A&P I Terms - Organic Compounds

Flashcards for A&P I Terms - Organic Compounds

Unsaturated Fat

Liquid at room temperature, typically from plants, considered healthier fats.

Saturated Fat

Solid at room temperature, typically from animals, not considered as healthy as unsaturated fats.

Organic Macromolecules

Carbohydrates, Lipids, Proteins, Nucleic Acids

Amino Acid

The monomer (building block) of proteins.

Anion

A negatively charged ion.

Atom

The basic unit of matter, consisting of protons, neutrons, and electrons.

Carbohydrate

An organic macromolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, providing energy to the body.

Cation

A positively charged ion.

Chemical Reaction

The process involving the rearrangement of atoms and molecules to form new substances.

Complex Carbohydrates

Used for energy storage, examples include Starch and Glycogen

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction that involves the removal of a water molecule to join two molecules together.

Denaturation

The process in which proteins lose their quaternary, tertiary, and secondary structure which is caused by external stress such as heat, strong acid or base, or exposure to chemicals.

Deoxyribonucleic Acid (DNA)

A type of nucleic acid that contains genetic information.

Disaccharide

A carbohydrate composed of two monosaccharides.

Double Helix

The structure of DNA, resembling a twisted ladder.

Enzymes

Biological catalysts that speed up chemical reactions in the body.

Examples of Lipids

Fats, oils, waxes, steroids.

Neutral Fat

Also known as triglycerides, composed of glycerol and three fatty acids.

Glycogen

A polysaccharide used for energy storage in animal cells.

Hydrogen bond

A weak bond between two molecules resulting from an electrostatic attraction between a proton in one molecule and an electronegative atom in the other.

Hydrolysis

A chemical reaction that involves the addition of a water molecule to break a bond.

Hydrophilic

Having an affinity for water; water-loving.

Hydrophobic

Lacking affinity for water; water-fearing.

Lipid

An organic macromolecule composed of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen; includes fats, oils, and waxes.

Lipid Monomers

Fatty acids and glycerol

Macromolecule

A large molecule formed by the polymerization of smaller monomers.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions that occur in the body.

Monomer

A small molecule that is one of the repeating units in a polymer.

Monosaccharide

A simple sugar, such as glucose or fructose.

Nucleic Acid

An organic macromolecule composed of nucleotides; includes DNA and RNA.

Nucleotide

The monomer (building block) of nucleic acids, composed of a sugar, phosphate group, and nitrogenous base.

Peptide Bond

The covalent bond that joins amino acids together in a polypeptide chain.

Phospholipid

A type of lipid that forms the main component of cell membranes.

Polymer

A large molecule formed by the polymerization of smaller monomers.

Polypeptide

A chain of amino acids linked together by peptide bonds.

Polysaccharide

A complex carbohydrate composed of many monosaccharides.

Protein

An organic macromolecule composed of amino acids; performs a variety of functions in the body.

Protein Monomer

Amino Acid

Protein use in Body

Structural support, enzymes, transport, defense, hormones, motion.

Ribonucleic Acid (RNA)

A type of nucleic acid that plays a role in protein synthesis.

Saturated Fat

A type of fat in which the fatty acid chains lack double bonds and are therefore fully saturated with hydrogen atoms.

Simple Carbohydrates

Glucose, fructose, galactose.

Starch

A polysaccharide used for energy storage in plants.

Steroids

A type of lipid characterized by a carbon skeleton consisting of four fused rings.

Triglyceride

A lipid composed of a glycerol molecule bonded to three fatty acids.

Unsaturated Fat

A type of fat in which the fatty acid chains contain one or more double bonds.