Chapter 2, Problem 1P

Summary Introduction

To explain:

The reason why the knowledge of chemistry is essential for the understanding of physiology.

Introduction:

Chemistry is the study of chemical compounds, their compositions, and reactions inside the body. The study of human physiology includes the study of human organs and metabolic reactions inside the body. These metabolic reactions require some specific nutrients to perform the energy processes of the cells. The nutrients include carbohydrates, lipids, proteins, and vitamins. Hence, it explains the link between chemistry and human physiology.

Explanation of Solution

Chemistry includes the study of chemical compounds and their compositions. The knowledge of this subject is essential because the human body contains chemicals (salt and ions) like sodium, potassium, hydrogen, chloride, water, carbohydrates, lipids, fats, proteins and nucleic acids.

These compounds together form essential components required to carry out numerous metabolic reactions in the body. The human physiology includes the study of functions of different body parts. The function of the body is based on the interactions of the different molecules and compounds present in the cells of the body. These metabolic compounds like carbohydrates, vitamins, lipids, proteins, and amino acids are required for the energy deriving processes of the cell.

As all these substances are chemical compounds, the principles of chemistry provide an insight that can help in understanding the interaction of these substances in the biological system. Also, the chemical nature of the molecules helps in understanding the possible outcome of any other chemical on a particular process. So, in order to understand the different biochemical functions of the body, the knowledge of chemistry is very important.

Conclusion

The knowledge of chemistry is essential to the understanding of physiology because it involves the study of chemical compounds, metabolites, and energy deriving processes inside the cell.