02+Chemical+Aspects+of+Physiology

Chemical Aspects of Physiology

Chapter 2 __//**Content Summary **//__ //Atoms, ions, and chemical bonds are an important part of chemistry, as well as physiology. The main topics covered in this chapter are atoms, ions, chemical bonds, carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and nucleic acids. The bonds that atoms form are a large part of about everything that we see and do. Covalent bonds are bonds where the atoms that are forming together share their electrons. The electrons are share unequally in a polar bond, and shared equally in a nonpolar bond. Another main type of bond is the ionic bond. These bonds are formed when there is a transfer of electrons from one atom to another. These bonds are much weaker than any covalent bond. As for carbohydrates, they contain carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen. Also, there are many different types of carbohydrates such as monosaccharides, disaccharides, and polysaccharides. Another key point covered in this chapter is lipids. Lipids are formed from one glycerol and three fatty acids. Then there are also proteins that are composed of amino acids. These proteins are arranged in long chains and are bound together by peptide bonds. Next, there is DNA and RNA that are considered nucleic acids. Deoxyribose is the main ingredient in DNA and each strand of DNA contains 4 nucleotides; where RNA does not contain deoxyribose, but instead it contains ribose. All of these topics that were covered are very important when dealing with the chemical aspects of physiology.// Source (Physiology Book)

//When taking a look at Ionic bonds in more depth, one of the most important things is the formation of them. The valence electrons play a vital role in many things that happen on an atomic level. When an Ionic bond is formed the valence electrons are either gained or lost between the atoms that are coming together. The atoms that are formed cannot be nonpolar. They either contain a negative or positive charge based on whether they gain or lose the electron. A cation is the positively charge atom after the valence electron has left its outer shell to join the other atom. On the other hand, an anion is the negatively charged atom that has gained the electron throughout the ionic bond process.// Source (Physiology Book)

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//Another major concept taken into more depth is proteins. Although their name is proteins, they might as well be called groups of amino acids because all they are made of is chains of amino acids. Long chains of amino acids form to create a single protein. Up to 20 amino acids could be utilized at one single time. These chains all have one thing in common though, the two ends. At on end you can always find a member of the carboxyl group, and at its opposite an amino acid group member. The only thing that makes one amino acid unique from the rest is the functionality groups. Not only that, but proteins have multiple different structures that also make them unique.// Source (Physiology Book)



//Lastly, nucleic acids are also a major concept when it comes to the chemical aspects of physiology. The double helix is the formation of the standard DNA strand. The strand is composed of two actual strands of DNA. Base pairing is very vital in this process as the purines must equal the pyrimidines or there will be no DNA formed. The bases form a tradition hydrogen bond with another base. These hydrogen bonds are what hold the two strands of DNA together. These strands are what contain the body’s most fascinating secret, the genetic code of the individual. The four bases involved are guanine, adenine, cytosine, and thymine.// Source (Physiology Book) [|Visual Learning of Nucleic Acids]

__**// Application //**__ //Chapter two covers a lot of information on the chemical composition of the body. For instance, one is informed on the different types of bonds that can be created. These bonds then are considered to be an acid or base. From there you can figure out that molecules pH level. By understanding these basic concepts of chemistry, this may help to better understand how medications are used in the medical field. Not only that, but it may help to better understand what is happening within the body of your patient. For example, when someone is vomiting you would have the background knowledge on what is happening with the body. Excessive vomiting results in the loss of gastric acid, which in turn could cause your blood pH to rise. A nurse would know how to handle these types of situations just by knowing basic chemistry concepts. It would also be helpful to understand these concepts when it comes to monitoring different levels of glucose, sodium, potassium,etc. in the patient. Just knowing how certain medications interact with each other is knowing basic chemistry.//

__**// Essential Questions //**__ //A buffer’s main purpose is to maintain the pH level of a solution. It is a collection of ions and molecules that work together to prevent any changes in the pH levels and to keep to concentration stable. The buffer system used in maintaining the pH level of blood is a reversible model that depends on the concentration of ions. The reaction occurs in the whatever side the extra molecule chooses and the solution is able to maintain balanced. Acidosis occurs if the pH level is below 7.35, and alkalosis occurs if the level rises above 7.45. When acidosis occurs it is telling you that the solution is to acidic, and alkalosis is when it is too basic.// //Enzymes are proteins that engage in regular cellular processes. These enzymes have the ability to shift and change the reactions to occur how they want them to. Enzymes can tip the scales by lowering the cost that it would take a cell to perform a certain action, thus making the cells move in a way that the enzymes want them too. The manipulation of possible outcomes by the enzyme makes it able to get whatever desirable outcome it wishes.//