Introduction to Biological Molecules, Reactions, and Cellular Energy Flashcards

Vocabulary flashcards covering core concepts from human anatomy and physiology lecture notes, including solution chemistry, biological macromolecules, enzymes, metabolic processes, and cellular respiration.

Hydrophilic

Water loving; describes substances like oxygen, phosphorus, and nitrogen that mix easily with water.

Hydrophobic

Water fearing; describes non-charged molecules like fats and oils that do not mix with water and separate from solution.

Solute

The substance that is dissolved in a liquid to form a solution.

Solvent

The liquid substance responsible for dissolving a solute to form a solution.

Concentration

The measured amount of solute dissolved within a given solvent.

Inorganic Compound

A chemical compound that lacks carbon, such as water ($H_2O$).

Organic Compound

A chemical compound that contains carbon in its structure.

Monosaccharide

A simple single-sugar unit with a small carbon chain that serves as a direct energy source.

Glucose

A simple monosaccharide ($C_6H_{12}O_6$) that acts as the primary fuel source for cellular processes.

Disaccharide

A sugar formed by joining two monosaccharides together.

Sucrose

Table sugar; a disaccharide composed of one glucose molecule and one fructose molecule.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate consisting of long chains of many monosaccharides.

Glycogen

The storage form of glucose packaged together and stored primarily in the liver.

Insulin

A hormone produced by the pancreas that lowers elevated blood sugar by promoting glucose usage or storage as glycogen.

Glucagon

A pancreatic hormone that triggers the breakdown of stored glycogen into usable glucose when blood sugar is low.

Emulsification

The chemical process of breaking down fats into smaller units rather than standard digestion.

Phospholipid

A lipid molecule with a hydrophilic head and hydrophobic tails that structures the cellular membrane.

Peptide Bond

The specific chemical bond that links amino acids together to form a protein.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that builds complex molecules by removing water.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that breaks down complex molecules by adding water.

Anabolism

Metabolic reactions that build up complex compounds, linked with dehydration synthesis.

Catabolism

Metabolic reactions that break down complex compounds into simpler ones, linked with hydrolysis.

Substrate

The specific chemical substance or reactant upon which an enzyme acts.

Adenosine Triphosphate (ATP)

The primary cellular energy molecule containing three phosphate bonds.

Cellular Respiration

The chemical metabolic process combining glucose and oxygen to generate carbon dioxide, water, and ATP.

Mitochondria

The cellular power plant organelles where ATP energy is produced.