Carbohydrates (Poly hydroxyaldehydes (or) ketones.)
A carbohydrate is composed of carbon, hydrogen and oxygen in the
ratio of 1:2:1 (CH2O)n. They are of three types namely monosaccharides,
disaccharides and polysaccharides
Monosaccharides
These are the simplest form of carbohydrates being comprised of a
single organic molecule.
Depending on the number of carbon atoms they are
classified into trioses, tetroses, pentoses, and hexoses.
The trioses (C3H6O3) are common intermediary products in
carbohydrate metabolic processes.
They play an important role in inter con
version of biomolecules. (eg. glyceraldehydes). Pentoses (C5H10O5) like
ribose and deoxyribose are the integral components of RNA and DNA
molecules.
The Hexoses(C6H12O6) such as glucose, fructose and
galactose are food components commonly consumed.
Carbohydrates are commonly employed by the cells for providing
energy.
The energy metabolism happens through glycolytic
processes involving oxidative, citric acid cycle. The energy liberated is stored
in the form of ATPs (Adenosine triphosphate).
Each gram of carbohydrate is capable of yeilding energy equivalent
of 4.1 calories.
Disaccharides
These are the carbohydrates formed by condensation of two
monosaccharide monomers. These are found in common food substances
such as milk and sugar.
There are three common disaccharides namely maltose,
sucrose and lactose. They have the following composition
Maltose à glucose + glucose
(In germinating cereals)
Sucrose (cane sugar) à glucose + fructose
Lactose (milk) à glucose + galactose
Polysaccharides
These are complex carbohydrates formed by polymerisation of a large
number of monosaccharides. Nature abundantly produces various types of
polysaccharides.
Several of them are structural components in the living world
eg. chitin, cellulose. Starch molecules serve as storage food materials trapping
enormous amount of energy. In food grains, starch is available as pectin
and amylopectin molecules. Glycogen, a polysaccharide is found in liver and
muscles.
Related Topics in Zoology:
Bio Zoology All Important Topics
- Human Physiology Introduction
- Nutrition
- Carbohydrates Poly hydroxyaldehydes (or) ketones
- Proteins (Polypeptides)
- Lipids
- Vitamins – Functions Of Vitamins
- Deficiency of Vitamin
- Minerals – Water – Role of water
- Balanced diet
- Obesity
- Digestive System
- Dental Caries (Tooth decay)
- Root Canal Treatment
- Peptic ulcer
- Hernia and Types
- Appendicitis (Appendix)
- Gall Stones
- Hepatitis
- Fractures – Types of fractures
- Mechanism of fracture
- Dislocation of joints
- Arthiritis
- Rickets and Osteomalacia – Orthopedics
- Muscles
- Mechanism of muscle contraction
- Types of muscle contraction
- Myasthenia Gravis
- Respiration – Process of pulmonary respiration
- Mechanism of Breathing
- Regulation of Respiration
- Pneumonia Tuberculosis Symptoms Treatment
- Bronchitis – Acute bronchitis, Chronic Bronchitis Causes
- Circulatory System – Functioning of Human heart
- Cardiac Cycle
- Coronary blood vessel and its significance
- Myocardial infarction
- Angina pectoris
- Angiogram – Angioplasty
- Atherosclerosis
- Heart block Echo cardiography Heart Valves
- Rheumatic Heart Disease (RHD), ICCU – (Intensive Coronary Care Unit)
- Blood Pressure
- Heart transplantation
- Pulse rate
- Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Blood – Composition of plasma – Blood cells
- Clotting of Blood or Haemostasis
- Thrombosis
- Nervous system Co-ordination systems
- The Brain – Fore Brain, Midbrain, Hindbrain
- Memory
- Sleep – Types of sleep
- Stroke – Brain haemorrhage
- Alzheimer – Meningitis (Brain fever)
- Conditioned reflex
- Electroencephalography EEG
- Right and Left brain concept
- Spinal cord functioning
- Chemical co-ordination – Functions of Endocrine glands
- Hypothalamus
- Pituitary gland – hormone
- Hormones of Neurohypophysis – vasopressin
- Thyroid gland
- Parathyroid Gland
- Pancreas
- Adrenal gland
- Gonads
- Receptor Organs – Eye
- Photochemistry of Retinal visual Pigments
- Errors of refraction
- Optometry – Retinopathy
- Cataract – Lens Replacement – Glaucoma – Nyctalopia
- Eye Infections and Eye Care
- Ear
- Mechanism of hearing
- Defects of the ear
- Hearing Aid – Noise pollution
- Skin and functions of skin
- Melanin functions
- Effects of solar radiation / UV radiation – Skin grafting
- Dermatitis
- Tongue – Mechanism of Stimulation
- Excretion Ureotelism Nephron
- Mechanism of urine formation
- Renal Failure, Dialysis, Kidney Machines
- Kidney stone – Kidney transplantation
- Diabetes mellitus
- Functioning of male reproductive system
- Functioning of female reproductive system
- Ovulation and fate of the ovum – Menstrual cycle
- Fertilization
- Birth control