9.1 Muscles
Muscles are organs made of cells that are specialized to generate forces. There are three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac
9.2 Structure of a Skeletal Muscle
Skeletal muscles are composed of nervous, vascular, and various other connective tissues, as well as skeletal muscle tissue.
Connective tissue coverings
Fascia covers each skeletal muscle
Other connective tissues surround cells and groups of cells within the muscle’s structure (epimysium, perimysium, endomysium).
Fascia is part of a complex network of connective tissue that extends throughout the body.
Skeletal muscle fibers
Each skeletal muscle fiber is a single muscle cell, the unit of contraction
Muscle fibers are cylindrical cells with many nuclei
The cytoplasm contains mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticulum, and myofibrils of actin and myosin.
The arrangement of the actin and myosin filaments causes striations forming repeating patterns of sarcomeres (I bands, Z lines, A bands, Hzone, and M line)
Troponin and tropomyosin molecules associate with actin filaments
Transverse tubules extend from the cell membrane into the cytoplasm and are associated with the cisternae of the sarcoplasmic reticulum
9.3 Skeletal Muscle Contraction
Muscle fiber contraction results from a sliding movement of actin and myosin filaments overlapping that shortens the muscle fiber.
Neuromuscular junction
The functional connection between a neuron and another cell is a synapse. The neuromuscular junction is a synapse.
Motor neurons stimulate muscle fibers to contract
The motor end plate of a muscle fiber lies on one side of a neuromuscular junction
In response to an action potential, the end of a motor neuron axon releases a neurotransmitter, which diffuses across the junction and stimulates the muscle fiber
Stimulus for contraction
Acetylcholine released from the end of a motor neuron axon stimulates a muscle fiber
Stimulation causes a muscle fiber to conduct an impulse that travels over the surface of the sarcolemma and reaches the deep parts of the fiber by means of the transverse tubules
Excitation-contraction coupling
In response to stimulation the sarcoplasmic reticulum releases calcium ions
Calcium ions combine with troponin, causing the tropomyosin to shift and expose active sites on the actin for myosin binding
Cross-bridges form between myosin and actin, and the actin filaments move inward, shortening the sarcomere
The sliding filament model of muscle contraction
The sarcomere is a functional unit of the skeletal muscle
When the overlapping thick and thin myofilaments slide past one another, the sarcomeres shorten. The muscles contract.
Cross-bridge cycling
A myosin head can attach to an actin binding site to form a cross-bridge which pulls on the actin filament, the myosin head can then release the actin and attach to another active binding site farther down the actin filament and pull again
The breakdown of ATP releases energy that provides the repetition of the cross-bridge cycle
Relaxation
Acetylcholinesterase rapidly decomposes acetylcholine remaining in the synaptic cleft, preventing continuous stimulation of a muscle fiber
The muscle fiber relaxes when calcium ions are transported back into the sarcoplasmic reticulum
Cross-bridge linkages break and do not reform– the muscle fiber relaxes
Energy sources for contraction
ATP supplies the energy for muscle fiber contraction
Creatine phosphate stores energy that can be used to synthesize ATP as it is decomposed
Active muscles require cellular respiration for energy
Oxygen supply and cellular respiration
Anaerobic reactions of cellular respiration yield few ATP molecules whereas aerobic reactions of cellular respiration provide many ATP molecules
Hemoglobin in red blood cells carries oxygen from the lungs to body cells
Myoglobin in muscle cells temporarily stores some oxygen
Oxygen debt
During rest or moderate exercise, oxygen is sufficient to support the aerobic reactions of cellular respiration
During strenuous exercise, oxygen deficiency may develop, and lactic acid may accumulate as a result of the anaerobic reactions of cellular respiration
The oxygen debt includes the amount of oxygen required to react accumulated lactic acid to form glucose and to restore supplies of ATP and creatine phosphate
Muscle fatigue
A fatigued muscle loses its ability to contract
The causes of muscle fatigue are not fully understood
Athletes usually have an increased ability to supply oxygen and nutrients to muscles
Heat production
Muscular contraction generates body heat
Most of the energy released by cellular respiration is lost as heat.
9.4 Muscular Responses
Threshold stimulus is the minimal stimulus needed to elicit a muscular contraction
Recording of a muscle contraction
A twitch is a single, short contraction of a muscle fiber
A myogram is a recording of the contraction of an electrically stimulated isolated muscle or muscle fiber.
