Digestive System Flashcards
(104 cards)
Refers to the food we eat and the nutrients contained within
Nutrition
Refers to the use of the nutrients gained from food to build/maintain and provide energy
Also refers to interactive set of chemical pathways
Metabolism
While there, food is broken down into absorbable molecules in GI tract/lumen (still external)
Digestion
then transported out of the GI lumen and placed into the portal vascular system
Absorption (now internal)
when nutrient molecules enter cells and undergo many chemical changes
Assimilation
Before food can be used for energy, growth and maintenance, and regulation of bodily functions, the nutrients have to be ____
assimilated
a decomposition process
Catabolism
act of building nutrient molecules into large molecular compounds that requires the use of energy
Anabolism
The act of breaking food molecules down into smaller molecular compounds that, in-turn, releases energy
Catabolism
a synthesis process
Anabolism
Released in frequent, small bursts or otherwise it would “cook” the cell it is being released in
Thermal energy (heat)
Thermal energy is practically useless as an energy source for cells because it can’t be used to carry out work
Thermal energy (heat)
This heat that gets released from all cells collectively maintains the body temperature for homeostasis
Thermal energy (heat)
Cannot be used directly for biological reactions
It first has to be transferred into the high-energy molecule of adenosine triphosphate (ATP)
Chemical energy
Releases energy in two forms (catabolism)
thermal
chemical
readily absorbed in their original form
micronutrients
need to be small enough to be absorbed
macronutrients
Proteins need to be
Amino acids or small chains of amino acids (di/tripeptides)
Carbohydrates need to be
Monosaccharides such as
Glucose
Fructose
Galactose
Lipids need to be
Fatty acids (FAs) or monoglycerides (MGs)
Micronutrients
vits/mins
Needed in much smaller quantities in the body
** 28 of these are considered essential micronutrients – meaning required to live
**Do not provide calories of energy
Provides 4 calories of energy
protes
carbs
Provides 9 cals of energy
Lipids
Digestion requires enzymes called amylases
Carbohydrates