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Anatomy & Physiology: Molecular Physiology and Biochemistry Basics

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Terms in this set (23)

  • What are the four major elements that make up the human body?
    Hydrogen (H), Oxygen (O), Carbon (C), and Nitrogen (N) are the four major elements.
  • What is an ionic bond?
    An ionic bond forms when electrons are transferred from a metal atom to a non-metal atom, e.g., Na+ and Cl- forming NaCl.
  • How do covalent bonds differ from ionic bonds?
    Covalent bonds involve sharing electrons between two non-metal atoms, while ionic bonds involve electron transfer.
  • What is the difference between polar and non-polar covalent bonds?
    In polar covalent bonds, electrons are shared unequally due to different electronegativities; in non-polar covalent bonds, electrons are shared equally.
  • What are hydrogen bonds?
    Weak attractions between partially positive hydrogen atoms and partially negative atoms in polar molecules; not true bonds but important for molecular interactions.
  • Define hydrophilic and hydrophobic molecules.
    Hydrophilic molecules dissolve in water (water-loving), while hydrophobic molecules do not dissolve in water (water-hating).
  • What is an acid in terms of H+ ions?
    An acid is a molecule that donates H+ ions to a solution, increasing H+ concentration and lowering pH.
  • What is a base in terms of H+ ions?
    A base is a molecule that accepts H+ ions from a solution, decreasing H+ concentration and raising pH.
  • What role do buffers play in pH regulation?
    Buffers prevent large changes in pH by hiding or revealing H+ ions when acids or bases are added.
  • What are electrolytes?
    Electrolytes are the separated cations and anions from salts dissolved in water that conduct electricity.
  • What distinguishes organic from inorganic compounds in the body?
    Organic compounds contain carbon bonded to hydrogen, while inorganic compounds generally do not.
  • Name the four major types of organic molecules in the human body.
    Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, and Nucleotides.
  • What are monomers and polymers?
    Monomers are single units; polymers are large molecules made of many monomers linked together.
  • What is the primary function of carbohydrates?
    Carbohydrates provide fuel for energy production, structure for cell membranes, and form the backbone of genetic material.
  • What are monosaccharides?
    Monosaccharides are the monomers of carbohydrates, simple sugars like glucose.
  • What is a triglyceride?
    A triglyceride is a lipid made of three fatty acids linked to a glycerol molecule, serving as a storage form of fat.
  • What is the structure of phospholipids?
    Phospholipids have a glycerol backbone, two fatty acid tails (hydrophobic), and a phosphate head (hydrophilic), making them amphiphilic.
  • What is the steroid nucleus?
    A four-ring hydrocarbon structure found in all steroids like cholesterol and testosterone.
  • What are proteins made of?
    Proteins are macromolecules made of chains of amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
  • What are the four levels of protein structure?
    Primary (amino acid sequence), Secondary (alpha helices and beta sheets), Tertiary (3D folding), and Quaternary (multiple polypeptide chains).
  • What is ATP and its role?
    Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP) is a nucleotide that serves as the main source of chemical energy in the body.
  • What bases are purines and which are pyrimidines?
    Purines: Adenine (A) and Guanine (G); Pyrimidines: Cytosine (C), Thymine (T), and Uracil (U).
  • How does RNA differ from DNA?
    RNA is single-stranded, contains ribose sugar, and uses uracil instead of thymine; DNA is double-stranded with deoxyribose sugar.