Lecture 14 – Metabolism: An Overview

Vocabulary flashcards summarizing key terms and definitions from the lecture on metabolism.

Metabolism

The set of life-sustaining chemical reactions that enable organisms to convert food into energy and building blocks for growth.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing a small amount of energy in the form of ATP.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

The main energy currency of the cell, used to drive various biological processes.

Catabolism

The metabolic pathway that breaks down molecules into smaller units to produce energy.

Anabolism

The metabolic pathway that builds larger molecules from smaller units, typically requiring energy.

Chyme

A semi-liquid mixture of partially digested food and digestive secretions in the digestive tract.

Villi

Small, finger-like projections on the surface of the intestinal lining that increase surface area for absorption.

Nucleophile

A species that donates an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction.

Electrophile

A species that accepts an electron pair to form a chemical bond in a reaction.

Brush border

The microvilli-covered surface of the intestinal epithelium that increases the absorptive area of the small intestine.