The latent period is the time between stimulus and responding contraction
The length to which a muscle is stretched before stimulation affects the force it will develop
Normal activities occur at optimal length
Too long or too short decreases force
Sustained contractions are more important than twitch contractions in everyday activities
Summation
A rapid series of stimuli may produce summation of twitches and sustained contraction
At higher frequencies of stimulation, contraction with little time for relaxation is called partial tetany
Forceful, sustained contraction without any relaxation is called complete (fused) tetany
Recruitment of motor units
One motor neuron and the muscle fibers associated with it constitute a motor unit
Muscles whose motor units have few muscle fibers produce finer movements
Motor units respond in an all-or-none manner
At low intensity of stimulation, other motor units are recruited until the muscle contracts with maximal tension
Sustained contractions
Tetanic contractions are common in everyday activities
Even when a whole muscle appears at rest, some of its fibers undergo sustained contraction. This is called muscle tone.
Types of contractions
One type of contraction called isotonic occurs when a muscle contracts and it ends are pulled closer together. Because the muscle shortens, it is called a concentric contraction.
In another type of isotonic contraction the force a muscle generates is less than that required to move or lift an object. This lengthening contraction is an eccentric contraction
When a muscle contracts but its attachments do not move, the contraction is isometric.
Most body movements involve both isometric and isotonic contractions
Fast- and slow-twitch muscle fibers
The speed of contraction is related to a muscle’s specific function
Slow-contraction, or red muscles can generate ATP fast enough to keep up with ATP breakdown and can contract for long periods
Fast-contracting, or white muscles have reduced ability to carry on the aerobic reactions of cellular respiration and tend to fatigue rapidly.
9.5 Smooth Muscle
The contractile mechanisms of smooth and cardiac muscle are similar to those of skeletal muscle
Smooth muscle cells
Smooth muscle cells contain filaments of myosin and actin, but these filaments are not organized into myofibrils
They lack transverse tubules, and the sarcoplasmic reticula are not well developed
Types include multiunit smooth muscle and visceral smooth muscle
Visceral smooth muscle displays rhythmicity
Peristalsis aids movement of material through hollow organs
Smooth muscle contractions
In smooth muscle, calmodulin binds to calcium ions and activates the contraction mechanism
Both acetylcholine and norepinephrine are neurotransmitters for smooth muscles
Hormones and stretching affect smooth muscle contractions
With a given amount of energy, smooth muscle can maintain a contraction longer than skeletal muscle
Smooth muscle can change length without changing tautness
9.6 Cardiac Muscle
Cardiac muscle contracts for a longer time than skeletal muscle because transverse tubules supply extra calcium ions
Intercalated discs connect the ends of cardiac muscle cells and hold the cells together
A network of cells contracts as a unit and responds to stimulation in an all-or-none manner
Cardiac muscle is self-exciting, rhythmic, and remains refractory to further stimulation until a contraction is completed
9.7 Skeletal Muscle Actions
Body movement
Bones and muscles function together as levers
A lever consists of a rod, a fulcrum (pivot), a resistance, and a force that supplies energy
Parts of a first-class lever are arranged resistance-fulcrum-force; of a second-class lever, fulcrum-resistance-force; and of a third-class lever, resistance-force-fulcrum
Origin and insertion
The less moveable end of an attachment of a skeletal muscle to a bone is its origin, and the more movable end is its insertion
The origin may also be described as more superior or medial, with the insertion more distal or inferior
Some muscles have more than one origin or insertion
Interaction of skeletal muscles
Skeletal muscles function in groups
A muscle that causes a specific movement is an agonist for that movement; antagonists can resist a movement; synergists work together to perform a specific movement
Smooth movements depend upon antagonists giving way to the actions of agonists
9.8 Major Skeletal Muscles
Muscle names often describe sizes, shapes, locations, actions, number of attachments, or direction of fibers
Muscles of facial expression
These muscles lie beneath the skin of the face and scalp and are used to communicate feelings through facial expression
They include the epicranius, orbicularis oculi, orbicularis oris, buccinator, zygomaticus major, zygomaticus minor, and platysma
Muscles of mastication
These muscles are attached to the mandible and are used in chewing
They include the masseter, temporalis, medial pterygoid, and lateral pterygoid
Muscles that move the head and vertebral column
Muscles in the neck and back move the head
They include the sternocleidomastoid, splenius capitis, semispinalis capitis, scalenes, quadratus lumborum, and erector spinae.
