Most processes that occur in the human body are not consciously controlled. They occur continuously to build, maintain, and sustain life. These processes include: organization, in terms of the maintenance of essential body boundaries; metabolism, including energy transfer via anabolic and catabolic reactions; responsiveness; movement; and growth, differentiation, reproduction, and renewal.
anabolism
assembly of more complex molecules from simpler molecules
catabolism
breaking down of more complex molecules into simpler molecules
development
changes an organism goes through during its life
differentiation
process by which unspecialized cells become specialized in structure and function
growth
process of increasing in size
metabolism
sum of all of the body’s chemical reactions
renewal
process by which worn-out cells are replaced
reproduction
process by which new organisms are generated
responsiveness
ability of an organisms or a system to adjust to changes in conditions
View this animation to learn more about metabolic processes. What kind of catabolism occurs in the heart?
Fatty acid catabolism.
1. Metabolism can be defined as the ________.
A) adjustment by an organism to external or internal changes
B) process whereby all unspecialized cells become specialized to perform distinct functions
C) process whereby new cells are formed to replace worn-out cells
D) sum of all chemical reactions in an organism
D
2. Adenosine triphosphate (ATP) is an important molecule because it ________.
A) is the result of catabolism
B) release energy in uncontrolled bursts
C) stores energy for use by body cells
D) All of the above
C
3. Cancer cells can be characterized as “generic” cells that perform no specialized body function. Thus cancer cells lack ________.
A) differentiation
B) reproduction
C) responsiveness
D) both reproduction and responsiveness
A
1. Explain why the smell of smoke when you are sitting at a campfire does not trigger alarm, but the smell of smoke in your residence hall does.
When you are sitting at a campfire, your sense of smell adapts to the smell of smoke. Only if that smell were to suddenly and dramatically intensify would you be likely to notice and respond. In contrast, the smell of even a trace of smoke would be new and highly unusual in your residence hall, and would be perceived as danger.
2. Identify three different ways that growth can occur in the human body.
Growth can occur by increasing the number of existing cells, increasing the size of existing cells, or increasing the amount of non-cellular material around cells.