Nutrition and Metabolism

Vocabulary flashcards based on lecture notes about nutrition and metabolism.

Nutrition

The study of how living organisms obtain and utilize nutrients needed to grow and sustain life.

Macronutrients

Nutrients that are required in large quantities; includes carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins.

Micronutrients

Nutrients that are needed in smaller quantities; includes vitamins and minerals.

Carbohydrates

Organic compounds that include sugars, starches, and fibers, serving as a primary energy source.

Lipids

A group of organic compounds that are insoluble in water; include triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids.

Proteins

Large biomolecules composed of amino acids, essential for growth, repair, and maintenance of body tissues.

Vitamins

Organic compounds required for numerous biochemical functions; can be water-soluble or fat-soluble.

Minerals

Inorganic ions obtained from diet, essential for various bodily functions.

Metabolism

All chemical reactions necessary to maintain life, including anabolic and catabolic reactions.

Cellular respiration

A metabolic process that converts nutrients into energy (ATP) through glycolysis, Krebs cycle, and electron transport chain.

Glycolysis

The metabolic pathway that converts glucose into pyruvate, producing ATP and NADH.

Krebs cycle

A series of reactions that generate energy through the oxidation of acetyl CoA derived from carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Oxidative phosphorylation

The process of ATP synthesis in mitochondria, coupled with electron transport and chemiosmosis.

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors, primarily occurring in the liver.

Lipogenesis

The metabolic process of synthesizing triglycerides from excess glucose and other substrates.

Lipolysis

The breakdown of triglycerides into glycerol and free fatty acids for energy.

Absorptive State

The state during and shortly after eating when nutrients from food are being absorbed and utilized.

Postabsorptive State

The state when the body relies on stored nutrients for energy, occurring between meals.

Energy balance

The relationship between energy intake through food and energy expenditure through metabolic processes.

Thermoregulation

The process by which the body maintains its internal temperature within physiological limits.

BMR (Basal Metabolic Rate)

The amount of energy expended while at rest in a neutrally temperate environment.

HDL (High-Density Lipoprotein)

A type of lipoprotein that removes cholesterol from tissues and transports it back to the liver.

LDL (Low-Density Lipoprotein)

A type of lipoprotein that carries cholesterol to peripheral tissues, often associated with the risk of atherosclerosis.

Cholesterol

A waxy, fat-like substance that is essential for the structure of cell membranes and precursor for steroid hormones.