Muscles that move the pectoral girdle
Most of these muscles connect the scapula to nearby bones and are closely associated with muscles that move the arm
They include the trapezius, rhomboid major, rhomboid minor, levator scapulae, serratus anterior, and pectoralis minor.
Muscles that move the arm
These muscles connect the humerus to various regions of the pectoral girdle, ribs, and vertebral column
They include the coracobrachialis, pectoralis major, teres major latissimus dorsi, supraspinatus, deltoid, subscapularis, infraspinatus, and teres minor.
Muscles that move the forearm
These muscles connect the radius and ulna to the humerus and pectoral girdle
They include the biceps brachii, brachialis, brachioradialis, triceps brachii, supinator, pronator teres, and pronator quadrus.
Muscles that move the hand
These muscles arise from the distal end of the humerus and form the radius and ulna.
They include the flexor carpi radialis, flexor carpi ulnaris, palmaris longus, flexor digitorum profundus, flexor digitorum superficialis, extensor carpi radialis longus, extensor carpi radialis brevis, extensor carpi ulnaris, and extensor digitorum
An extensor retinaculum forms sheaths for tendons of the extensor muscles
Muscles of the abdominal wall
These muscles connect the rib cage and vertebral column to the pelvic girdle
They include the external oblique, internal oblique, transversus abdominis, and rectus abdominis.
Muscles of the pelvic floor and perineum
These muscles form the floor of the pelvic cavity and fill the space of the pubic arch
They include the levator ani, coccygeus, deep transversus perinei, superficial transversus perinei, bulbospongiosus, ischiocavernosus, external urethral sphincter, and external anal sphincter.
Muscles that move the thigh
These muscles are attached to the femur and to some part of the pelvic girdle
They include the psoas major, iliacus, gluteus maximus, gluteus medius, gluteus minimus, piriformis, tensor fasciae latae, pectineus, adductor brevis, adductor longus, adductor magnus, and gracilis
Muscles that move the leg
These muscles connect the tibia or fibula to the femur or pelvic girdle
They include the biceps femoris, semitendinosus, semimembranosus, sartorius rectus femoris, vastus lateralis, vastus medialis, and vastus intermedius
Muscles that move the foot
These muscles attach the femur, tibia, and fibula to various bones of the foot
They include the tibialis anterior, fibularis tertius, extensor digitorum longus, extensor hallucis longus, gastrocnemius, soleus, plataris, flexor digitorum longus, tibialis posterior, and fibularis longus
Retinacula form sheaths for tendons passing to the foot
9.9 Life-Span Changes
Beginning in one’s forties, supplies of ATP, myoglobin, and creatine phosphate begin to decline.
By age eighty, muscle mass may be halved. Reflexes slow. Adipose cells and connective tissue replace some muscle tissue
Exercise is beneficial in maintaining muscle function.
17.1 General Characteristics of the Digestive System
Digestion is the process of mechanically and chemically breaking down foods so that they can be absorbed. The digestive system consists of an alimentary canal and several accessory organs that carry out the processes of ingestion, propulsion, digestion, absorption, and defecation.
Structure of the alimentary canal wall
The wall consists of four layers
These layers include the mucosa, submucosa, muscularis, and serosa
Movements of the alimentary canal wall
Motor functions include mixing and propelling movements
Peristalsis is responsible for propelling movements
The wall of the tube undergoes receptive relaxation just ahead of a peristaltic wave
Innervation of the alimentary canal wall
The tube is innervated by branches of the sympathetic and parasympathetic divisions of the autonomic nervous system
Parasympathetic impulses generally increase digestive activities; sympathetic impulses generally inhibit digestive activities.
Sympathetic impulses contract certain sphincter muscles, controlling movement of digesting food through the alimentary canal.
17.2 Mouth
The mouth is adapted to receive food and begin digestion by mechanically breaking up solid particles (mastication). It also serves as an organ of speech and sensory perception.
Cheeks and lips
Cheeks form the lateral walls of the mouth
Lips are highly mobile and have a variety of sensory receptors useful in judging the characteristics of food.
