ISSA NUTRITIONIST EXAM SCRIPT 2026
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Krebs cycle Answer: A series of chemical reactions within the
mitochondria to form ATP from the oxidation of acetyl-CoA
◉ Electron transport chain Answer: A metabolic pathway within
mitochondria where most APT molecules are formed during aerobic
metabolism
◉ Oxidative phosphorylation Answer: Another name for the electron
transport chain
◉ Cristae Answer: folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondria
◉ matrix Answer: Part of the mitochondria that is filled with
enzymes, water, and proteins as well as the organelle's own unique
DNA and ribosomes
◉ Glucose for fuel Answer: Glycolysis splits glucose into a pair of
pyruvate molecules in the sarcoplasm of the muscle cell. With
,enough O2, pyruvate moves from the sarcoplasm into the
mitochondria, where aerobic metabolism begins.
◉ Fatty acids for fuels Answer: Fat, stored as triglycerides, is broken
down into fatty acids via lipolysis. They then can be used in
metabolism. MOST EFFECTIVE AT PRODUCING ATP.
◉ Visceral fat Answer: Fat stored around the midsection and major
intra-abdominal organs
◉ Subcutaneous fat Answer: Fat stored directly beneath the skin; the
most widely distributed.
◉ Intramuscular fat Answer: Fat stored within the muscles
◉ triglycerides Answer: The stored form of fat
◉ Lipolysis Answer: The breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids
◉ Lactate for fuel Answer: 1. lactate can remain in the muscle where
it coverts back to pyruvate and enters the mitochondria to produce
ATP
,2. Moves to other areas including directly to the bloodstream, to the
liver where it is converted to pyruvate, then to glucose, and then sent
into the bloodstream or converted to glycogen.
◉ Ketones for fuel Answer: When ketone levels are high during
physical activity, they can easily travel from the blood into the
muscle and then enter the mitochondria, where they are converted
into acetyl-CoA, enter the Krebs Cycle, and produce ATP
◉ Glucagon Answer: A hormone produced in the pancreas,
increasing levels of glucose and fatty acids in the blood
◉ Ketoacidosis Answer: A metabolic state where high levels of
ketones are in the blood due to fatty acid metabolism
◉ Acetyl-CoA Answer: Regardless of the fuel source, Acetyl-CoA is
the central metabolite initiating aerobic metabolism within the
mitochondria
◉ The citric acid cycle (krebs cycle) Answer: An 8-stage loop that
consists of hydration, dehydration, redox, and decarboxylation
reactions, resulting the the formation of (2) CO2, (1) ATP, (3) NADH,
(1) FADH2, and (3) H+
, ◉ Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2) Answer: A compound
produced in the Krebs cycle supporting ATP formation
◉ Electron Transport Chain Answer: Where most ATP is produced in
aerobic metabolism (32 ATP molecules)
◉ Carbohydrates Answer: The main source of energy for the body
when broken down into glucose, protect muscle mass from being
catabolized during exercise
◉ Glucose Answer: A simple sugar made of 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, 6
oxygen
◉ Starch Answer: The energy source of plants; a polysaccharide
consisting of multiple molecules of bonded glucose
◉ Monosaccharides Answer: Carbs consisting of one sugar unit. The
simplest form of sugar that make up more complex carbohydrate
molecules
Ex: glucose, galactose, mannose, and fructose
◉ Disaccharides Answer: Carbs consisting of two sugar units
Ex: sucrose, maltose, lactose
COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
SOLUTIONS GRADED A+
◉ Krebs cycle Answer: A series of chemical reactions within the
mitochondria to form ATP from the oxidation of acetyl-CoA
◉ Electron transport chain Answer: A metabolic pathway within
mitochondria where most APT molecules are formed during aerobic
metabolism
◉ Oxidative phosphorylation Answer: Another name for the electron
transport chain
◉ Cristae Answer: folds of the inner membrane of a mitochondria
◉ matrix Answer: Part of the mitochondria that is filled with
enzymes, water, and proteins as well as the organelle's own unique
DNA and ribosomes
◉ Glucose for fuel Answer: Glycolysis splits glucose into a pair of
pyruvate molecules in the sarcoplasm of the muscle cell. With
,enough O2, pyruvate moves from the sarcoplasm into the
mitochondria, where aerobic metabolism begins.
◉ Fatty acids for fuels Answer: Fat, stored as triglycerides, is broken
down into fatty acids via lipolysis. They then can be used in
metabolism. MOST EFFECTIVE AT PRODUCING ATP.
◉ Visceral fat Answer: Fat stored around the midsection and major
intra-abdominal organs
◉ Subcutaneous fat Answer: Fat stored directly beneath the skin; the
most widely distributed.
◉ Intramuscular fat Answer: Fat stored within the muscles
◉ triglycerides Answer: The stored form of fat
◉ Lipolysis Answer: The breakdown of triglycerides into fatty acids
◉ Lactate for fuel Answer: 1. lactate can remain in the muscle where
it coverts back to pyruvate and enters the mitochondria to produce
ATP
,2. Moves to other areas including directly to the bloodstream, to the
liver where it is converted to pyruvate, then to glucose, and then sent
into the bloodstream or converted to glycogen.
◉ Ketones for fuel Answer: When ketone levels are high during
physical activity, they can easily travel from the blood into the
muscle and then enter the mitochondria, where they are converted
into acetyl-CoA, enter the Krebs Cycle, and produce ATP
◉ Glucagon Answer: A hormone produced in the pancreas,
increasing levels of glucose and fatty acids in the blood
◉ Ketoacidosis Answer: A metabolic state where high levels of
ketones are in the blood due to fatty acid metabolism
◉ Acetyl-CoA Answer: Regardless of the fuel source, Acetyl-CoA is
the central metabolite initiating aerobic metabolism within the
mitochondria
◉ The citric acid cycle (krebs cycle) Answer: An 8-stage loop that
consists of hydration, dehydration, redox, and decarboxylation
reactions, resulting the the formation of (2) CO2, (1) ATP, (3) NADH,
(1) FADH2, and (3) H+
, ◉ Flavin adenine dinucleotide (FADH2) Answer: A compound
produced in the Krebs cycle supporting ATP formation
◉ Electron Transport Chain Answer: Where most ATP is produced in
aerobic metabolism (32 ATP molecules)
◉ Carbohydrates Answer: The main source of energy for the body
when broken down into glucose, protect muscle mass from being
catabolized during exercise
◉ Glucose Answer: A simple sugar made of 6 carbon, 12 hydrogen, 6
oxygen
◉ Starch Answer: The energy source of plants; a polysaccharide
consisting of multiple molecules of bonded glucose
◉ Monosaccharides Answer: Carbs consisting of one sugar unit. The
simplest form of sugar that make up more complex carbohydrate
molecules
Ex: glucose, galactose, mannose, and fructose
◉ Disaccharides Answer: Carbs consisting of two sugar units
Ex: sucrose, maltose, lactose
