Nutritional Science, Health, and Immunology Lecture Review

Comprehensive vocabulary flashcards covering nutrition, micronutrients, minerals, health benefits of exercise, stress physiology, and the mechanics of the lymphatic and immune systems.

Macronutrients

The building blocks of life that provide the body with energy and materials needed for growth, repair, and daily function.

Carbohydrates

The body's main energy source which provides glucose to fuel the brain, muscles, and organs.

Proteins

Essential macronutrients made of amino acids needed for muscle repair, immune functions, and maintaining the body's structure and function.

Fats

Nutrients mainly composed of long chains of carbon used for energy storage, hormone production, and immune support.

Thiamin (B1)

A water-soluble coenzyme found in grain products, leafy greens, and pork needed for pyruvate formation.

Riboflavin (B2)

A water-soluble coenzyme found in grain and dairy products needed to make FAD, intestinal mucous formation, and produce acetylcholine.

Niacin (B3)

A water-soluble coenzyme found in grain products and protein-rich foods needed to make NAD, inhibit cholesterol production, and promote lipolysis.

Biotin (B7)

A vitamin produced by gut flora found in egg yolks, peanuts, and liver responsible for the metabolism of carbohydrates, fats, and proteins.

Folic acid (B9)

A vitamin found in grain products, vegetables, and legumes used for the synthesis of nucleotides, hematopoiesis, and activating $B12$.

Cobalamin (B12)

A vitamin found in poultry, eggs, and fish used for erythropoiesis, amino acid synthesis, protection of nerve cells, and production of acetylcholine.

Ascorbic acid (C)

A vitamin found in bright fruits and vegetables required for protein anabolism, collagen synthesis, and wound healing.

Calciferol (D)

A fat-soluble vitamin used to absorb calcium and phosphorus from the GI tract, supporting bone growth and maintenance.

Tocopherols (E)

Fat-soluble antioxidants found in seeds, nut oils, and whole grains that protect the plasma membrane and inhibit fibrosis.

Phylloquinone (K)

A fat-soluble coenzyme found in dark leafy greens used by the liver to produce clotting factors.

Retinol (A)

A fat-soluble vitamin found in milk, eggs, and liver that supports the immune system, reproduction, and vision.

Major minerals

Elements required by the body in large amounts, specifically more than $100\,mg$ per day.

Trace elements

Elements needed by the body in small amounts, specifically less than $100\,mg$ per day.

Iron

A trace element found in red meat and legumes that acts as a component of hemoglobin for oxygen transport.

Cortisol

A hormone released during stress that regulates metabolism and immune response.

Sympathetic nervous system

The organ system responsible for the fight-or-flight response.

Lymphatic system

A network of organs, tissues, and vessels that maintains fluid balance, absorbs lipids via lacteals, and provides immunity.

Thoracic duct

The largest lymphatic vessel which drains the majority of the body's lymph.

Primary lymphatic organs

The red bone marrow and thymus, where B-lymphocytes and T-lymphocytes form and mature.

Innate immunity

A nonspecific defense providing a general, immediate response to foreign invaders through physical and chemical barriers.

Antigens

Unique molecules on the surface of pathogens that are recognized by the adaptive immune system.

B-cells

Lymphocytes that produce antibodies to neutralize pathogens or mark them for destruction.

Memory cells

Cells that retain information about a pathogen after an infection to allow for a faster and stronger response if the same pathogen invades again.

Live-attenuated vaccines

Vaccines using a weakened version of a pathogen to trigger an immune response without causing disease, such as MMR.

Inactivated vaccines

Vaccines containing killed versions of a pathogen; they may require booster shots for long-term immunity.

Active immunity

Long-lasting protection where the body produces its own antibodies in response to an infection or vaccination.

Passive immunity

Temporary protection lasting weeks or months where antibodies are transferred from another source, such as from mother to baby.

Herd immunity

The protection of unvaccinated or vulnerable individuals when a larger portion of the population is vaccinated.