Tongue
The tongue is a thick, muscular organ that mixes food with saliva and moves it toward the pharynx
The rough surface of the tongue handles food and has taste buds
Lingual tonsils are located on the root of the tongue
Palate
The palate comprises the roof of the mouth and includes hard and soft portions
The soft palate, including the uvula, closes the opening to the nasal cavity during swallowing
Palatine tonsils are located on either side of the tongue in the back of the mouth
Tonsils consist of lymphatic tissues.
Teeth
Two sets of teeth develop in sockets of the mandibular and maxillary bones
There are 20 primary and 32 secondary teeth
Teeth mechanically break food into smaller pieces, increasing the surface area exposed to digestive actions
Different types of teeth are adapted to handle foods in different ways, such as biting, grasping, or grinding.
Each tooth consists of a crown and root and is composed of enamel, dentin, pulp, nerves, and blood vessels.
A tooth is attached to the alveolar process by the periodontal ligament
17.3 Salivary Glands
Salivary glands secrete saliva, which moistens food, helps bind food particles, begins chemical digestion of carbohydrates, makes taste possible, helps cleanse the mouth, and regulates pH in the mouth
Salivary secretions
Salivary glands include serous cells that secrete salivary amylase and mucous cells that secrete mucus
Parasympathetic impulses stimulate the secretion of a large volume of watery saliva
Major salivary glands
The parotid glands are the largest, and they secrete saliva rich in amylase
The submandibular glands in the floor of the mouth produce viscous saliva containing amylase
The sublingual glands in the floor of the mouth primarily secrete mucus
17.4 Pharynx and Esophagus
The pharynx and esophagus serve as passageways
Structure of the pharynx
The pharynx is divided into a nasopharynx, oropharynx, and laryngopharynx
The muscular walls of the pharynx contain fibers in circular and longitudinal groups
Swallowing mechanism
Swallowing (deglutition) occurs in three stages
Food is mixed with saliva and forced into the pharynx
Involuntary reflex actions move the food into the esophagus
Peristalsis transports food in the esophagus to the stomach
Swallowing reflexes momentarily inhibit breathing
Esophagus
The esophagus passes through the mediastinum and penetrates the diaphragm
The lower esophageal sphincter, at the distal end of the esophagus, helps prevent regurgitation of food from the stomach.
17.5 Stomach
The stomach receives food, mixes it with gastric juice, carries on a limited amount of absorption, and moves food into the small intestine
Parts of the stomach
The stomach is divided into the cardia, fundus, body, and pylorus
The pyloric sphincter serves as a valve between the stomach and the small intestine
Gastric secretions
Gastric glands secrete gastric juice
Alkaline mucus protects the inner stomach wall
Gastric juice contains mucus, chemical messengers, pepsin (begins digestion of proteins), hydrochloric acid lipase, and intrinsic factor
Regulation of gastric secretion
Parasympathetic impulses and the hormone gastrin enhance gastric secretion
There are 3 stages of gastric secretion
The cephalic phase is the though and sense of foods before they reach the stomach
The gastric phase occurs when food enters the stomach
The intestinal phase occurs when food begins to leave the stomach and enter the small intestine; the small intestine reflexively inhibits gastric secretion; the hormone cholecystokinin acts on the stomach to decrease gastric activity. `
Gastric Absorption
The stomach is not well adapted for absorption
A few substances such as water and other small molecules are absorbed through the stomach wall
Mixing and emptying actions
As the stomach fulls, its wall stretches but its internal pressure remains unchanged
Mixing movements aid in producing chyme; peristaltic waves move chyme into the pylorus
The muscular wall of the pylorus regulates chyme movement into the small intestine
The rate of emptying depends on the fluidity of the chyme and the type of food present
The upper part of the small intestine fills, and the enterogastric reflex inhibits peristalsis in the stomach.
Vomiting
Vomiting results from a complex reflex that has many stimuli
Motor responses ultimately increase abdominal pressure to force contents upward and out.
