Chapter 33 Bio 191

herbivore

An animal that mainly eats plants or algae

carnivore

An animal that mainly eats other animals

omnivore

An animal that regularly eats animals as well as plants or algae

nutrition

The process by which an organism takes in and makes use of food substances

essential nutrient

A substance that an organism cannot synthesize from other materials and therefore must absorb in preassembled form

essential amino acid

An amino acid that an animal cannot synthesize itself and must obtain from food in prefabricated form

essential fatty acid

An unsaturated fatty acid that an animal needs but cannot produce itself

vitamin

An organic molecule required in the diet in very small amounts; many vitamins serve as coenzymes or parts of coenzymes

mineral

In nutrition, a simple inorganic nutrient that cannot be synthesized by the body

malnutrition

The result of ingesting too much or too little of an essential nutrient, or of all nutrients, over an extended period of time

ingestion

The first stage of food processing in animals; the act of eating

digestion

The second stage of food processing in animals; the breakdown of food into molecules small enough for the body to absorb

absorption

The third stage of food processing in animals; the uptake of small nutrient molecules by an organism's body

elimination

The fourth and final stage of food processing in animals; the passing of undigested material out of the body

gastrovascular cavity

A central cavity with a single opening in the body of certain animals, including cnidarians and flatworms, that functions in both digestion and nutrient distribution

alimentary canal

A complete digestive tract consisting of a tube running between a mouth and an anus

microbiome

The collection of microorganisms living in or on an organism's body, along with their genetic material

ruminant

A cud

bioenergetics

(1) The overall flow and transformation of energy in an organism. (2) The study of how energy flows through organisms

insulin

A hormone secreted by pancreatic beta cells that lowers blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake by most body cells and glycogen synthesis and storage in the liver

glucagon

A hormone secreted by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels by promoting glycogen breakdown and glucose release by the live

Describe 3 major nutritional needs met by an animal’s diet

1. Chemical Energy

• Provides energy needed to perform cellular activities, movement, growth, and metabolism.

• Obtained by breaking down carbohydrates, fats, and proteins through cellular respiration.

• Examples: Glucose and fatty acids.

2. Organic Building Blocks

• Provide raw materials needed to build and maintain cells, tissues, and organs.

• Used for growth, tissue repair, and the synthesis of important molecules.

• Examples: Amino acids, fatty acids, and sugars.

3. Essential Nutrients

• Substances that animals cannot synthesize on their own (or cannot make in sufficient amounts) and must obtain through their diet.

• Required for normal growth, development, and metabolic functions.

• Examples: Essential amino acids, essential fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals.

List and describe the 4 classes of essential nutrients

1. Essential Amino Acids – Amino acids that animals cannot synthesize on their own (or cannot make enough of) and must obtain through their diet. They are needed to build proteins and repair tissues.

2. Essential Fatty Acids – Fatty acids that animals cannot produce in sufficient amounts and must obtain from food. They are important for cell membranes and normal growth and development.

3. Vitamins – Organic molecules required in small amounts to support metabolic processes, growth, and normal body functions.

4. Minerals – Inorganic nutrients needed for functions such as building bones, maintaining fluid balance, and supporting nerve and muscle activity.

Understand different types of nutritional deficiencies and malnourishment

Ingest too much or too lttle of an essential nutrients

Know and explain the 4 distinct stages of food processing

Injestion, Digestion, Absorption, Elimination

Explain mechanical vs chemical digestion

Mechanical is the breaking of larger molecules to smaller molecules and chemical the breaking of bonds

Define the 4 basic modes of how animals extract resources

1. Suspension Feeding (Filter Feeding): Animals filter small food particles suspended in water.

• Example: Whales, sponges, and clams.

2. Substrate Feeding: Animals live in or on their food source and eat their way through it.

• Example: Caterpillars eating leaves and maggots feeding on decaying matter.

3. Fluid Feeding: Animals obtain nutrients by sucking nutrient-rich fluids from another organism.

• Example: Mosquitoes sucking blood and butterflies drinking nectar.

4. Bulk Feeding: Animals eat relatively large pieces of food or entire organisms.

• Example: Lions eating prey and humans eating solid food.

Describe the major adaptations to diet among different animals

• length of alimentary canal, herbivors are longer

Describe glucose homeostasis

1. When blood glucose is HIGH (after eating)

• The pancreas releases insulin from beta cells.

• Insulin stimulates body cells to absorb glucose from the blood.

• The liver and muscles store excess glucose as glycogen.

• Blood glucose levels decrease back to normal.

2. When blood glucose is LOW (between meals)

• The pancreas releases glucagon from alpha cells.

• Glucagon signals the liver to break down glycogen into glucose.

• The liver releases glucose into the bloodstream.

• Blood glucose levels increase back to normal