Life Cycle, Processes & Properties, CRU-DOR
None of us are born looking exactly the way that we do today; this is because humans, like other species, undergo a series of changes as they mature and age, in accordance with their biological life cycle. This process can look very different across different species. In many simple organisms and in higher animals, the life cycle is completed within a single generation, while in most plants, the life cycle is multigenerational.
Life Cycle, Processes & Properties Encyclopedia Articles By Title
crush injury
crush injury, any of the effects of compression of the body, as caused by collapsing buildings, mine disasters,......
cryoglobulinemia
cryoglobulinemia, presence in the blood of proteins called cryoglobulins that precipitate at temperatures below......
cryptococcosis
cryptococcosis, a chronic fungal infection of humans caused by Cryptococcocus neoformans and C. gattii. The fungi......
cryptorchidism
cryptorchidism, disorder in which one or both of the testes do not descend spontaneously to the usual position......
cumulative incidence
cumulative incidence, in epidemiology, estimate of the risk that an individual will experience an event or develop......
Curly top
Curly top, viral disease affecting numerous cultivated and wild plants worldwide. Diseased plants are usually stunted......
Cushing syndrome
Cushing syndrome, disorder caused by overactivity of the adrenal cortex. If caused by a tumour of the pituitary......
cutaneous leishmaniasis
cutaneous leishmaniasis, infectious skin disease that is caused by any of multiple different trypanosome parasites......
cutis laxa
cutis laxa, rare disorder in which the skin hangs in loose folds. The cause of cutis laxa is unknown, but the defect......
cutworm
cutworm, Larva of certain species of owlet moths (family Noctuidae). The cutworm (not a true worm) is a serious......
cyanide poisoning
cyanide poisoning, harmful effects of inhaling hydrogen cyanide or of ingesting the salts of hydrogen cyanide,......
cyclic vomiting syndrome
cyclic vomiting syndrome, condition characterized by sudden repeated episodes of severe nausea and vomiting, the......
cyst
cyst, in biology, enclosed sac within body tissues, having a distinct membrane and generally containing a liquid......
cystathioninuria
cystathioninuria, metabolic disorder involving the amino acid methionine. Cystathioninuria generally is hereditary......
cystic fibrosis
cystic fibrosis (CF), an inherited metabolic disorder, the chief symptom of which is the production of a thick,......
cystinosis
cystinosis, inborn error of metabolism resulting in the deposition of crystals of the amino acid cystine in various......
cystinuria
cystinuria, hereditary error of metabolism characterized by the excessive excretion into the urine of four amino......
cystitis
cystitis, acute or chronic inflammation of the urinary bladder. The bladder, the storage sac for urine, is lined......
Cytochrome
Cytochrome, any of a group of hemoprotein cell components that, by readily undergoing reduction and oxidation (gain......
cytokinesis
cytokinesis, in biology, the process by which one cell physically divides into two cells. Cytokinesis represents......
Cytopathic effect
Cytopathic effect (CPE), structural changes in a host cell resulting from viral infection. CPE occurs when the......
cytoplasmic streaming
cytoplasmic streaming, the movement of the fluid substance (cytoplasm) within a plant or animal cell. The motion......
dacryocystitis
dacryocystitis, inflammation and infection of the lacrimal sac, usually stemming from obstruction of the flow of......
daily reference value
daily reference value (DRV), set of numerical quantities developed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for......
Damping-off
Damping-off, destructive disease of plant seedlings. Damping-off is caused by a number of seed- and soil-borne......
dandruff
dandruff, skin disorder, a form of seborrheic dermatitis (q.v.) that affects the...
dark triad
dark triad, cluster of three negative personality traits—Machiavellianism and subclinical (nonpathological) narcissism......
de Beer, Sir Gavin
Sir Gavin de Beer was an English zoologist and morphologist known for his contributions to experimental embryology,......
de Toni–Fanconi syndrome
de Toni–Fanconi syndrome, a metabolic disorder affecting kidney transport, characterized by the failure of the......
deaf history
deaf history, the experience and education of deaf persons and the development of deaf communities and culture......
deaf-blindness
deaf-blindness, disability in which an individual has both a hearing impairment and a visual impairment. Deaf-blind......
deafness
deafness, partial or total inability to hear. The two principal types of deafness are conduction deafness and nerve......
deafness on Martha’s Vineyard
deafness on Martha’s Vineyard, phenomenon in which a disproportionate percentage of the population living on Martha’s......
death
death, the total cessation of life processes that eventually occurs in all living organisms. The state of human......
