the pathological process that results in the formation and growth of a tumor
palingenesis,
recapitulation
emergence during embryonic development of various characters or structures that appeared during the evolutionary history of the strain or species
phagocytosis
process in which phagocytes engulf and digest microorganisms and cellular debris; an important defense against infection
pinocytosis
process by which certain cells can engulf and incorporate droplets of fluid
plastination
a process involving fixation and dehydration and forced impregnation and hardening of biological tissues; water and lipids are replaced by curable polymers (silicone or epoxy or polyester) that are subsequently hardened
psychogenesis
a general term for the origin and development of almost any aspect of the mind
psychogenesis
the development in the life of an individual of some disorder that is caused by psychological rather than physiological factors
psychosexual development
(psychoanalysis) the process during which personality and sexual behavior mature through a series of stages: first oral stage and then anal stage and then phallic stage and then latency stage and finally genital stage
rooting
the process of putting forth roots and beginning to grow
tanning
process in which skin pigmentation darkens as a result of exposure to ultraviolet light
transpiration
the process of giving off or exhaling water vapor through the skin or mucous membranes
blood extravasation
the leakage of blood from a vessel into tissues surrounding it; can occur in injuries or burns or allergic reactions
urocele
extravasation of urine into the scrotal sac