17.6 Pancreas
The pancreas is closely associated with the duodenum
Structure of the pancreas
It produces pancreatic juice secreted into a pancreatic duct
The pancreatic duct leads to the duodenum
Pancreatic juice
Pancreatic juice contains enzymes that can break down carbohydrates, proteins, fats, and nucleic acids
Pancreatic juice has a high bicarbonate ion concentration that helps neutralize chyme ansd causes the intestinal contents to be alkaline
Regulation of pancreatic secretion
Secretin from the duodenum stimulates the release of pancreatic juice that contains few digestive enzymes but has a high bicarbonate ion concentration
Cholecystokinin from the intestinal wall stimulates the release of pancreatic juice that has a high concentration of digestive enzymes
17.7 Liver and Gallbladder
The liver is located in the upper-right quadrant of the abdominal cavity
Liver structure
The liver is a highly vascular organ, enclosed in a fibrous capsule, and divided into lobes.
Each lobe consists of hepatic lobules, the functional units of the liver
Bile from the lobules is carried by bile ductules to hepatic ducts that unite to form the common hepatic duct
Liver functions
The liver has many functions It removes toxic substances from the blood (detoxifies); metabolizes carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins; stores some substances; and secretes bile
Bile is the only liver secretion that directly affects digestion
Composition of bile
Bile contains bile salts, bile pigments, cholesterol, and electrolytes
Only the bile salts have digestive functions
Bile pigments are products of red blood cell breakdown
Gallbladder
The gallbladder stores bile between meals
A sphincter muscle controls release of bile from the bile duct
Gallstones may form within the gallbladder
Regulation of bile release
Cholecystokinin from the small intestine stimulates bile release
The sphincter muscle at the base of the bile duct relaxes as a peristaltic wave as the duodenal wall approaches
Functions of bile salts
Bile salts emulsify fats and aid in the absorption of fatty acids, cholesterol, and certain vitamins
Bile salts are reabsorbed in the small intestine
17.8 Small Intestine
The small intestine extends from the pyloric sphincter to the large intestine. It receives secretions from the pancreas and liver, completes digestion of nutrients, absorbs the products of digestion, and transports the residues to the large intestine
Parts of the small intestine
The small intestine consists of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum
The small intestine is suspended from the posterior abdominal wall by mesentery
Structure of the small intestinal wall
The wall is lined with villi that greatly increase the surface area of the intestinal lining, aiding absorption of digestive products
Microvilli on the free ends of epithelial cells increase the surface area even more
Intestinal glands are located between the villi
Circular folds in the lining of the intestinal wall also increase its surface area
Secretions of the small intestine
Intestinal glands secrete a watery fluid that does not have digestive enzymes but provides a vehicle for moving chyme to the villi
Digestive enzymes embedded in the surfaces of microvilli break down molecules of sugars, proteins, and fats
Regulation of small intestinal secretion
Secretion is stimulated by chyme and parasympathetic reflexes stimulated by sitension of the small intestinal wall
Absorption in the small intestine
Blood capillaries in the villi absorb monosaccharides and amino acids
Fatty acids diffuse into small intestinal epithelial cells where they are processed to form chylomicrons, which enter the lacteals of the villi
Blood capillaries in the ville also absorb electrolytes and water
Movements of the small intestine
Movements include mixing by segmentation and peristalsis
Overdistension or irritation may stimulate a peristaltic rush and result in diarrhea
The ileocecal sphincter controls movement of the intestinal contents from the small intestines into the large intestine.
17.9 Large Intestine
The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes and forms and stores feces
Parts of the large intestine
The large intestine consists of the cecum, colon, rectum, and anal canal
The colon is divided into ascending, transverse, descending, and sigmoid portions
Structure of the large intestinal wall
The large intestinal wall resembles the wall in other parts of the alimentary canal
The large intestinal wall has a unique layer of longitudinal muscle fibers, arranged in district bands, that extend the entire length of the colon
Functions of the large intestine
The large intestine has little digestive function, although it secretes mucus
Mechanical stimulation and parasympathetic impulses control the rate of mucus secretion
The large intestine absorbs water and electrolytes
Many bacteria inhabit the large intestine, where they break down some indigestible substances, such as cellulose, and synthesize vitamin K, B12, thiamine, and riboflavin
Movements of the large intestine
Movements are similar to those in the small intestine
Mass movements occur two to three times each day
A reflex stimulates defecation
Feces
The large intestine forms and stores feces
Feces consists of water, undigested material, mucus, and bacteria
The color of feces is due to bile pigments that have been altered by bacterial action
17.10 Life Span Changes
Older people sometimes do not chew food thoroughly because thinning enamel makes teeth more sensitive to hot and cold foods, gums recede, and teeth may loosen
Slowing peristalsis in the digestive tract may cause heartburn and constipation
Aging affects nutrient absorption in the small intestine
Accessory organs to digestion also age, but not necessarily in ways that affect health.