- Introduction
- Mortality, Grief, Loss
- Process, Event, Causes
- Cell Death, Apoptosis, Necrosis
- Brainstem, Cells, Death
- Brainstem, Diagnosis, Tests
- Ancient Egypt, Rituals, Beliefs
- Mesopotamia, Mortality, Beliefs
- Hinduism, Reincarnation, Karma
- Afterlife, Immortality, Soul
- Resurrection, Judgment, Afterlife
- Descartes, Pineal, Brainstem
- Attitudes, Beliefs, Rituals
deceleration injury
deceleration injury, impact injury to a body within or upon a rapidly moving object caused by the forces exerted......
decompression sickness
decompression sickness, physiological effects of the formation of gas bubbles in the body because of rapid transition......
deep vein thrombosis
deep vein thrombosis (DVT), formation of a blood clot in a vein that lies deep beneath the surface of the skin.......
defecation
defecation, the act of eliminating solid or semisolid waste materials (feces) from the digestive tract. In human......
dehydration
dehydration, loss of water from the body; it is almost invariably associated with some loss of salt (sodium chloride)......
delayed puberty
delayed puberty, failure of the physical development of the reproductive system by the normal stage or period of......
delirium
delirium, a mental disturbance marked by disorientation and confused thinking in which the patient incorrectly......
delirium tremens
delirium tremens (DTs), delirium seen in severe cases of alcohol withdrawal (see alcoholism) complicated by exhaustion,......
delusion
delusion, in psychology, a rigid system of beliefs with which a person is preoccupied and to which the person firmly......
dementia
dementia, general term for any of a number of conditions marked by chronic, usually progressive deterioration of......
dementia with Lewy bodies
dementia with Lewy bodies, chronic, progressive disease characterized by the deterioration of intellectual capacity,......
dengue
dengue, acute infectious mosquito-borne fever that is temporarily incapacitating but rarely fatal. Besides fever,......
dentin
dentin, in anatomy, the yellowish tissue that makes up the bulk of all teeth. It is harder than bone but softer......
depersonalization
depersonalization, in psychology, a state in which an individual feels that either he himself or the outside world......
depression
depression, in psychology, a mood or emotional state that is marked by feelings of low self-worth or guilt and......
dermatillomania
dermatillomania, psychiatric disorder in which an individual compulsively picks at their skin to the extent that......
dermatitis
dermatitis, an inflammation of the skin usually characterized by redness, swelling, blister formation, and oozing......
dermatochalasis
dermatochalasis, sagging of the eyelid skin and underlying muscle that occurs commonly during the aging process.......
dermatome
dermatome, the outer portion of an embryo from which the skin and subcutaneous tissues are developed and, postnatally,......
dermatomyositis
dermatomyositis, chronic progressive inflammation of the skin and muscles, particularly the muscles of the shoulders......
desquamation
desquamation, peeling or shedding of the superficial portion of the epidermis, or outermost layer of the skin.......
detached retina
detached retina, eye disorder involving separation of the transparent light-sensing portion of the retina from......
Deviously Darwinian: 6 Strange Evolutionary Phenomena
Like the laws of human society, the laws of natural selection are ripe for exploitation. It isn’t just survival......
diabetes
diabetes, either of two disorders of the endocrine system. For information about the disorder caused by the body’s......
diabetes insipidus
diabetes insipidus, pathological endocrine condition characterized by excessive thirst and excessive production......
diabetes mellitus
diabetes mellitus, disorder of carbohydrate metabolism characterized by impaired ability of the body to produce......
diabetic ketoacidosis
diabetic ketoacidosis, complication of diabetes mellitus, characterized by an abnormal acceleration in the breakdown......
diabetic nephropathy
diabetic nephropathy, deterioration of kidney function occurring as a complication of diabetes mellitus. The condition......
Diapause
Diapause, spontaneous interruption of the development of certain animals, marked by reduction of metabolic activity.......
diarrhea
diarrhea, abnormally swift passage of waste material through the large intestine, with consequent discharge of......
Dieback
Dieback, common symptom or name of disease, especially of woody plants, characterized by progressive death of twigs,......
Dietary Guidelines for Americans
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans (DGA) is a set of federally developed dietary recommendations that promote......
digestion
digestion, sequence by which food is broken down and chemically converted so that it can be absorbed by the cells......
digestive system disease
digestive system disease, any of the diseases that affect the human digestive tract. Such disorders may affect......
- Introduction
- Dental Caries, Oral Health, Bacteria
- Esophageal Disorders, Gastrointestinal Issues, Dysphagia
- Motility, Symptoms, Treatment
- Diverticula, Symptoms, Treatment
- Gastric Ulcers, Gastritis, Dyspepsia
- Gastritis, Symptoms, Causes
- Travelers' Diarrhea
- Parasitic Infections
- Colitis, Crohn's, Ulcerative
- Abscesses, Symptoms, Treatment
- Crohn's, Inflammatory Bowel, Autoimmune
- Liver Disease, Symptoms, Treatment
- Acute Cholestatic Hepatitis, Canalicular Injury, Liver Damage
- Liver Complications, Advanced Disease, Symptoms
- Biliary Tract, Symptoms, Treatment
- Jaundice, Liver, Pancreas
- Pancreatitis, Chronic, Symptoms
digestive system, human
human digestive system, system used in the human body for the process of digestion. The human digestive system......
