Biology Chapter on Electron Transport Chain

The difference in proton concentration and electrical potential across the inner mitochondrial membrane.

An enzyme that uses the energy stored in the proton motive force (𝚫p) to synthesize ATP.

An alternative high-energy phosphate compound used as a substrate for muscle energy.

A process by which a phosphate group is removed from phosphocreatine and added to ADP to form ATP.

The process by which creatine is phosphorylated by ATP to form phosphocreatine.

Phosphocreatine can move throughout the cell, like ATP.

The relative rate of ATP versus phosphocreatine production depends on the ratio of substrates and products.

The process of regulating metabolic pathways to avoid simultaneous synthesis and breakdown of molecules, preventing wasted energy.

The process of choosing the most appropriate energy source for the body's needs, such as carbohydrates or lipids.

A technique that measures the concentration of ATP and inorganic phosphate using magnetic resonance spectroscopy.

A method used to measure the heat produced by biological processes.

A law stating that the total energy released by a reaction is constant, no matter the intermediate steps.

The metabolic state where the body is breaking down stored energy (catabolism) to meet energy demands.

The metabolic state where the body is building up molecules and storing energy (anabolism).

The total amount of energy expended by the body to sustain basic life functions.

The total amount of energy expended by the body over a certain period, including physical activity.

With increasing elevation, the partial pressure of all gases decreases.

The lower partial pressure of oxygen at higher elevations makes it harder for your body to absorb oxygen.

Acclimatization is the process your body goes through to adjust to the lower partial pressure of oxygen at higher altitudes.

Hyperventilation is a rapid and deep breathing response to lower oxygen levels at high altitudes.

The Hypoxic Ventilatory Response (HVR) is the increased breathing rate caused by low oxygen levels in the blood.

Hyperventilation helps to temporarily increase oxygen absorption and carbon dioxide removal, but it also makes it easier to lose carbon dioxide from the body.

Lowering of carbon dioxide levels in the blood leads to a slight increase in pH, making it more alkaline.

The Bohr effect describes how the acidity of blood affects the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen.

The increase in blood pH due to hyperventilation encourages hemoglobin to hold onto oxygen more tightly at the lungs, but it also makes it harder for hemoglobin to release oxygen to the tissues.

2,3-DPG is a molecule released into circulation that increases the affinity of hemoglobin for oxygen, offsetting the effects of the pH change caused by hyperventilation.

The period after an action potential where a neuron cannot fire another action potential, due to the inactivation of sodium channels.

The unidirectional propagation of the action potential along the axon, from the site of initiation to the axon terminal.

The distance along the axon where the membrane potential decays to 37% of its initial value.

The movement of electrical charge along the axon, due to the passive flow of ions.

The length constant is affected by factors such as axonal diameter, membrane resistance, and intracellular resistance.

A larger axonal diameter decreases membrane resistance, allowing for a longer length constant.

A higher membrane resistance increases the length constant, as the signal is less likely to leak out.

A lower intracellular resistance increases the length constant, as the signal encounters less resistance inside the axon.

The length constant is crucial for determining the speed of action potential propagation.

The length constant helps to explain why action potentials travel faster in thicker axons and in neurons with lower membrane resistance.

Large axons in the earthworm nerve cord that transmit action potentials (APs) very quickly, enabling a rapid escape response.

Specialized cells that wrap around axons to increase the speed of action potential conduction, acting as an insulator.

Gaps between the myelin sheaths along an axon where there is a high concentration of voltage-gated ion channels, allowing for rapid ion exchange and AP transmission.

The process where action potentials are conducted more rapidly by hopping between the nodes of Ranvier, skipping over myelinated segments.

The increase in membrane resistance due to the myelin sheath, which reduces ion leakage and speeds up action potential propagation.