Metabolism Flashcards
What is metabolism
Chemical processes that occur in the body’s cells to provide the body with energy
Catabolic metabolism
breaking down compounds releases energy
Define anabolic metabolism
Building up or synthesis of compounds, consuming energy (growth)
Define glycolysis
Breaking down glucose into energy e.g. pyruvate and ATP
Describe protein catabolism, specifically amino acids
Broken down into essential (cannot be synthesised so needed in diet) and non-essential (can by synthesised so not needed in diet) amino acids
Nitrogen balance influences what happens to the amino acids as we need a specific amount. Positive nitrogen balance: body has more than required so will break amino acids down (catabolism)
Negative nitrogen balance: body doesn’t have enough for its needs
What are amino acids used for
Growth and repair of cells and tissues
Making new proteins, enzymes, antibodies
Used in aerobic respiration if no carbohydrates and fats available
What does the body do with excess amino acids in
Deamination: removal of amino group
Creates ammonia and CO2 as by products
Ammonia converted into urea by liver and urea is excreted by kidneys into urine
Describe fat catabolism
Triglycerides broken down into fatty acids and glycerol via hydrolysis
Glycerol turned into energy by glycolysis
Describe the endocrine role of the pancreas
Secretes insulin when high blood sugar is detected, produced by beta cells in the islets of langerhan into the blood stream it increases uptake of glucose into cells to reduce blood sugar levels
Secretes glucagon when low blood sugar is detected, produced by alpha cells into the bloodstream and it breaks down glycogen stored in the liver into glucose, the liver releases glucose into the blood stream, increases blood sugar levels.
Define gluconeogenesis
Creating new glucose from e,g, pyruvate, lactate and glycerol
Define glycogenolysis
Breaking down glycogen into glucose
Define glycogenesis
Converting glucose into glycogen
