Clinical Chemistry Practicum A

Question 1

Reducing agent

Answer 1

A chemical species that gives an electron (hydrogen) to another chemical specie.

In carbohydrate metabolism, a reducing agent would be the sugars: glucose, fructose, and lactose. NADPH is a reducing agent in the bio-synthetic process. NADPH reduces to NADP+

Question 2

Oxidizing Agent

Answer 2

An agent that causes a loss in electron such as when NADH is oxidized into NAD+. NAD+ is able to accept an electron from other molecules.

Question 3

Ketone

Answer 3

Ketones are produced when the liver breaks down fats. The body can use ketones for energy during fasting, long periods of exercise, or when you haven’t had many carbohydrates.

Question 4

Aldose

Answer 4

A monosaccharide that contains an aldehyde group and 6 carbons. Glucose is a form of an aldohexose

Question 5

Glycogenesis

Answer 5

Process of storing extra glucose for use later when the body needs energy. Glucose molecules are added to chains of glycogen for storage. It is active during rest periods following the cori cycle, in the liver, and activated by insulin in response to high glucose levels.

Question 6

Glycolysis

Answer 6

A catabolic pathway that breaks down monosaccharides to produce 2 pyruvate molecules, 2 ATP, and 2 NADH.

Question 7

Monosaccharide

Answer 7

Class of sugar that is not able to be hydrolyzed into a simpler sugar. Examples of monosaccharides are glucose, galactose, and fructose

Question 8

Diasaccharide

Answer 8

Two-part sugar molecule that needs to be broken down into a monosaccharide for absorption. Disaccharide examples are sucrose, lactose, and maltose

Question 9

Polysaccharide

Answer 9

Carbohydrates that are greater than 10 monosaccharide units. A polysaccharide example would consist of starch, cellulose, and glycogen.

Question 10

Glycogenolysis

Answer 10

Process by which glycogen is broken down into glucose

Question 11

Gluconeogenesis

Answer 11

Process that produces glucose-6-phosphate from amino acids, fatty acids, glycerol, and lactate. Gluconeogenesis is an anabolic pathway that forms glucose from non-carbohydrate substances

Question 12

Liver’s role in maintenance of glucose levels

Answer 12

Liver controls blood glucose levels via glycogen levels, by converting galactose and fructose that are intestinally absorbed into glucose. The liver also produces glucose via gluconeogenesis

Question 13

Describe pancreatic function in carbohydrate metabolism

Answer 13

Pancreas is responsible for the hormones insulin, glucagon, and somatostatin. These Hormones are involved in the regulation of carbohydrates

Question 14

Describe insulin

Answer 14

Hypoglycemic agent that is synthesized from the islet of Langerhan cells of the pancreas. Insulin is responsible for the prompting of cells to absorb blood glucose for energy and storage

Question 15

Describe glucagon

Answer 15

Hyperglycemic agent that is synthesized in the islet of Langerhan alpha cells of the pancreas. Glucagon levels alert your liver to convert glycogen into glucose and release it into circulation

Question 16

Describe Somatostatin

Answer 16

Hyperglycemic agent that is synthesized in the islet of Langerhan delta cells of the pancreas. Pancreatic somatostatin inhibits the release of insulin and glucagon

Question 17

Effect of cortisol on glucose level?

Answer 17

hormone can increase blood glucose levels by the uptake of glycogen storage in the liver from gluconeogenesis.

Question 18

Effect of catecholamines on gluclose level?

Answer 18

stimulated from the adrenal cortex by the sympathetic nerves. The release of epinephrine will decrease insulin levels, therefore, increasing blood glucose levels. Epinephrine is also responsible for causing an increase in glucagon which will increase glycogenolysis, therefore, causing an increase in glucose levels in the blood.

Question 19

Effect of thyroid hormone on glucose?

Answer 19

Thyroxine can cause an increase in protein synthesis which causes an increase in glucose uptake, an increase in glycolysis, an increase in gluconeogenesis, and an increase in the rate of absorption of glucose in the intestinal tract

Question 20

Describe the defect in type 1 diabetes mellitus. Include glucose levels, insulin levels, and ketone levels.

Answer 20

This type of diabetes is insulin dependent and is an autoimmune disease against the beta islet cells of the pancreas. The body does not produce its own insulin, therefore, it isn’t able to bring glucose into the cells which in turn leaves the blood glucose levels high. A complication of this disease is diabetic ketoacidosis that occurs because of lack of insulin. Without glucose being brought into the cells, the body turns to fat for metabolism and produces ketones. High levels of ketones in the body are harmful and can cause diabetic ketoacidosis.

Question 21

Describe the defect in type 2 diabetes mellitus. Include glucose levels, insulin levels, and ketones levels.

Answer 21

This type of diabetes is known as insulin independent and is generally caused by obesity. People with type II diabetes produce insulin, but their body does not use it correctly, therefore, there is still an issue of glucose being brought into the cell for metabolism and leaving the blood glucose levels higher than normal