Basic nutrition and diet therapy exams questions and answers fully solved
1-a-hydroxylase - The enzyme in the kidneys that catalyzes the hydroxylation reaction of 25-
hydroxycholecalciferol to calcitriol, which is the active form of vitamin D; 1-⬆️
-hydroxylase
activity is increased by parathyroid hormone when blood calcium levels are low
Absorption - The process by which nutrients are taken into the cells that line the gastrointestinal
tract
Acetone - A major ketone compound that results from fat breakdown for energy in individuals
with uncontrolled diabetes
Achalasia - A disorder of the esophagus in which the muscles of the tube fail to relax, thereby
inhibiting normal swallowing
Acidic or alkaline diets - Diets based on the theory that diets high in acidic foods will disrupt the
body's normal pH balance, which is slightly alkaline
Acidosis - A blood pH of less than 7.35; respiratory acidosis is caused by an accumulation of
carbon dioxide (an acid); metabolic acidosis may be caused by a variety of conditions that result
in the excess accumulation of acids in the body or by a significant loss of bicarbonate (a base)
Adipocytes - Fat cells
Adipose tissue - The storage site for excess fat
Adipose - Fat stored in the cells of adipose (fatty) tissue
Aerobic capacity - A state in which oxygen is required to proceed; milliliters of oxygen consumed
per kilogram of body weight per minute as influenced by body composition
Aldosterone - A hormone of the adrenal glands that acts on the distal nephron tubule to
stimulate the reabsorption of sodium in an ion exchange with potassium
Aldosteronoma - The excess secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex; symptoms and
complications include sodium retention, potassium wasting, alkalosis, weakness, paralysis,
polyuria, polydipsia, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias
Alkalosis - A blood pH of more than 7.45; respiratory alkalosis is caused by hyperventilation and
an excess loss of carbon dioxide; metabolic alkalosis is seen with extensive vomiting in which a
significant amount of hydrochloric acid is lost and bicarbonate (a base) is secreted
,Allergens - Food proteins that elicit an immune system response or an allergic reaction;
symptoms may include itching, swelling, hives, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing as well as
anaphylaxis in the worst cases
Allergy - A state of hypersensitivity to particular substances in the environment that works on
the body tissues to produce problems in the functioning of the affected tissues
Alpha-linolenic acid - An essentially fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds;
found in soybean, canola, and flaxseed oil
Amenorrhea - The absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
Amenorrheic - The absence of abnormal cessation of the menses
Amino acids - The nitrogen-bearing compounds that form the structural units of protein
Aminopeptidase - A specific protein-splitting enzyme secreted by glands in the walls of the small
intestine that breaks off the nitrogen-containing amino end of the peptide chain, thereby
producing smaller-chained peptides and free amino acids
Anabolism - The metabolic process of building large substances from smaller parts
Anaerobic - A microorganism that can live and grow in an oxygen-free environment
Anaphylaxis - A severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction that results from exposure to a
protein that the body perceives as foreign and that elicits a systemic response that involved
multiple organs
Anemia - A blood condition that is characterized by a deceased number of circulating red blood
cells, decreased hemoglobin, or both
Anencephaly - A neural tube defect in which the brain does not form
Anencephaly - The congenital absence of the brain that results from the incomplete closure of
the upper end of the neural tube
Angina pectoris - A spasmodic, choking chest pain caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart; this is
a symptom of a heart attack, and it also may be caused be severe effort or excitement
Anorexia nervous - An extreme psychophysiologic aversion to food that results in life-
threatening weight loss; a psychiatric eating disorder that results from a morbid fear of fatness
in which a persons distorted body image is reflected as fat when the body is malnourished and
extremely thin a s a result of self-starvation
Anthropometric measurements - The physical measurements of the human body that are used
for health assessment, including height, weight, skin fold thickness, and circumference
, Antibody - Any of numerous protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary immune
defense for attaching to specific related antigens
Antidiuretic hormone - A hormone of the pituitary gland that acts on the distal nephron tubule
to conserve water by reabsorption; also called vasopressin
Antigen - Any foreign or non-self substance that trigger the production of antibodies that are
specifically designed to counteract their activity
Antioxidant - A molecule that prevents the oxidation of cellular structures by free radicals
Anuria - The absence of urine production; Anuria indicates kidney shutdown or failure
Appetite-regulating network - A hormonally controlled system of appetite stimulation and
suppression
Arteriole - The smallest branch of an artery that connects with the capillaries
Ascites - The accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
Ascites - Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
Ascorbic acid - The chemical name for vitamin C
Atherosclerosis - The underlying pathology of coronary heart disease; a common form of
arteriosclerosis that is characterized by the formation of fatty streaks that contain cholesterol
and that develop into hardened plaques in the inner lining of major blood vessels such as the
coronary arteries
Atonic - Without normal muscle tone
Atopy patch test - A diagnostic test that is used to assess for allergic reactions on the skin
Atrophy - Tissue wasting
Auscultation - Listening to the sounds of the gastrointestinal tract with a stethoscope
Azotemia - An excess of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood
Baby bottle tooth decay - The decay of the baby teeth as a result of inappropriate feeding
practices such as putting an infant to bed with a bottle; also called nursing bottle caries, bottle
mouth, and bottle caries
Basal energy expenditure - The amount of energy needed by the body for the maintenance of
life when a person is at complete digestive, physical, mental, thermal, and emotional rest
Beriberi - A disease of the peripheral nerves that is caused by a defiance of thiamin and is
