Chapter 5: Lipids

These flashcards cover key vocabulary and concepts related to lipids, their structures, functions, metabolism, and implications for health.

Fatty Acids (FA)

Carboxylic acids with long hydrocarbon chains, important components of lipids.

Saturated Fatty Acids (SFA)

Fatty acids with no double bonds between carbon atoms.

Monounsaturated Fatty Acids (MUFA)

Fatty acids with one double bond in the fatty acid chain.

Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids (PUFA)

Fatty acids with two or more double bonds in the fatty acid chain.

Essential Fatty Acids

Fatty acids that the body cannot synthesize and must be obtained from the diet, like linoleic acid and α-linolenic acid.

Triacylglycerols (TAG)

Esters formed from glycerol and three fatty acids, major form of stored energy in the body.

Phospholipids

Fatty acid derivatives containing phosphate groups, crucial for cell membrane structure.

Sphingolipids

A class of lipids characterized by a sphingosine backbone, involved in signal transmission.

Sterols

A type of lipid with a core structure of four hydrocarbon rings, such as cholesterol.

Lipoproteins

Complexes of lipids and proteins that transport lipids in the bloodstream.

Chylomicrons

Lipoproteins that transport dietary lipids from the intestines to other locations in the body.

High-Density Lipoprotein (HDL)

Lipoproteins that transport cholesterol from the body back to the liver.

Low-Density Lipoprotein (LDL)

Lipoproteins that carry cholesterol to tissues, too much can lead to atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis

A condition where arteries become narrowed by fatty deposits, increasing cardiovascular disease risk.

Ketogenesis

The process of producing ketone bodies from excess fatty acids in the liver.

Eicosanoids

Signaling molecules made from fatty acids, involved in inflammation and other physiological processes.

Metabolism of Ethanol

Ethanol is metabolized to acetaldehyde then to acetate before entering the TCA cycle.

Insulin

A hormone that regulates glucose and fat metabolism, influencing lipid storage.