nutrition ch. 4 wcjc richards

What is chemistry?

The study of the composition and characteristics of matter.

What are elements?

More than 100 different types of atoms that cannot be easily separated into simpler substances and are the building blocks of matter.

What are minerals?

Elements such as calcium, iron, and potassium found in the Earth's crust, some of which are essential nutrients.

What is a molecule?

A form that occurs when 2 or more atoms interact and are held together.

What is a compound?

A molecule that contains 2 or more different elements in specific proportions.

What is a solution?

An evenly distributed mixture of 2 or more compounds, consisting of a solvent and one or more solutes.

What is solubility?

Describes how well a solute forms a solution when mixed with a solvent.

What are acids?

Substances that donate or lose H+ ions.

What are bases?

Substances that accept or remove H+ ions.

What does pH measure?

The acidity or alkalinity of a solution.

What is a chemical reaction?

A process that changes the arrangement of atoms in molecules.

What is digestion?

The process by which molecules in food are broken down into smaller ones.

What is metabolism?

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring in living cells.

What is catabolism?

The process of breaking down molecules, such as during digestion.

What is anabolism?

The process of building up molecules, such as synthesizing new compounds.

What is an enzyme?

A molecule that catalyzes the rate of a chemical reaction but is not altered during the process.

What is anatomy?

The scientific study of cells and other body structures.

What is physiology?

The scientific study of how cells and body structures function.

What is a cell?

The smallest living functional unit in an organism.

What are organelles?

Structures within cells that perform specialized functions.

What is a tissue?

A mass of cells that have similar characteristics and functions.

What is an organ?

A collection of tissues that perform in a related fashion.

What is an organ system?

A group of organs that work together for a similar purpose.

What is the main function of the cardiovascular system?

To circulate blood throughout the body.

What is the role of the respiratory system?

To enable the body to exchange oxygen and carbon dioxide.

What do the kidneys do in the urinary system?

Filter unneeded substances from blood and help maintain proper fluid balance.

What is the largest organ of the body?

The skin.

What is the GI tract?

A muscular tube that extends from the mouth to the anus.

What is absorption in the digestive system?

The process by which substances are taken from the GI tract into the bloodstream or lymph.

Where does digestion begin?

In the mouth, through mechanical and chemical digestion.

What is mechanical digestion?

The process of biting and grinding food into smaller pieces.

What role does saliva play in digestion?

It mixes and lubricates food, aiding in chemical digestion.

What enzymes are involved in chemical digestion in the mouth?

Salivary amylase and lipase.

What are taste buds?

Specialized sensory structures primarily located on the tongue that detect six tastes.

What are the six tastes detected by taste buds?

Sweet, sour, salty, bitter, fatty, and umami.

What is the function of the esophagus?

It connects the pharynx to the stomach, allowing food to pass through.

What is a bolus?

The mass of chewed and swallowed food.

What is the role of the epiglottis?

It folds down over the larynx during swallowing to prevent choking.

What is peristalsis?

Muscular contractions that move food through the digestive tract.

What is the stomach's role in digestion?

It holds and continues to digest food through mechanical and chemical processes.

What is chyme?

A mixture of gastric juice and partially digested food.

What is the function of the pyloric sphincter?

It controls the release of chyme into the small intestine.

What are the three parts of the small intestine?

Duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.

What is segmentation in the small intestine?

The process that mixes chyme back and forth for better digestion.

What are villi?

Tiny, fingerlike projections of the small intestinal lining that aid in digestion and absorption.

How do water-soluble nutrients enter the bloodstream?

They enter the capillaries of villi and travel to the liver via the hepatic portal vein.

What are chylomicrons?

Structures that transport fat-soluble nutrients into the lymphatic system.

What is the function of the liver in digestion?

It processes and stores many nutrients, makes cholesterol and bile.

What does the gallbladder do?

It stores bile that aids in fat digestion.

What is the role of the pancreas?

It produces and secretes bicarbonate ions and digestive enzymes.

What happens in the large intestine?

Minimal nutrient absorption occurs, and feces form as chyme becomes semisolid.

What is gut microbiota?

The vast numbers of microbes, mostly bacteria, found in the large intestine.

What are probiotics?

Live, beneficial gut microbes that can help prevent or treat certain intestinal disorders.

What are prebiotics?

Forms of dietary fiber that support the growth of beneficial gut microbes.