endospores
Heat-resistant bacterial forms
Endospores are dormant, highly resistant structures formed by certain bacteria to survive extreme conditions—heat, radiation, desiccation, and chemical exposure that would kill the active cell.
When conditions improve, the endospore germinates and resumes normal bacterial life.
The spores of *Bacillus* and *Clostridium* species are medically significant, as they can survive sterilization attempts: Endospores make anthrax and botulism difficult to eradicate.
Cylindrical bacterial cell
- anthraxSpore-forming bacterial disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
- pathogenDisease-causing microorganism
prokaryote · microorganism · toxin · bioweapon · anaerobe · aerobe · infectious · contamination
Organ's external tissue
- coreCentral essential portion
- calciumElement twenty, builds bones
- membraneThin tissue sheet
- dehydratedSeverely lacking moisture
protective layer · impermeability · oval · spherical · terminal · subterminal · central
Unaffected by high temperatures
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- chemical-resistantUnharmed by reactive substances
- UV-resistantWithstands solar radiation damage
- extremophileLife in harsh conditions
harsh conditions · boiling · freezing · acid-resistant · indestructible
State of being inactive
- latencyDelay in system response
- stasisState of inactivity
- resting stateInactive default condition
- suspended animationHalted vital functions, reversible
viability · longevity · preservation · ancient · reactivation
Setting into operation
- outgrowthSomething developing from another
- rehydrationReplacing lost water
- alanineBasic amino acid
- swellingAbnormal tissue enlargement
cell division · favorable conditions · triggering · emergence
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pressure cookingSteam method, sealed vessel
- incinerationBurning waste to ash
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
- germicideAgent that kills microbes
disinfection · decontamination · indicator · hospital · surgical · food safety · canning · pasteurization
bacillus
Cylindrical bacterial cell
- anthraxSpore-forming bacterial disease
- botulismBacterial food poisoning
- tetanusMuscle-stiffening bacterial disease
pathogen · prokaryote · microorganism · toxin · bioweapon · anaerobe · aerobe · infectious · contamination · foodborne
cortex
Organ's external tissue
dehydrated · protective layer · impermeability · oval · spherical · terminal · subterminal · central
heat-resistant
Unaffected by high temperatures
- desiccationComplete removal of moisture
- chemical-resistantUnharmed by reactive substances
- UV-resistantWithstands solar radiation damage
extremophile · harsh conditions · boiling · freezing · acid-resistant · indestructible
quiescence
State of being inactive
- latencyDelay in system response
- stasisState of inactivity
- resting stateInactive default condition
suspended animation · viability · longevity · preservation · ancient · reactivation
activation
Setting into operation
- outgrowthSomething developing from another
- rehydrationReplacing lost water
- alanineBasic amino acid
swelling · cell division · favorable conditions · triggering · emergence
autoclave
Pressurized steam sterilization chamber
- pressure cookingSteam method, sealed vessel
- incinerationBurning waste to ash
- formaldehydeColorless pungent preservative gas
germicide · disinfection · decontamination · indicator · hospital · surgical · food safety · canning · pasteurization