Moodle Book 8: Important Terms

Adipocyte

Fat cell used to store fat for later use

Anaerobic

Condition where no oxygen is available

Chylomicrons

Spheres which are soluble in water that are used to transport TAG, fat soluble vitamins and other lipids from the enterocytes after absorption to their target location for storage or use as energy

Enterocyte

Cell lining the small intestine

Fatty Acids

Long carbon chains of usually 16 to 18 carbons long

FFA

Free Fatty Acid - short or long chain fatty acids that are not attached to anything else

Glycerol

A 3-carbon molecule (C-C-C), fatty acids are attached to it to form acylglycerols (MAG, DAG, or TAG)

Lipase

Enzyme that breaks down fat

MAG (Mono acylglycerides)

A glycerol with a single fatty acid attached, generally the FA is attached to the middle carbon and is called 2-MonoAcylGlycerol

Michelle’s

Spheres, formed in the intestinal lumen from MAG, FFA and bile that are soluble in water that transport their contents to the enterocytes

Saturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that do not contain any “double bonds” between the carbons

Triglycerides

Also referred to as triacylglycerol (or TAG), three fatty acids attached to glycerol backbone

Unsaturated Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that contain “double bonds” between the carbons