Unit 5 Study Sheet: Digestion, Macromolecules, Nutrition, and Reproduction

A comprehensive set of vocabulary flashcards covering the digestive system, macromolecule chemistry, nutrition science, cell division, human reproduction, and basic genetics based on Unit 5 lecture notes.

Gastrointestinal (GI) System

The system responsible for the physical and chemical digestion of food, consisting of the alimentary canal and various organs.

Buccal Cavity

The mouth, which functions in tasting, breaking down food with teeth, lubrication, starting carbohydrate digestion, and swallowing.

Umami

A meat savory sensation sensed by taste buds on the tongue along with sweet, salty, sour, and bitter.

Uvula

A cone-shaped structure hanging from the middle of the soft palate that prevents food from entering the windpipe.

Salivary Amylase

An enzyme in saliva that begins the process of breaking down carbohydrates into sugars.

Epiglottis

A structure that prevents the bolus from entering the trachea.

Rugae

Folds in the stomach that assist with the process of digestion.

Gastric Juice

$HCl$ found in the stomach that kills bacteria, helps absorb $Fe$, and activates pepsin for protein digestion.

Chyme

The thick semi-fluid material that leaves the stomach and enters the small intestine.

Villi

Small finger-like projections lining the small intestine that increase surface area to help absorb nutrients.

Ileocecal Valve

A valve that stops food from returning to the ileum from the large intestine.

Bile

A substance secreted by the liver and stored in the gallbladder that breaks down fat and makes it water soluble.

Heparin

A substance made by the liver that prevents blood from clotting.

Mastication

The physical act of chewing food.

Peristalsis

The rhythmic wavelike motion of muscles that moves food down the alimentary canal.

Catabolism

The metabolic process of breaking down larger substances into simpler ones, such as the digestion of carbohydrates, proteins, and lipids.

Anabolism

The metabolic process where larger molecules are made from smaller ingredients, such as amino acids making up muscle.

Isomers

Molecules with the same molecular formula but a different structural formula, such as glucose, fructose, and galactose which are all $C_6H_{12}O_6$.

Dehydration Synthesis

A chemical reaction where two molecules join, such as monosaccharides, and a water molecule ($H_2O$) is released.

Hydrolysis

The process of breaking down a polysaccharide by adding a water molecule to reform the original monosaccharides.

Aldose

A straight chained sugar where the double bonded oxygen is on the end carbon.

Ketose

A straight chained sugar where the double bonded oxygen is on an inner carbon atom.

Glycogen

The form in which animals store extra energy in the liver and muscles.

Cellulose

A polysaccharide found in the cell walls of plants that humans cannot digest, also known as roughage or fiber.

Chitin

A polysaccharide that makes up the exoskeletons of smaller invertebrates like crabs, lobsters, and insects.

Saturated Fat

A lipid that only has single bonds connecting the carbons, making it stable and solid at room temperature.

Unsaturated Fat

A lipid with at least one double bond in the carbon chain, causing a kink and making it liquid at room temperature.

Triglyceride

A lipid made up of one glycerol and three fatty acids joined by dehydration synthesis.

LDL (Low-Density Lipoproteins)

Molecules that take cholesterol to the cells, considered bad cholesterol because excess can form plaque in arteries.

HDL (High-Density Lipoproteins)

Molecules that take cholesterol back to the liver to be recycled, considered good cholesterol.

MMEATS

An acronym for protein uses: Muscle contraction, Messengers (hormones), Enzymes (catalysts), Antibodies (immune system), Transport (haemoglobin), and Structure (repair body).

Peptide Bond

A bond where nitrogen is bonded directly with carbon, formed when amino acids join to make a protein.

Antioxidants

Vitamins, mainly $A$, $C$, and $E$ found in fruits and vegetables, that protect the body from free radicals.

ATP (Adenosine Triphosphate)

An energy-rich molecule made in the mitochondria that provides energy to power all cell processes.

BMI (Basal Metabolic Index)

A measure of body fat based on height and weight, with an ideal range of $18.5$ to $24.9$.

Mitosis

A type of cell division that results in two identical daughter cells, consisting of prophase, metaphase, anaphase, and telophase.

Meiosis

A type of cell division that produces four haploid cells with half the number of chromosomes, used for sexual reproduction.

Somatic Cells

Body cells that contain $23$ pairs of chromosomes (diploid or $2n$).

Totipotent

The ability of a zygote to create every type of cell in the body.

Teratogens

Substances that can cause birth defects, such as alcohol or thalidomide.

Genotype

The actual genetic combination of alleles, such as $TT$, $Tt$, or $tt$.

Phenotype

The physical expression or visible result of a genotype, such as being tall or short.

Homozygous

Having two identical alleles for a gene, such as $TT$ or $tt$.

Heterozygous

Having two different alleles for a gene, such as $Tt$.