5 Nutrient Metabolism Free Online FlashCards

What is metabolism?

Metabolism is the set of chemical reactions that maintain life.

What does catabolism do?

Catabolism breaks down nutrients and releases usable energy.

What does anabolism do?

Anabolism uses energy and smaller molecules to build or repair tissues and make compounds such as enzymes.

What role does ATP play in nutrient metabolism?

ATP transfers energy from food breakdown to power cellular work.

What absorbable units do carbohydrates, proteins, and fats yield?

Digestion breaks carbohydrates mainly into simple sugars, proteins into amino acids and small peptides, and fats into fatty acids and related molecules.

What is glycogenesis?

Glycogenesis stores plentiful glucose as glycogen in the liver and muscles.

How can the liver supply glucose between meals?

Between meals, the liver can release glucose by breaking down glycogen and can make glucose from non-carbohydrate precursors.

How do the main roles of liver and muscle glycogen differ?

Liver glycogen helps maintain blood glucose; muscle glycogen is mainly used by the muscle itself.

What happens during beta-oxidation?

Beta-oxidation breaks down fatty acids, generating acetyl-CoA and energy-carrying molecules used to make ATP.

When can the liver produce ketone bodies, and what can they do?

During prolonged fasting, the liver can convert some fatty-acid-derived acetyl-CoA into ketone bodies, which can fuel other tissues.

How does the body handle amino acids it does not need for synthesis?

When amino acids are not needed for synthesis, their nitrogen is removed and mainly excreted as urea; their carbon skeletons can be oxidized or used to make glucose or fat.

How do vitamins, minerals, and water support metabolism?

Vitamins and minerals provide no energy themselves, but many are needed for enzymes and other processes that enable metabolism. Water supports transport and chemical reactions.