Anaesthesia Fundamentals | Physiology | Metabolic Pathways

Metabolic Pathways
Session Overview
Description
This session provides an overview of the basic metabolic pathways and metabolic reactions. It also explains how the body produces and stores energy obtained from the main fuel sources — carbohydrates, proteins and fats.

Learning Objectives
By the end of this session you will be able to:

• Describe different types of metabolic reactions
• List the main sources of energy in the human body
• Recognise the differences between aerobic and anaerobic metabolism
• Summarise the main pathways involved in the metabolism of a molecule of glucose

The human body requires energy to perform a variety of functions. These include the contraction of muscles, synthesis and transport of molecules, and heat generation.

How do the fuels we consume on a daily basis get converted into the energy the body needs to perform these tasks?

This session will look at the main fuel sources the body relies on and how they are used in the production and storage of energy. An overview of the basic metabolic pathways is included, explaining the differences between aerobic and anaerobic conditions.