Metabolic Processes

Flashcards covering vocabulary terms related to metabolic processes, energy, and nutrition for a biology course.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring in a living cell or organism.

Anabolic Reactions

Metabolic reactions that build larger molecules from smaller molecules or atoms.

Catabolic Reactions

Reactions that break large molecules down into smaller molecules or atoms.

Cellular Respiration

An important metabolic process that is fundamental to all life, and takes place in specialized structures within cells called mitochondria.

Photosynthesis

An important metabolic process that is fundamental to all life and takes place in specialized structures within cells called chloroplasts.

Calories (cal)

Units of energy. A calorie is the amount of energy required to raise the temperature of 1 g of water by 1°C.

Joules (J)

The International System of Units (SI)—the energy unit of choice for nutritionists, biologists, and chemists

Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)

Represents the amount of energy used by a person at rest over a 24-hour period.

Resting Metabolic Rate (RMR)

A more useful derivation of BMR, represents the amount of energy used by a person at rest over a 24-hour period.

Diabetes

A condition of high levels of blood glucose over time that can cause many health problems.

Obesity

A condition resulting from the accumulation of excessive amounts of fatty tissue called adipose tissue.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

A measure calculated by dividing your weight (in kilograms) by the square of your height (in metres). A high BMI means that you are heavier than normal for your height

Cardiovascular Disease

An important health concern involving diseases of the heart and blood vessels.

Heart Attack

Occurs when blood flow to the heart is blocked, often by plaque.

Stroke

Caused by interruption of blood flow in the brain, either by a blockage or rupture of blood vessels.

Kinetic Energy

The energy that causes objects to move; the energy that is being used up.

Potential Energy

Energy that is stored for later use.

Thermodynamics

A branch of science that deals with the relationship between all forms of energy.

First Law of Thermodynamics

States that energy can be changed from one form to another, but it cannot be created or destroyed.

Second Law of Thermodynamics

States that the disorder (called “entropy”) in the universe is always increasing.

Endergonic Reactions

Reactions in which the reactants have less energy than their products; require energy.

Exergonic Reactions

Reactions in which the reactants have more energy stored in their bonds than their products; release energy.

Redox Reactions

Reduction-oxidation reactions, very important in the metabolism of living systems.

OIL RIG

Oxidation Is Loss of Electrons, Reduction Is Gain of Electrons.

Reducing Agent

A substance that is oxidized and causes the reduction of other substances.

Oxidizing Agent

A substance that is reduced and causes the oxidation of other substances.

Nicotinamide Adenine Dinucleotide (NAD+)

One energy-carrying, hydrogen-accepting coenzyme that is a key player in the transfer of energy.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

A special molecule that carries and releases energy in living things; the energy “currency of the cell.”

Dietitian

Experts in food and nutrition who counsel individuals, families, and communities and work as integral parts of family health-care networks.