Skip to main content
Back

Anatomy & Physiology: Nutrition and Metabolism

Control buttons has been changed to "navigation" mode.
1/26

Terms in this set (26)

  • What is a nutrient?

    A nutrient is a substance obtained from food that is used by the body for growth, repair, and energy.

  • Define essential nutrient.

    An essential nutrient is a nutrient that the body cannot synthesize and must be obtained from the diet.

  • What is a calorie in nutrition?

    A calorie is a unit of energy that measures the amount of energy food provides to the body.

  • List the five major nutrient categories.

    Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, and minerals are the five major nutrient categories.

  • Distinguish between simple and complex carbohydrates.

    Simple carbohydrates are sugars like glucose and fructose; complex carbohydrates are polysaccharides like starch and fiber.

  • Difference between saturated and unsaturated fatty acids.

    Saturated fatty acids have no double bonds and are solid at room temperature; unsaturated fatty acids have one or more double bonds and are liquid at room temperature.

  • What are nutritionally complete and incomplete proteins?

    Complete proteins contain all essential amino acids; incomplete proteins lack one or more essential amino acids.

  • Define nitrogen balance.

    Nitrogen balance is the difference between nitrogen intake and loss; positive balance indicates growth, negative indicates breakdown.

  • Major uses of carbohydrates in the body.

    Carbohydrates primarily provide energy for cellular functions and are stored as glycogen.

  • Major uses of lipids in the body.

    Lipids serve as a dense energy source, form cell membranes, and act as hormone precursors.

  • Major uses of proteins in the body.

    Proteins are used for tissue repair, enzyme and hormone production, and as an energy source when needed.

  • Difference between fat-soluble and water-soluble vitamins.

    Fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) dissolve in fats and are stored in the body; water-soluble vitamins (B-complex, C) dissolve in water and are not stored.

  • Name important fat-soluble vitamins.

    Vitamins A, D, E, and K are fat-soluble vitamins essential for vision, bone health, antioxidant function, and blood clotting.

  • Name important water-soluble vitamins.

    Vitamins B-complex and C are water-soluble and important for metabolism and immune function.

  • List essential minerals for health.

    Essential minerals include calcium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, magnesium, iron, zinc, and iodine.

  • Define metabolism.

    Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body, including catabolism and anabolism.

  • Difference between catabolism and anabolism.

    Catabolism breaks down molecules to release energy; anabolism builds complex molecules using energy.

  • Define oxidation and reduction in metabolism.

    Oxidation is the loss of electrons; reduction is the gain of electrons; both are key in energy transfer.

  • Role of coenzymes in cellular oxidation.

    Coenzymes like NAD+ and FAD carry electrons during oxidation reactions in metabolism.

  • Difference between substrate-level and oxidative phosphorylation.

    Substrate-level phosphorylation directly forms ATP during glycolysis; oxidative phosphorylation produces ATP using the electron transport chain.

  • Key products of glycolysis.

    Glycolysis produces 2 ATP, 2 NADH, and 2 pyruvate molecules per glucose.

  • Define glycogenesis, glycogenolysis, and gluconeogenesis.

    Glycogenesis is glycogen formation; glycogenolysis is glycogen breakdown; gluconeogenesis is glucose synthesis from non-carbohydrates.

  • Describe fatty acid oxidation for energy.

    Fatty acids are broken down by beta-oxidation into acetyl-CoA, which enters the citric acid cycle for energy.

  • What are ketone bodies and when are they formed?

    Ketone bodies are produced during prolonged fasting or low carbohydrate intake when fatty acids are metabolized for energy.

  • How are amino acids metabolized for energy?

    Amino acids are deaminated, and their carbon skeletons enter metabolic pathways for energy production.

  • Why is protein synthesis necessary in body cells?

    Protein synthesis is essential for cell growth, repair, enzyme production, and maintaining cellular functions.