- Introduction
- Teeth, Enzymes, Digestion
- Salivary Glands, Enzymes, Digestion
- Pharynx, Esophagus, Stomach
- Esophagus, Stomach, Intestines
- Blood, Nerve Supply
- Gastric Mucosa, Digestive Processes, Enzymes
- Gastric Secretion, Digestive Process, Nutrient Absorption
- Anatomy, Organs, Processes
- Contractions, Motility, Digestion
- Enzymes, Absorption, Nutrients
- Secretions, Enzymes, Absorption
- Rectum, Anus, Digestion
- Organs, Processes, Functions
- Microscopic Anatomy, Organs, Processes
- Bile, Enzymes, Absorption
- Islet Cells, Digestion, Nutrition
- Proteins, Enzymes, Absorption
- Fats, Enzymes, Absorption
- Calcium, Enzymes, Absorption
- Intestinal Gas, Digestive Process, Nutrition
- Hormones, Enzymes, Absorption
- Gastrointestinal Tract, Immunity, Digestion
- Evolution, Development, Anatomy
digestive system, Invertebrate
Invertebrate digestive system, any of the systems used by invertebrates for the process of digestion. Included......
digit malformation
digit malformation, in human physiology, any of the isolated anomalies of the digits (fingers or toes) in an otherwise......
diphtheria
diphtheria, acute infectious disease caused by the bacillus Corynebacterium diphtheriae and characterized by a......
disaster epidemiology
disaster epidemiology, the study of the effects of disasters on human populations, mainly by the use of data collection......
disease
disease, any harmful deviation from the healthy structural or functional state of an organism, generally associated......
dislocation
dislocation, in physiology and medicine, displacement of the bones forming a joint, with consequent disruption......
Display behaviour
Display behaviour, ritualized behaviour by which an animal provides specific information to others, usually members......
dissociative disorder
dissociative disorder, any of several mental disturbances in humans in which normally integrated mental functions,......
dissociative identity disorder
dissociative identity disorder, mental disorder in which two or more independent and distinct personality systems......
distemper
distemper, Viral disease in two forms, canine and feline. Canine distemper is acute and highly contagious, affecting......
diverticulitis
diverticulitis, inflammation of the diverticula, or small pouches, that form in the lining of the large intestine.......
diverticulum
diverticulum, any small pouch or sac that forms in the wall of a major organ of the human body. Diverticula form......
dizygotic twin
dizygotic twin, two siblings who come from separate ova, or eggs, that are released at the same time from an ovary......
Do animals dream?
The answer is “probably.” Research has shown that many animals experience a sleep phase similar to humans known......
Do bees die after stinging?
The answer: it depends on the bee. There are more than 20,000 species of bees, with quite a bit of diversity when......
Do Cats Cause Schizophrenia?
Schizophrenia—any of several severe mental disorders having such symptoms as hallucinations, disorganized thinking,......
Do elephants have good memory?
Yes, elephants have good memory. For example, they are able to return to the locations of vital water and food......
Do fish drink water?
Many marine fish, i.e., those that live in seawater, drink large quantities of water, while freshwater fish typically......
Do GM Foods Affect the Body Differently?
Genetically modified (GM) foods affect the body in the same way as non-GM foods. In fact, multiple studies comparing......
Do platypuses glow under UV light?
They do, and they are not the only mammals that show this trait. Biofluorescence—in which an animal absorbs light......
Do raccoons wash their food?
Raccoons are known to dip their food in and out of water when they eat near a water source. This behavior has earned......
Do Sharks Sleep?
It is a common misconception that sharks as a species never sleep because they must keep moving to stay alive.......
Do snakes sleep?
Snakes do sleep, but their sleep patterns are significantly different from those of mammals and birds. Snakes,......
Do Vaccines Cause Autism?
No, vaccines do not cause autism. This damaging claim became a controversial issue in 1998, when a paper published......
Do We Really Swallow Spiders in Our Sleep?
The belief that we swallow an average of eight spiders in our sleep every year has become so ingrained in popular......
Do whales have teeth?
Yes, whales can have teeth. Specifically, toothed whales, called odontocetes, are a diverse group of cetaceans......
Do whales sleep?
Whales do sleep, but their sleep is quite different from what we typically understand as sleep in humans. Whales,......
Does Eating Turkey Make You Sleepy?
Contrary to popular belief, eating turkey itself does not cause drowsiness. The sleepiness that is often felt after......
Dominance hierarchy
Dominance hierarchy, a form of animal social structure in which a linear or nearly linear ranking exists, with......
doping
doping, use of substances or techniques to illegally improve human performance and, more specifically, to gain......
Dormancy
Dormancy, state of reduced metabolic activity adopted by many organisms under conditions of environmental stress......