Amino Acids in Proteins
6 Amino Acids in Proteins Proteins have many functions in the body. They serve as transporters of hydrophobic compounds in the blood, as cell adhesion molecules that attach cells to…
Metabolism of the Nervous System
46 Metabolism of the Nervous System The nervous system consists of various cell types. The most abundant cell in the nervous system is the glial cell, which consists of astrocytes…
Protein Digestion and Amino Acid Absorption
35 Protein Digestion and Amino Acid Absorption Proteolytic enzymes (also called proteases) break down dietary proteins into their constituent amino acids in the stomach and the intestine. Many of these…
Water, Acids, Bases, and Buffers
4 Water, Acids, Bases, and Buffers Approximately 60% of our body is water. It acts as a solvent for the substances we need, such as K+, glucose, adenosine triphosphate (ATP),…
Fate of Amino Acid Nitrogen: Urea Cycle
36 Fate of Amino Acid Nitrogen: Urea Cycle In comparison with carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, the metabolism of amino acids is complex. We must be concerned not only with the…
Liver Metabolism
44 Liver Metabolism The liver is strategically interposed between the general circulation and the digestive tract. It receives 20% to 25% of the volume of blood leaving the heart each…
Blood Plasma Proteins, Coagulation, and Fibrinolysis
43 Blood Plasma Proteins, Coagulation, and Fibrinolysis The blood is the body’s main transport system. Although the transport and delivery of oxygen to the cells of the tissues is carried…
Digestion and Transport of Dietary Lipids
29 Digestion and Transport of Dietary Lipids Triacylglycerols are the major fat in the human diet, consisting of three fatty acids esterified to a glycerol backbone. Limited digestion of these…
Integration of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism
34 Integration of Carbohydrate and Lipid Metabolism This chapter summarizes and integrates the major pathways for the utilization of carbohydrates and fats as fuels. We concentrate on reviewing the regulatory…
