Glossary

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Bacteria: one-celled microorganisms. Bacteria may be free-living, saprophytic (feed on dead or decaying organic matter) or pathogenic (cause disease).

Carnivore: an animal that eats meat, such as a wolf, bear, wolverine, fox, dog.

Connective tissue: a tissue that connects, supports, binds, or separates other tissues or organs.

Cyst: an abnormal membranous sac containing a liquid or semisolid substance.

Diaphragm: the muscular membrane dividing chest and abdomen. Important in expanding the chest for breathing.

Fibrous: having, consisting of, or resembling fibres (threads).

Herbivore: an animal that eats plants, such as caribou, moose, muskox, bison, Dall’s sheep, rabbits, ground squirrels.

Host: an organism whose body provides nourishment and shelter for another.

Larva: early stage in the life cycle of a parasite, usually wingless and worm-like and usually incapable of reproduction.

Lesion: wound; injury.

Lymph node: small oval or round gland that makes up part of the immune system that removes bacteria and foreign particles from the body.

Nutrient: substance necessary for life and growth.

Parasite: an organism that grows, feeds, and lives on or in another organism to whose survival it contributes nothing.

Spore: a reproductive cell that can develop into an organism resembling the parent immediately or after a period of dormancy.

Tissue: any of the similar collections of specialized cells of which animals or plants are made (eg. muscular tissue; connective tissue).

Ungulate: a hoofed mammal, such as a caribou, moose, muskox, bison, Dall’s sheep.

Virus: simple sub-microscopic infectious agent that often causes disease in plants, animals and bacteria; unable to replicate without a host cell.