18.1 Overview of Nutrition and Metabolism
Food is broken down into the usable nutrients, amino acids, monosaccharides, and fatty acids. From the extraction of energy, they are used to fuel all cellular processes.
18.2 Carbohydrates
Carbohydrates are organic compounds primarily used to supply cellular energy
Carbohydrate Sources
Carbohydrates are ingested in a variety of forms
Polysaccharides, disaccharides, and monosaccharides are carbohydrates.
Cellulose is a polysaccharide that human enzymes cannot digest, but it provides bulk that facilitates movement of intestinal content
Carbohydrate Use
Carbohydrates are absorbed as monosaccharides
Enzymes in the liver catalyze reactions that convert fructose and galactose into glucose
Oxidation releases energy from glucose
Excess glucose is stored as glycogen or combined to produce fat
Some cells, such as neurons, require a continuous supply of glucose to survive
If glucose is scarce, amino acids may react to produce glucose
Most carbohydrates supply energy; some are used to produce sugars (ribose, deoxyribose, lactose)
Carbohydrate Requirements
Humans survive with a wide range of carbohydrate intakes
Poor nutritional status is usually related to low intake of nutrients other than carbohydrates.
18.3 Lipids
Lipids are organic compounds that supply energy and are used to build cell structures. They include fats, phospholipids, and cholesterol
Lipid sources
Triglycerides are obtained from foods of plant and animal origins
Cholesterol is mostly obtained in foods of animal origin
Lipid use
Before fats can be used as an energy source, they must be broken down into glycerol and fatty acids
Beta oxidation decomposes fatty acids
Beta oxidation activates fatty acids and breaks them down into segments of two carbon atoms each
Fatty acid segments are converted into acetyl coenzyme A, which can then be oxidized in the citric acid cycle
The liver and adipose tissue control triglyceride metabolism
Liver enzymes can alter the molecular structures of fatty acids
Linoleic acid and linolenic acid are essential fatty acids which must be obtained through the diet
The liver regulates cholesterol level by synthesizing or excreting it
Lipid requirements
Humans survive with a wide range of lipid intakes
The amounts and types of lipids needed for health are unknown
Fat intake must be sufficient to support absorption and transport of fat-soluble vitamins
18.4 Proteins
Proteins are broken down in digestion, the resulting amino acids can be used to form new protein molecules such as enzymes, clotting factors, keratin, elastin, collagen, actin, myosin, hormones, and antibodies, or can be used as energy sources. Before amino acids can be used as energy sources, they must be deaminated, forming the waste urea. During starvation, tissue proteins may be used as energy sources, causing the tissues to waste away.
Protein sources
Proteins are mainly obtained from eating meats, dairy products, cereals, and legumes
8 amino acids are essential for adults, whereas 10 are essential for growing children
All essential amino acids must be present at the same time for growth and repair of tissues to take place
Complete proteins contain adequate amounts of all the essential amino acids needed to maintain the tissues and promote growth
Incomplete proteins do not contain adequate amounts of one or more essential amino acids
Nitrogen balance
In healthy adults, the gain of protein equals the loss of protein, and a nitrogen balance exists
A starving person has a negative nitrogen balance; a growing child, a pregnant woman, or an athlete in training usually has a positive nitrogen balance
Protein Requirements
Proteins and amino acids are needed to supply essential amino acids and nitrogen for the synthesis of nitrogen-containing molecules
The consequences of protein deficiencies are particularly severe among growing children
18.5 Energy Expenditures
Energy is of prime importance to survival and may be obtained from carbohydrates, fats, or proteins.
Energy values of food
The potential energy values of foods are expressed in calories
When energy losses due to incomplete absorption and incomplete oxidation are taken into account, 1 gram of carbohydrates or 1 gram of proteins yields about 4 calories, whereas 1 gram of fat yields about 9 calories
Energy requirements
The amount of energy required varies from person to person
Factors that influence energy requirements include basal metabolic rate, muscular activity, body temperature, and nitrogen balance.
Energy balance
Energy balance exists when caloric intake equals caloric output
If energy balance is positive, body weight increases; if energy balance is negative, body weight decreases.
