AAQ Level 3 Health & Social Care: Energy in the Body

Vocabulary flashcards covering energy metabolism, catabolism, anabolism, aerobic and anaerobic respiration, cellular uses of ATP, and basal metabolic rate (BMR) from the Level 3 Health & Social Care revision notes.

Energy metabolism

The process of generating energy from nutrients, which involves catabolism and anabolism, occurs in all living cells, and supplies energy for everyday bodily functions.

Catabolism

The metabolic process that breaks down complex molecules into smaller molecules and releases energy to make ATP (e.g., carbohydrates into glucose, fats into fatty acids and glycerol, and proteins into amino acids).

Anabolism

The metabolic process that builds complex molecules from smaller molecules and uses energy in the form of ATP (e.g., protein synthesis, glycogen synthesis, and fat synthesis).

Cellular respiration

The process occurring in all living cells by which cells release energy from glucose through catabolism.

Aerobic respiration

The form of cellular respiration that uses oxygen in the mitochondria to completely break down glucose, releasing a large amount of energy ($36\text{ ATP molecules}$) and producing carbon dioxide and water.

Anaerobic respiration

The form of cellular respiration occurring in the cytoplasm without oxygen that partially breaks down glucose to release a small amount of energy ($2\text{ ATP molecules}$) and produces lactic acid in humans.

Balanced equation for aerobic respiration

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 + 6O_2 \rightarrow 6CO_2 + 6H_2O + 36\text{ ATP molecules}$$

Balanced equation for anaerobic respiration (in humans)

$$C_6H_{12}O_6 \rightarrow 2C_3H_6O_3 + 2\text{ ATP molecules}$$

Cell division, growth and repair

A bodily process requiring energy released from ATP to make new cells, facilitate growth, and repair damaged tissue.

Passage of nerve impulses

A physiological process requiring ATP energy to generate and transmit electrical impulses throughout the body.

Contraction of muscle tissue

A function that uses ATP energy to enable muscle cells to contract for activities such as movement, heartbeat, and digestion.

Maintenance of homeostasis

The use of cellular energy to maintain a stable internal environment, including the regulation of body temperature and water and salt balance.

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

The energy required when resting for basic life-sustaining functions such as breathing (ventilation), circulation (heartbeat and blood flow), nutrient processing (digestion and absorption), and cell production and renewal.