BIOC Lecture 3: Carbohydrate Flashcards
What is the fed state?
the digestive system is actively breaking down fats, AA’s and sugars
What is happening to blood glucose and insulin during the fed state?
Release of insulin from pancreatic beta cells, interaction of insulin with receptors
What are insulin dependent tissues?
Only break down glucose when insulin is present
What are examples of insulin dependent tissues?
Skeletal muscle, adipose tissue, cardiac muscle
What are insulin independent tissues?
Break down glucose whether or not insulin is present
What are examples of insulin independent tissues?
Brain and liver
What is the fate of glucose in the fed state?
Glycogenesis and storage or glycolysis and utilisation
What happens after the direct effects of a meal have diminished?
Decline in liver glycogen and blood glucose maintained
What is the key hormone of the fasted state?
Glucagon
What does glucagon do during the fasted state?
Synthesised and released from pancreatic islet alpha cells
What is gluconeogenesis?
the process of making glucose, AA’s play a role
Once we have exhausted our stores of glucose, how do we maintain our levels?
Primary precursors are amino acids, lactate is also an important precursor
What is the gut lumen?
Where the food, many bacteria and digestive enzymes are
How does the gut lumen have a high surface area?
Due to the folding of villi and microvilli
What is absorption mostly through?
Through cells (transcellular)
What is transcellular absorption?
substances move through the cells of the intestinal epithelium to be absorbed into the bloodstream
Where does most of the blood from the gut go?
to the liver
Where do fats go?
To the lymphatic system
What does digesting food cost?
Energy