Desirable Weight
The most common nutritional disorders involve caloric imbalances
Average weights of persons 25-35 years old are desirable for older persons as well
Body mass index (BMI) assesses weight taking height into account
A BMI between 25 and 30 indicated overweight, and above 30, obesity.
18.6 Appetite Control
Appetite is the drive that compels us to eat. Food powers the activities of life
Hormones control appetite by affecting the arcuate nucleus, a part of the hypothalamus
Leptin and ghrelin are hormones that affect appetite
18.7 Vitamins
Vitamins are organic compounds that cannot be synthesized by body cells in adequate amounts and are essential for normal metabolic processes.
Fat-soluble vitamins
General characteristic
Fat soluble vitamins are carried in lipids and are influenced by the same factors that affect lipid absorption
They resist the effects of heat; thus, they are not destroyed by cooking or food processing
Vitamin A
Vitamin A exists in several forms, is synthesized from carotenes, and is stored in the liver
It is an antioxidant required for production of visual pigments
Vitamin D
Vitamin D is a group of related steroids.
It is found in certain foods and is produced commercially; it can also be synthesized in the skin
When needed, vitamin D is converted by the kidneys to an active form that functions as a hormone and promotes the intestine’s absorption of calcium and phosphorus
Vitamin E
Vitamin E is an antioxidant
It is stored in muscles and adipose tissue
It prevents breakdown of polyunsaturated fatty acids and stabilizes cell membranes.
Vitamin K
Vitamin K is in foods and is produced by intestinal bacteria
Some vitamin K is stored in the liver
It is used to produce prothrombin, required for blood clotting
Water-soluble vitamins
General characteristics
Water-soluble vitamin s include the B vitamins and vitamin C
Cooking or processing food destroys some water-soluble vitamins.
B vitamins make up a group called the vitamin B complex and oxidize carbohydrates, lipids, and proteins
Vitamin B Complex
Thiamine (vitamin B1)
Thiamine functions as part of coenzymes that oxidize carbohydrates and synthesize ribose
Small amounts are stored in the tissues; excess is excreted in the urine
Quantities needed vary with caloric intake
RIboflavin (vitamin B2)
Riboflavin functions as part of several enzymes and coenzymes essential to the oxidation of glucose and fatty acids
Its absorption is regulated by an active transport system; excess is excreted in the urine
Quantities required vary with caloric intake
Niacin (vitamin B3/nicotinic acid)
Niacin functions as part of coenzymes required for the oxidation of glucose and for the synthesis of proteins and fats
It can be synthesized from tryptophan; daily requirement varies within the tryptophan intake
Pantothenic acid (vitamin B5)
Pantothenic acid functions as part of coenzyme A; thus, it is essential for energy-releasing mechanisms
Most diets provide sufficient amounts; deficiencies are rare
Vitamin B6
Vitamin B6 is a group of compounds that function as coenzymes in metabolic pathways that synthesize proteins, certain amino acids, antibodies, and nucleic acids
Its requirement varies with protein intake
Biotin (vitamin B7)
Biotin is a coenzyme required for the metabolism of amino acids and fatty acids, and for nucleic acid synthesis
It is stored in metabolically active organs, including the brain, liver, and kidneys.
Folacin (vitamin B9 or folic acid)
Liver enzymes catalyzed reactions that convert folacin to physiologically active folinic acid
It is a coenzyme needed for the metabolism of certain amino acids, DNA synthesis, and the production of normal red blood cells
Cyanocobalamin (vitamin B12)
The cyanocobalamin molecule contains cobalt.
Its absorption is regulated by the secretion of intrinsic factor from the gastric glands
It functions as part of coenzymes needed for nucleic acid synthesis and for the metabolism of carbohydrates and fats
It is important to erythrocyte production and myelin formation in the central nervous system
Ascorbic acid (vitamin C)
Vitamin C is similar chemically to monosaccharides
It is required for collagen production, the metabolism of certain amino acids, and iron absorption.
It is not stored in large amounts; excess is excreted in the urine.
