Chemistry in Anatomy and Physiology

what is chemistry concerned with

the composition of substances and how they change in chemical reactions

what is the human body, food, and medications all composed of

chemicals

what are physiological processes based on

chemical reactions

what are all anatomical structures

chemicals

what does biochemistry help explain

physiological and disease processes

what is constantly occurring in cells

chemical reactions

matter

anything that takes up space and has mass

what is matter composed of

elements

what are solids, liquids, and gases

matter

elements

simplest types of matter with certain chemical properties

how many naturally occurring elements are there

98

atoms

smallest particles of an element that have the properties of that element

bulk elements

chemical elements required by living organisms in large amounts to build organic molecules and maintain vital physiological functions

trace elements

chemical elements present in really small amounts

what are the major elements that make up the human body (from greatest to least)

• oxygen

• carbon

• hydrogen

• nitrogen

are all elements in the human body essential to survival

yes

osteoporosis

if low on calcium, body takes calcium from bones

goiter

iodine is important to thyroid function because it produces thyroid hormone, so if low on iodine the thyroid tries to make its own and swells (we get iodine from salt)

anemia

if low on iron we get tired, pale, and short of breath because iron is important to hemoglobin which carries oxygen

what do radioactive isotopes do

reveal physiology

radioactive iodine-131

destroys cancerous thyroid gland tissue

what is the only part of the body that actively uses iodine

the thyroid gland

what are some medical uses of radioactive isotopes

• detecting coronary blood vessel disorders

• evaluating kidney function

• measuring hormone concentrations in body fluids

• assessing changes in bone density

which molecules do not contain C and H

inorganic molecules

which molecules are electrolytes and usually dissolve in water and dissociate forming ions

inorganic molecules

what type of molecule are water, oxygen, carbon dioxide, inorganic salts

inorganic molecules

what type of molecule contains C and H

organic molecules

what type of molecule dissolves in water and organic liquids

organic molecules

what type of molecule are water soluble organic compounds that do not release ions and are non electrolytes

organic molecules

what type of molecules are macromolecules

organic molecules

what are the 4 classes of macromolecules

• carbohydrates

• proteins

• lipids

• nucleic acids