Key terms & definitions

A valve at the exit of a ventricle that prevents blood returning from an artery into the ventricle. These valves are at the entrances to the pulmonary artery and aorta.

A valve at the exit of a ventricle that prevents blood flowing back from the aorta or pulmonary artery when the ventricle relaxes.

A Catholic priest trained in a seminary, a college for educating priests. English priests trained abroad returned secretly to minister to Catholics in England.

A musical drama combining spoken sections with singing and instrumental music.

The study of signs and how they create and communicate meaning.

An interview using prepared questions or topics while allowing changes in order and follow-up questions.

A council of leading Romans which exercised considerable influence over government and policy.

An influential Roman council composed of elite men, many of them former magistrates, which debated public affairs and advised serving magistrates.

A wealthy member of Rome’s governing elite who belonged to the Senate. Pliny’s senatorial career gave him influence and access to powerful social networks.

The creator or producer of a message in a communication model.

An employee who leads a business function or major area of activity, turning overall objectives into plans and overseeing teams.

A feeling arising through contact with something, such as pleasure or pain.

The detection and receipt of information from the environment through sense organs.

Reporting that emphasises shocking or dramatic details to attract attention, often through exaggeration or speculation.

A feeling of being accepted and included as part of a group.

A person's feelings about, and attachment to, a geographical location.

The direction of a rotation: clockwise or anti-clockwise.

A specialised cell that detects a particular type of stimulus, such as light, pressure or chemicals.

Sensitivity to feelings, including the capacity to recognise and respond to another person’s suffering.

A question about a personal or potentially embarrassing matter that respondents may be unwilling to answer honestly, or at all.

The ability of an instrument or method to detect a change in the quantity being measured.

The ability of a method to detect or measure a very small amount of a substance.

The possibility that a topic or question makes participants uncomfortable or reluctant to answer honestly.

A device that detects a substance or a change in its surroundings and produces a response that can be measured.

An input device that detects a physical condition, such as temperature or moisture, and supplies data to a computer system.

A component that detects a physical condition, such as light, temperature or force, and produces an electrical change that a circuit can use.

The systematic assessment of a food's characteristics using the senses, such as its appearance, aroma, flavour and texture.

A feature of food perceived through the senses, such as its appearance, aroma, flavour or texture.

The absence or substantial impairment of a sense, such as sight or hearing.

A precise word or phrase describing a property perceived by the senses, such as a smoky aroma, crumbly texture or golden colour.