ch 7 vocab

photosynthesis

the process in which green plants use the sun’s energy to make carbohydrates from carbon dioxide and water

fuel

compounds that cells can use for energy

metabolism

the sum total of all the chemical reactions that go on in living cells

coupled reactions

pairs of chemical reactions in which some of the energy released from the breakdown of one compound is used to create a bond in the formation of another compound

coenzymes

complex organic molecules that work with enzymes to facilitate the enzymes’ activity

electron transport chain

the final pathway in energy metabolism that transports electrons from hydrogen to oxygen and captures the energy released in the bonds of ATP

cori cycle

the pathway by which glucose is metabolized to lactate (by anaerobic glycolysis) in the muscle, lactate is converted back to glucose in the liver, and then glucose is returned to the muscle

fatty acid oxidation

the metabolic breakdown of fatty acids to acetyl CoA; also called *beta oxidation*

acetaldehyde

an intermediate in alcohol metabolism

alcohol dehydrogenase

an enzyme active in the stomach and the liver that converts ethanol to acetaldehyde

alcohol use disorder

a pattern of alcohol use that includes drinking more, or longer, than intended; spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking; wanting alcohol more than anything else; failing to take care of family, work, or school responsibilities

antidiuretic hormone (ADH)

a hormone produced by the pituitary gland in response to dehydration (or a high sodium concentration in the blood) that stimulates the kidneys to reabsorb more water and therefore to excrete less

cirrhosis

advanced liver disease in which liver cells turn orange, die, and harden, permanently losing their function; often caused by long-term exposure to toxins such as alcohol

ethanol

a particular type of alcohol found in beer, wine, and liquor; also called *ethyl alcohol*

fatty liver

an early stage of liver deterioration seen in several diseases, including obesity and alcoholic liver disease. Fatty liver is characterized by an accumulation of fat in the liver cells

fibrosis

an intermediate stage of liver deterioration seen in several diseases, including viral hepatitis and alcoholic liver disease

microsomal ethanol-oxidizing system (MEOS)

a system of enzymes in the liver that oxidize not only alcohol but also several classes of drugs

narcotic

a drug that dulls the senses, induces sleep, and becomes addictive with prolonged use

wernicke-korsakoff syndrome

a neurological disorder typically associated with chronic alcohol use and caused by a deficiency of the B vitamin thiamin