18.8 Minerals
Characteristics of minerals
Minerals account for about 4% of body weight
Minerals are usually incorporated into organic molecules, although some are in inorganic compounds or are free ions
They compose structural materials, function in enzymes, and play vital roles in various metabolic processes
Homeostatic mechanisms regulate mineral concentrations
The physiologically active form of minerals is the ionized form
Major minerals
Calcium
Calcium is essential for forming bones and teeth, neurotransmitter release, contracting muscle fibers, the cardiac action potential, clotting blood, and activating various enzymes
Existing calcium concentration, vitamin D, protein intake, and motility of the digestive tract affect calcium absorption
Phosphorus
Phosphorus is incorporated into the salts of bones and teeth
It participates in nearly all metabolic reactions as a constituent of nucleic acids, proteins, and some vitamins.
It also is in the phospholipids of cell membranes, in ATP, and in phosphates of body fluids.
Potassium
Potassium is concentrated inside cells
It maintains osmotic pressure, regulates pH, and plays a role in impulse conduction in neurons
Sulfur
Sulfur is incorporated into two of the 22 amino acids
It is also in thiamine, insulin, biotin, and mucopolysaccharides
Sodium
Most sodium is in extracellular fluids or is bound to the inorganic salts of bone
The kidneys, under the influence of aldosterone, regulate the blood concentration of sodium
Sodium helps maintain solute concentration and regulates water balance
It is essential for impulse conduction in neurons and moving substances through cell membranes
Chlorine
Chlorine is closely associated with sodium as chloride ions
It acts with sodium to help maintain osmotic pressure, regulate pH, and maintain electrolyte balance.
Chlorine is essential for hydrochloric acid formation and for carbon dioxide transport by red blood cells
Magnesium
Magnesium is abundant in the bones as phosphates and carbonates
It functions in ATP production and in the breakdown of ATP to ADP
A reserve supply of magnesium is stored in the bones; excesses are excreted in the urine
Trace Elements
Iron
Iron is part of hemoglobin in red blood cells and myoglobin in muscles
A reserve supply of iron is stored in the liver, spleen, and bone marrow
It is required to catalyze vitamin A formation; it is also incorporated into various enzymes and the cytochrome molecules
Manganese
Most manganese is concentrated in the liver, kidneys, and pancreas
It is necessary for normal growth and development of skeletal structures and other connective tissues; it is essential for the synthesis of fatty acids, cholesterol, and urea.
Copper
Most copper is concentrated in the liver, heart, and brain.
It is required for hemoglobin synthesis, bone development, melanin production, and myelin formation.
Iodine
Iodine is most highly concentrated in the thyroid gland
It is an essential component of thyroid hormones
It is often added to foods as iodized table salt
Cobalt
Cobalt is widely distributed throughout the body
It is an essential part of cyanocobalamin and is required for the synthesis of several enzymes
Zinc
Zinc is most concentrated in the liver, kidneys, and brain.
It is a component of several enzymes that take part in digestion, respiration, and metabolism
It is necessary for normal wound healing.
Fluorine
The teeth concentrate fluorine
It is incorporated into enamel and prevents dental caries
Selenium
The liver and kidneys store selenium
It is a component of certain enzymes
Chromium
Chromium is widely distributed throughout the body
It regulates glucose use
18.9 Healthy Eating
An adequate diet provides sufficient energy and essential nutrients to support optimal growth, as well as maintenance and repair, of tissues.
Individual needs vary so greatly that it is not possible to design a diet adequate for everyone
Devices to help consumers make healthy food choices include recommended daily allowances, recommended dietary allowances, food group plans such as MyPlate, and food labels.
Malnutrition
Poor nutrition is due to lack of foods or failure to wisely use available foods
Primary malnutrition is due to poor diet
Secondary malnutrition is due to poor diet
Secondary malnutrition is due to an individual characteristic that makes a normal diet inadequate
Starvation
A person can survive 50-70 days without food
A starving body digests itself, starting with carbohydrates, then fats, then proteins.
Symptoms include low blood pressure, slow pulse, chills, dry skin, hair loss, and poor immunity. Finally, vital organs cease to function
Marasmus is undernutrition involving a lack of calories and protein
Kwashiorkor is protein starvation
Anorexia nervosa is a self-starvation eating disorder
Bulimia is an eating disorder characterized by bingeing and purging
18.10 Life-Span Changes
Basal metabolic rate rises in early childhood, declines, then peaks again in adolescence, with decreasing activity during adulthood
Weight gain, at any age, occurs when energy in exceeds energy out, and weight loss occurs when energy out exceeds energy in
Changing nutrition with age reflects medical conditions and social and economic circumstances.