Animal Systems Gr. 11 Flashcards
What is a macromolecule?
A very large molecule made up of smaller molecules that are linked together.
What is metabolism?
The sum total of all of the chemical reactions that occur in an organism.
What is an essential nutrient?
A nutrient that cannot be made by the body and must be obtained from food.
What is a monosaccharide?
A simple sugar with three to seven carbon atoms.
What is a disaccharide?
A sugar made up of two monosaccharide molecules.
What is a polysaccharide?
A large molecule made up of many linked monosaccharide molecules.
What is glycogen?
A polysaccharide made up of glucose units.
What is a lipid?
An organic compound that does not dissolve in water, such as fat and oil.
What is an amino acid?
A building block of protein.
What is a peptide bond?
A bond that holds together the amino acids in a protein.
What is a polypeptide?
A linear chain of several amino acids linked by peptide bonds.
What is hydrolysis?
A chemical process that splits molecules by the addition of water.
What is the alimentary canal?
The whole passage along which food passes through the body from mouth to anus.
What is mechanical digestion?
The physical breakdown of food into smaller pieces.
What is chemical digestion?
The process by which enzymes break down food into small molecules.
What are the four major categories of macromolecules?
Carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids.
What is the main function of carbohydrates?
To provide quick energy for use by cells and store energy reserves for later use.
What is the main function of proteins?
To build and repair muscles and cell membranes, and provide immunity against infection.
What is the main function of lipids?
To store energy and form cell membranes.
What is the main function of nucleic acids?
To direct the organism’s growth and *contain genetic information.
What is hydrolysis?
A chemical reaction in which water breaks apart macromolecules into smaller molecules.
What is an enzyme?
A protein molecule that helps speed up important chemical reactions in the body.
What is the role of digestive enzymes?
They help to speed up the process of hydrolysis.
What happens to macromolecules during hydrolysis?
They are broken down into molecules small enough to be absorbed by the cells (lining the small intestine).
