Mindblown: a blog about philosophy.

Catabolism Definition Catabolism is the part of the metabolism responsible for breaking complex molecules down into smaller molecules. The other part of the metabolism, anabolism, builds simple molecules into more complex ones. During the catabolism energy is released from the bonds of the large molecules being broken down. Typically, that energy is then stored in the bonds of adenosine…

Definition Cartilage is a semi-rigid but flexible avascular connective tissue found at various sites within the body. With a pliable structure composed primarily of water, this tissue type is also extremely tough. Cartilage is found throughout the human body in areas such as the joints, nose, airway, intervertebral discs of the spine, and the ear.…

Definition Carrying capacity is the number of organisms that an ecosystem can sustainably support. An ecosystem’s carrying capacity for a particular species may be influenced by many factors, such as the ability to regenerate the food, water, atmosphere, or other necessities that populations need to survive. Carrying Capacity Explained In biology, the concept of carrying…

Carrion Definition and Explanation Carrion is dead animal matter, which may also be actively decaying. Any animal which dies leaves a carcass, or the remains of their body. This material is eaten by scavengers, and is further reduced to small pieces of organic material known as detritus. Carrion serves as a major source of food for many…

Carrier Protein Definition Carrier proteins are proteins that carry substances from one side of a biological membrane to the other. Many carrier proteins are found in a cell’s membrane, though they may also be found in the membranes of internal organelles such as the mitochondria, chloroplasts, nucleolus, and others. Carrier proteins and channel proteins are…

Carotenoids Definition and Function Carotenoids are a type of accessory pigment, created by plants to help them absorb light energy and convert it to chemical energy. There are two types of carotenoids, xanthophylls and carotenes, which differ only in their oxygen content. Carotenoids have a similar base structure consisting of 8 isoprene molecules. Isoprene molecules have 5 carbons, and 8 of…

Cardiac Muscle Definition Cardiac muscle, also known as heart muscle, is the layer of muscle tissue which lies between the endocardium and epicardium. These inner and outer layers of the heart, respectively, surround the cardiac muscle tissue and separate it from the blood and other organs. Cardiac muscle is made from sheets of cardiac muscle cells. These cells,…

Definition The cardiac cycle is the series of contractions in the heart that pressurize different chambers, causing blood to flood in one direction. There are two stages during the cardiac cycle. During diastole, the ventricles relax and fill with blood. The muscles contract during systole, pushing blood through the arteries. Cardiac Cycle Explained The cardiac cycle varies in…

Carcinoma Definition Carcinoma is a term used to describe cancer derived from epithelial cells that line various tissues throughout the body. In addition, malignant tumors that have an unknown primary origin, but share histological characteristics with epithelial cells (e.g., stratification, pseudostratification, cytokeratin production, mucin, etc.) are also classified as carcinomas. Depending on the location, carcinomas…

Carboxyl Group Definition A carboxyl group is one of many functional groups that attaches to larger molecules and gives them certain properties. The carboxyl group is seen in many organic molecules known as carboxylic acids, which have a variety of functions. The carboxyl group consists of a carbon, bonded to both an oxygen and a hydroxyl group. Hydroxyl groups are…