Biochemistry Flashcards
What is an inorganic compound?
A compound that does not contain carbon; those found in the body include water, salts, and inorganic acids and bases
What is the single most abundant compound in the body?
Water
What is water’s role in the body?
It absorbs and releases heat slowly, acts as a universal solvent, precipitates in chemical reactions, and cushions body organs
What are salts’ roles in the body?
Ionic compounds that dissolve in water and act as electrolytes; ions of salts are involved in many physiological processes
What is an acid’s role in the body?
Acids are proton DONORS; in water, they ionize and dissociate, releasing hydrogen ions (which account for their properties) and anions
What is a base’s role in the body?
Bases are proton ACCEPTORS; most common inorganic bases are the hydroxides; bicarbonate ion and ammonia are important bases in the body
What is pH?
A measure of hydrogen ion concentration of a solution (in moles per liter); a pH of 7 is neutral; a higher pH is alkaline, and a lower pH is acidic
What is normal blood pH?
7.35-7.45
What is a buffer?
A substance that helps prevent excessive changes in the pH of body fluids
What is an organic compound?
A compound that contains carbon; those found in the body include carbohydrates; lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids
How are organic compounds made and broken down?
Carbohydrates; lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids are synthesized by dehydration synthesis and digested by hydrolysis
What elements do the organic biological molecules contain?
All biological molecules contain C, H, and O; Proteins and nucleic acids also contain N.
What are carbohydrates made up of?
The building blocks of carbs are monosaccharides, the most important of which are hexoses (glucose, fructose, galactose) and pentoses (ribose, deoxyribose)
What are disaccharides?
Composed of two linked monosaccharide units; sucrose, lactose, maltose
What are polysaccharides?
Composed of three or more linked monosaccharides (starch; glycogen)
What role do carbohydrates play in the body?
They are the major energy fuel for forming ATP, especially glucose; excess carbohydrates are stored as glycogen or converted to fat for storage
What role do lipids play in the body?
They insulate body organs, build cell membranes, and provide stored energy; include triglycerides, phospholipids, and steroids
What are triglycerides?
composed of three fatty acid chains and glycerol; found chiefly in fatty tissue where they provide insulation and reserve body fuel
What is the difference between saturated and unsaturated fats?
Unsaturated fatty acid chains produce oils, are generally shorter, and have kinks in their chains; saturated fatty acids produce solid fats typical of animal fats, are generally longer chains that lay flat against one another
What are phospholipids?
Modified PHOSPHORUS-CONTAINING triglycerides that have polar and non polar portions; found in all plasma membranes due to their water-loving and water-hating ends
What role do steroids play in the body?
Steroid cholesterol, which is the most important of the steroids, is found in cell membranes and is the basis of steroid hormones, bile salts, and vitamin D; it is supplied by the diet but is also produced by the liver
What are proteins?
Proteins are the body’s basic structural material and have many vital functions
What is the basic unit of proteins?
The amino acids, of which their are 20 common acids found in the body
What is a peptide bond?
The bond that joins many amino acids, creating a polypeptide
