17.1 Energy Balance Flashcards
State the first law of thermodynamics
Energy cannot be created nor destroyed, only transformed from one form to another.
For body weight to remain constant, what must be the case?
the calorie value of food must equal to the total energy needs.
Energy that is not used up by the body is transformed into what type of energy?
Thermal energy
Why is it important that body temperature is regulated?
Because the cellular chemical reactions depend on temperature and overheating damages cellular proteins
What is the major integrating center for maintaining both body temperature and body balance?
The hypothalamus
compare external work and internal work
External work: contractions of skeletal muscles to perform external activities such as lifting objects.
Internal work: a) Skeletal muscle activity other than external work such as shivering when it is cold.
b) activities that require energy to sustain life such as breathing and blood pumping by the heart.
what is ATP( Adenosine triphosphate)?
it is an organic molecule that is the main energy carrier in cells.
Define metabolic rate
It is the rate at which energy is expended by the body during internal and external work.
what is the basic unit for heat energy?
calorie
name 4 factors that cause the metabolic rate and heat production to vary; HINT (SAFE)
- Exercise
- Anxiety
- shivering
- food intake
State which factor influences metabolic rate the most
Increased skeletal activity/ exercise
why is it important that we measure metabolic rate at standardised basal conditions?
So that we may control as many variables as possible that alter metabolic rate, in this way we will determine the metabolic activity necessary to maintain the body’s basic functions at rest.
what is basal metabolic rate(BMR)?
The metabolic rate of the body under standardised specific basal conditions
what are the four specific conditions that BMR is measured under?
- Physically at rest, refraining from exercise for at least 30 minutes
- At mental rest to minimise skeletal muscle tone
- At comfortable room temperature and no shivering
- To not have eaten for at least 12 hours and no caffeine.
What are the 3 factors that influence BMR?
Thyroid hormone, epinepherine amd sleep
what are the three states of energy balance?
- Neutral
- Positive
- Negative
explain neutral energy balance
Energy input is exactly equal to energy expenditure when performing external work, as well as basal internal energy expenditure
( body weight remains constant).
explain positive energy balance
When energy input is greater than energy expenditure. This excess energy in the body is not utilised but rather stored as adipose tissue causing weight gain
Explain negative energy balance
When energy input is less than energy expenditure. This causes the body to use stored energy thus causing weight loss
What is the most important factor (hint from SAFE) that maintains body weight and energy balance long term and what organ controls this factor?
Food intake controlled by the hypothalamus
what is the structure of the arcuate nucleus?
arc-shaped collection of neurons located adjacent to the floor of the third brain ventricle.
state the long term and short term roles of the arcuate nucleus of the hyphothalamus
Long term: Control of energy balance and body weight
short term: control of food intake from meal to meal
what is satiety?
the feeling of being full
what two hormones do the two subsets of neurons of the arcuate nucleus release?
one subset releases neuropeptide Y and the other releases melanocortins derived from pro-opiomelanocortins (POMC)
What is NPY?
it is one of the most potent appetite stimulators that increases food intake and thus increases body weight.
What are melanocortins
they are a group of hormones that suppress appetite to reduce food intake and promote weight loss ( most notably a-melanocyte-stimulating hormone) a-MSH