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Glossary of terms used on this site

Glossary of biology.

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Glossaries

Term Main definition
venation
Glossaries - Biology glossary

pattern of veins in a leaf; may be parallel (as in monocots), reticulate (as in dicots), or dichotomous (as in Gingko biloba)

ventilation/perfusion (V/Q) mismatch
Glossaries - Biology glossary

region of the lung that lacks proper alveolar ventilation (V) and/or arterial perfusion (Q)

ventral cavity
Glossaries - Biology glossary

body cavity on the anterior or front portion of an animal that includes the thoracic cavities and the abdominopelvic cavities

ventricle
Glossaries - Biology glossary

cavity within brain that contains cerebrospinal fluid

ventricle
Glossaries - Biology glossary

(heart) large inferior chamber of the heart that pumps blood into arteries

venule
Glossaries - Biology glossary

blood vessel that connects a capillary bed to a vein

vernalization
Glossaries - Biology glossary

exposure to cold required by some seeds before they can germinate

vertebral column
Glossaries - Biology glossary

series of separate bones joined together as a backbone

Vertebrata
Glossaries - Biology glossary

members of the phylum Chordata that possess a backbone

vertical transmission
Glossaries - Biology glossary

transmission of disease from parent to offspring

vesicle
Glossaries - Biology glossary

small, membrane-bound sac that functions in cellular storage and transport; its membrane is capable of fusing with the plasma membrane and the membranes of the endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi apparatus

vestibular sense
Glossaries - Biology glossary

sense of spatial orientation and balance

vestigial structure
Glossaries - Biology glossary

physical structure present in an organism but that has no apparent function and appears to be from a functional structure in a distant ancestor

viable-but-non-culturable (VBNC) state
Glossaries - Biology glossary

survival mechanism of bacteria facing environmental stress conditions

vicariance
Glossaries - Biology glossary

allopatric speciation that occurs when something in the environment separates organisms of the same species into separate groups