Ch 41 Animal nutrition Flashcards
animal nutrition
the process in which food is taken in, taken apart, and taken up
in general, animals fall into what three categories? define each.
Herbivores: eat mainly plants and algae.
Carnivores: eat other animals.
Omnivores: regularly consume animals as well as plants or algae.
most animals are…?
opportunistic feeders
what does an animals diet provide? explain each.
- chemical energy, which is converted into ATP to power cellular processes.
- organic building blocks, such as organic carbon and organic nitrogen, to synthesize a variety of organic molecules.
- essential nutrients, which are required by cells and must be obtained from dietary sources.
essential nutrients
are required by cells and must be obtained from dietary sources.
what are the four classes of essential nutrients?
- essential amino acids
- essential fatty acids
- vitaimins
- minerals
essential amino acids
must be obtained from food in preassembled form
how many amino acids do animals require?
animals require 20 amino acids and can synthesize about half from molecules in their diet.
what products provide all the essential amino acids and are thus “complete” proteins?
meat, eggs, and cheese.
true or false, most plant proteins are incomplete in amino acid composition.
true
true or false, individuals who eat only plant proteins need to eat specific plant combinations to get all the essential amino acids.
true
true or false, some animals have adaptations that help them through periods when their bodies demand extraordinary amounts of protein.
true.
true or false, animals cannot synthesize most of the fatty acids they need.
false.
true or false, deficiencies in fatty acids are rare.
true
describe essential fatty acids. give an example.
must be obtained from the diet and include certain unsaturated fatty acids.
example: fatty acids with one or more double bonds.
what are vitamins?
vitamins are organic molecules required in the diet in small amounts.
how many vitamins are essential for humans?
thirteen vitamins are essential for humans.
vitamins are grouped into what two categories?
fat-soluble and water-soluble.
what are minerals?
minerals are simple inorganic nutrients, usually required in small amounts.
what can upset homeostatic balance?
ingesting large amounts of some minerals can upset homeostatic balance.
what causes undernutrition?
undernutrition results when a diet does not provide enough chemical energy.
what will the body do when an individual is undernourished?
- use up stored fat and carbohydrates
- break down its own proteins
- lose muscle mass
- suffer protein deficiency of the brain
- die or suffer irreversible damage
what are neural tube defects a result of?
neural tube defects were found to be the result of a deficiency in folic acid in pregnant mothers.
where have insights into human nutrition come from?
insights into human nutrition have come from epidemiology.