BASIC NUTRITION AND DIET THERAPY 320 QUESTIONS WITH
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS. LATEST 2024-2025
1. 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
2. Absorption: The process by which nutrients are taken into the cells that line the
gastrointestinal tract
3. Acetone: A major ketone compound that results from fat breakdown for energy in
individuals with uncontrolled diabetes
4. Achalasia: A disorder of the esophagus in which the muscles of the tube fail to relax,
thereby inhibiting normal swallowing
5. 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
6. 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)
7. Adipocytes: Fat cells
8. Adipose tissue: The storage site for excess fat
9. Adipose: Fat stored in the cells of adipose (fatty) tissue
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
, .
15. 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
16. Alpha-linolenic acid: An essentially fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and
three double bonds; found in soybean, canola, and flaxseed oil
17. Amenorrhea: The absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
18. Amenorrheic: The absence of abnormal cessation of the menses
19. Amino acids: The nitrogen-bearing compounds that form the structural units of
protein
20. 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
21. Anabolism: The metabolic process of building large substances from smaller parts
22. Anaerobic: A microorganism that can live and grow in an oxygen-free environment
23. 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
24. Anemia: A blood condition that is characterized by a deceased number of
circulating red blood cells, decreased hemoglobin, or both
25. Anencephaly: A neural tube defect in which the brain does not form
26. Anencephaly: The congenital absence of the brain that results from the incomplete
closure of the upper end of the neural tube
27. 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
28. 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
29. Anthropometric measurements: The physical measurements of the human body
that are used for health assessment, including height, weight, skin fold thickness, and
circumference
30. Antibody: Any of numerous protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary
immune defense for attaching to specific related antigens
31. Antidiuretic hormone: A hormone of the pituitary gland that acts on the distal
nephron tubule to conserve water by reabsorption; also called vasopressin
32. Antigen: Any foreign or non-self substance that trigger the production of antibodies
that are specifically designed to counteract their activity
, .
33. Antioxidant: A molecule that prevents the oxidation of cellular structures
by free radicals
34. Anuria: The absence of urine production; Anuria indicates kidney shutdown or
failure
35. Appetite-regulating network: A hormonally controlled system of appetite
stimulation and suppression
36. Arteriole: The smallest branch of an artery that connects with the capillaries
37. Ascites: The accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
38. Ascites: Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
39. Ascorbic acid: The chemical name for vitamin C
40. 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
41. Atonic: Without normal muscle tone
42. Atopy patch test: A diagnostic test that is used to assess for allergic reactions on the
skin
43. Atrophy: Tissue wasting
44. Auscultation: Listening to the sounds of the gastrointestinal tract with a stethoscope
45. Azotemia: An excess of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood
46. 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
47. 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
48. 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
49. Bile: An emulsifying agent produced by the liver and transported to the gallbladder
for concentration and storage; it is released into the duodenum with the entry of fat to
facilitate enzymatic fat digestion by acting as an emulsifier
50. Binge-eating disorder: A psychiatric eating disorder that is characterized by the
occurrence of binge eating episodes at least twice a week for a 6-month period
51. Blood urea nitrogen: A test of nephron function that measures the ability to filter
urea nitrogen, which is a product of protein metabolism, from the blood
52. Body composition: The relative sizes of the four body compartments that make up
the total body: lean body mass, fat, water, and bone
CORRECT DETAILED ANSWERS. LATEST 2024-2025
1. 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
2. Absorption: The process by which nutrients are taken into the cells that line the
gastrointestinal tract
3. Acetone: A major ketone compound that results from fat breakdown for energy in
individuals with uncontrolled diabetes
4. Achalasia: A disorder of the esophagus in which the muscles of the tube fail to relax,
thereby inhibiting normal swallowing
5. 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
6. 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)
7. Adipocytes: Fat cells
8. Adipose tissue: The storage site for excess fat
9. Adipose: Fat stored in the cells of adipose (fatty) tissue
10. 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
11. 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
12. 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
13. 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
14. 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
, .
15. 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
16. Alpha-linolenic acid: An essentially fatty acid with 18 carbon atoms and
three double bonds; found in soybean, canola, and flaxseed oil
17. Amenorrhea: The absence of a menstrual period in a woman of reproductive age
18. Amenorrheic: The absence of abnormal cessation of the menses
19. Amino acids: The nitrogen-bearing compounds that form the structural units of
protein
20. 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
21. Anabolism: The metabolic process of building large substances from smaller parts
22. Anaerobic: A microorganism that can live and grow in an oxygen-free environment
23. 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
24. Anemia: A blood condition that is characterized by a deceased number of
circulating red blood cells, decreased hemoglobin, or both
25. Anencephaly: A neural tube defect in which the brain does not form
26. Anencephaly: The congenital absence of the brain that results from the incomplete
closure of the upper end of the neural tube
27. 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
28. 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
29. Anthropometric measurements: The physical measurements of the human body
that are used for health assessment, including height, weight, skin fold thickness, and
circumference
30. Antibody: Any of numerous protein molecules produced by B cells as a primary
immune defense for attaching to specific related antigens
31. Antidiuretic hormone: A hormone of the pituitary gland that acts on the distal
nephron tubule to conserve water by reabsorption; also called vasopressin
32. Antigen: Any foreign or non-self substance that trigger the production of antibodies
that are specifically designed to counteract their activity
, .
33. Antioxidant: A molecule that prevents the oxidation of cellular structures
by free radicals
34. Anuria: The absence of urine production; Anuria indicates kidney shutdown or
failure
35. Appetite-regulating network: A hormonally controlled system of appetite
stimulation and suppression
36. Arteriole: The smallest branch of an artery that connects with the capillaries
37. Ascites: The accumulation of serous fluid in the abdominal cavity
38. Ascites: Fluid accumulation in the abdominal cavity
39. Ascorbic acid: The chemical name for vitamin C
40. 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
41. Atonic: Without normal muscle tone
42. Atopy patch test: A diagnostic test that is used to assess for allergic reactions on the
skin
43. Atrophy: Tissue wasting
44. Auscultation: Listening to the sounds of the gastrointestinal tract with a stethoscope
45. Azotemia: An excess of urea and other nitrogenous substances in the blood
46. 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
47. 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
48. 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
49. Bile: An emulsifying agent produced by the liver and transported to the gallbladder
for concentration and storage; it is released into the duodenum with the entry of fat to
facilitate enzymatic fat digestion by acting as an emulsifier
50. Binge-eating disorder: A psychiatric eating disorder that is characterized by the
occurrence of binge eating episodes at least twice a week for a 6-month period
51. Blood urea nitrogen: A test of nephron function that measures the ability to filter
urea nitrogen, which is a product of protein metabolism, from the blood
52. Body composition: The relative sizes of the four body compartments that make up
the total body: lean body mass, fat, water, and bone
