Biochemistry for Nurses: Digestion, Nutrition, and Metabolism

These flashcards cover key concepts in digestion, nutrition, and metabolism relevant to biochemistry for nursing students.

What are the main functions of the digestive system?

Digestion, absorption, and metabolism.

What is digestion?

The breakdown of ingested food.

What is absorption in the context of the digestive system?

The passage of nutrients into the blood.

What does metabolism produce?

Cellular energy (ATP).

What is the gastrointestinal (GI) tract?

A continuous, hollow coiled tube that digests food, breaks it down, and absorbs the fragments into the blood.

What are the components of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is peristalsis?

Alternate contractions of muscle layers that propel food through the digestive tract.

What is the function of the stomach?

Acts as a storage tank for food and is the site where the chemical breakdown of protein begins.

What is produced by the liver?

Bile, which aids in fat digestion.

What is the role of the pancreas in digestion?

Produces digestive enzymes and alkaline fluid that neutralizes acidic chyme.

What is the importance of villi in the small intestine?

They increase the surface area for absorption of nutrients.

What is chemical digestion?

Enzymes break down food molecules into their building blocks.

What leads to constipation?

Too much water is absorbed by the large intestine.

What happens during the ingestion process?

Getting food into the mouth.

What are the main types of nutrients?

Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, vitamins, minerals, and water.

What can excess glucose in the blood be converted to?

Fat.

What are gallstones?

Crystallized fats that occur when bile is stored too long.

What is the basal metabolic rate (BMR)?

The amount of heat produced by the body per unit time while at rest.

What can cause hyperthyroidism?

An excessive metabolic rate.

What is gastroenteritis?

Inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, often caused by contaminated food.

What is an ulcer?

A lesion or erosion of the mucous membrane exposed to stomach secretions.