Alcohol

Question 1

what is ethanol

Answer 1

• small, nonpolar chemical so it easily diffuses across the cell membrane
• it is a CNS depressant so it decreases action potential

Question 2

blood alcohol concentration determines the impact ethanol has on your body. what are things that influence blood alcohol concentration

Answer 2

• age
• body mass
• food in GI tract
• rate, dose, concentration of drink
• metabolism
• sex

Question 3

ethanol metabolism

Answer 3

Ethanol is converted into acetaldehyde (toxic) which happens by an enzyme called alkoholdehydrogenase which turns into acetate (okay) and can be eliminated by the body
This happens in the liver which can only metabolise a certain amount at a time. It can metabolise one standard drink per hour

Question 4

When BAC (blood alcohol concentration) exceeds metabolic capacity it causes intoxication. what are 
Long term consequences of alcohol consumption

Answer 4

• Oxidative stress which leads to tissue damage
• ongoing inflammation which leads to tissue damage
• Metabolic disruptions
• Imbalance neurotransmission and neuroadaptation

Question 5

nervous system impacts of alcohol consumption

Answer 5

• dopamine system (reward and pleasure system)
• Alters stress responses
• Neuronal depression
• Tissue damage to neurons in the brain: wernicke’s encephalopathy (brain lesions), korsakoff’s syndrome (memory disorder) and alcohol dementia