Glossary of terms used on this site

surface-layer protein present on the outside of cell walls of archaea and bacteria

shape of a logistic growth curve

joint with concave and convex portions that fit together; named because the ends of each bone resemble a saddle

plane cutting through an animal separating the individual into right and left sides

tailed amphibian that belongs to the clade Urodela

enzyme found in saliva, which converts carbohydrates to maltose

“jumping” of an action potential along an axon from one node of Ranvier to the next

soil particles between 0.1–2 mm in diameter

organism that derives nutrients from decaying organic matter; also saprophyte

plant that does not have chlorophyll and gets its food from dead matter

plasma membrane of a skeletal muscle fiber

functional unit of skeletal muscle

Sarcopterygii

type of free-floating marine seaweed

glial cell that provides nutrients and structural support for neurons in the peripheral nervous system