characterized by pain and paralysis of legs and arms
1-a-hydroxylase - The enzyme in the kidneys that catalyzes the hydroxylation reaction of 25-
hydroxycholecalciferol to calcitriol, which is the active form of vitamin D; 1-⬆️
-hydroxylase
activity is increased by parathyroid hormone when blood calcium levels are low
Absorption - The process by which nutrients are taken into the cells that line the gastrointestinal
tract
Acetone - A major ketone compound that results from fat breakdown for energy in individuals
with uncontrolled diabetes
Achalasia - A disorder of the esophagus in which the muscles of the tube fail to relax, thereby
inhibiting normal swallowing
Acidic or alkaline diets - Diets based on the theory that diets high in acidic foods will disrupt the
body's normal pH balance, which is slightly alkaline
Acidosis - A blood pH of less than 7.35; respiratory acidosis is caused by an accumulation of
carbon dioxide (an acid); metabolic acidosis may be caused by a variety of conditions that result
in the excess accumulation of acids in the body or by a significant loss of bicarbonate (a base)
Adipocytes - Fat cells
Adipose tissue - The storage site for excess fat
Adipose - Fat stored in the cells of adipose (fatty) tissue
Aerobic capacity - A state in which oxygen is required to proceed; milliliters of oxygen consumed
per kilogram of body weight per minute as influenced by body composition
Aldosterone - A hormone of the adrenal glands that acts on the distal nephron tubule to
stimulate the reabsorption of sodium in an ion exchange with potassium
Aldosteronoma - The excess secretion of aldosterone from the adrenal cortex; symptoms and
complications include sodium retention, potassium wasting, alkalosis, weakness, paralysis,
polyuria, polydipsia, hypertension, and cardiac arrhythmias
Alkalosis - A blood pH of more than 7.45; respiratory alkalosis is caused by hyperventilation and
an excess loss of carbon dioxide; metabolic alkalosis is seen with extensive vomiting in which a
significant amount of hydrochloric acid is lost and bicarbonate (a base) is secreted
,Allergens - Food proteins that elicit an immune system response or an allergic reaction;
symptoms may include itching, swelling, hives, diarrhea, and difficulty breathing as well as
anaphylaxis in the worst cases
Allergy - A state of hypersensitivity to particular substances in the environment that works on
the body tissues to produce problems in the functioning of the affected tissues
Alpha-linolenic acid - An essentially fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and three double bonds;
found in soybean, canola, and flaxseed oil
Amenorrhea - The absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
Amenorrheic - The absence of abnormal cessation of the menses
Amino acids - The nitrogen-bearing compounds that form the structural units of protein
Aminopeptidase - A specific protein-splitting enzyme secreted by glands in the walls of the small
intestine that breaks off the nitrogen-containing amino end of the peptide chain, thereby
producing smaller-chained peptides and free amino acids
Anabolism - The metabolic process of building large substances from smaller parts
Anaerobic - A microorganism that can live and grow in an oxygen-free environment
Anaphylaxis - A severe and sometimes fatal allergic reaction that results from exposure to a
protein that the body perceives as foreign and that elicits a systemic response that involved
multiple organs
Anemia - A blood condition that is characterized by a deceased number of circulating red blood
cells, decreased hemoglobin, or both
Anencephaly - A neural tube defect in which the brain does not form
Anencephaly - The congenital absence of the brain that results from the incomplete closure of
the upper end of the neural tube
Angina pectoris - A spasmodic, choking chest pain caused by a lack of oxygen to the heart; this is
a symptom of a heart attack, and it also may be caused be severe effort or excitement
Anorexia nervous - An extreme psychophysiologic aversion to food that results in life-
threatening weight loss; a psychiatric eating disorder that results from a morbid fear of fatness
in which a persons distorted body image is reflected as fat when the body is malnourished and
extremely thin a s a result of self-starvation
Anthropometric measurements - The physical measurements of the human body that are used
for health assessment, including height, weight, skin fold thickness, and circumference
, Antibody - Any of numerous protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary immune
defense for attaching to specific related antigens
Antidiuretic hormone - A hormone of the pituitary gland that acts on the distal nephron tubule
to conserve water by reabsorption; also called vasopressin
Antigen - Any foreign or non-self substance that trigger the production of antibodies that are
specifically designed to counteract their activity
Antioxidant - A molecule that prevents the oxidation of cellular structures by free radicals
Anuria - The absence of urine production; Anuria indicates kidney shutdown or failure
Appetite-regulating network - A hormonally controlled system of appetite stimulation and
suppression
Arteriole - The smallest branch of an artery that connects with the capillaries
Ascites - The accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
Ascites - Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
Ascorbic acid - The chemical name for vitamin C
Atherosclerosis - The underlying pathology of coronary heart disease; a common form of
arteriosclerosis that is characterized by the formation of fatty streaks that contain cholesterol
and that develop into hardened plaques in the inner lining of major blood vessels such as the
coronary arteries
Atonic - Without normal muscle tone
Atopy patch test - A diagnostic test that is used to assess for allergic reactions on the skin
Atrophy - Tissue wasting
Auscultation - Listening to the sounds of the gastrointestinal tract with a stethoscope
Azotemia - An excess of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood
Baby bottle tooth decay - The decay of the baby teeth as a result of inappropriate feeding
practices such as putting an infant to bed with a bottle; also called nursing bottle caries, bottle
mouth, and bottle caries
Basal energy expenditure - The amount of energy needed by the body for the maintenance of
life when a person is at complete digestive, physical, mental, thermal, and emotional rest
Beriberi - A disease of the peripheral nerves that is caused by a defiance of thiamin and is
characterized by pain and paralysis of legs and arms
