Cell metabolism is the basis of all vital and biochemical processes in the body that take place inside and also outside a cell. Everything the body takes in must be processed and transformed, eventually broken down, to be used for energy and to renew and build up the various body components such as cell walls, nerve or muscle fibers, and bones. The body obtains energy and building blocks through food intake.
What is cell metabolism?
Cell metabolism is the basis of all vital and biochemical processes in the body that take place inside and also outside a cell. The cell is the smallest building block of life. Various organisms occur in nature, including unicellular organisms, which consist of only one cell, and multicellular organisms, which have various cells. Humans have more than two hundred different cell types. The study of these cells, including their structure and behavior, is called cytology. In each cell, plant, animal or human, various biochemical processes take place. Substances are needed to produce energy or to ensure the smooth breakdown or degradation. The cell in an organism is therefore primarily used for energy production. The entire metabolism takes place there. Only on the basis of cell metabolism can the organs work, bones grow, and the entire body keep itself alive. Respiration, osmosis and the entire digestion are also based on cell metabolism.
Function and task
In the human body, the cell primarily needs oxygen, minerals and nutrients for metabolism, then excretes degradation products again, plus water and carbon dioxide. Cell metabolism therefore refers to the entire process involved in the build-up and breakdown of the cell, the reaction and transformation of substances, as well as the exchange between the environment and the cell and the processes required to generate energy. The body uses all the vitamins, nutrients, trace elements, proteins, fats and minerals supplied to it to generate energy and also to store it as reserves that it can draw on later. Necessary for any cellular metabolism are enzymes and hormones, as the entire process is controlled by the endocrine and nervous systems. The processes of metabolism do not occur spontaneously, but are accelerated. This is done by enzymes. These catalyze chemical effects in the body and are therefore the figurative spark plugs without which no metabolism can take place. They are protein molecules, and different organs also produce and use different enzymes that have a specific effect on the organism, including helping to build protein in the skin and bones, digestion, or detoxification of the body. Hormones are needed to regulate the activity of enzymes. Since environmental factors also play a role and influence metabolism, including temperature, for example, the most important organ for metabolism is the liver. The blood circulation serves to distribute nutrients to the cells. To maintain bodily functions, the body needs energy through intake of food. The energy content is measured in calories, energy is obtained by oxidation of food. In addition, we often speak of anabolic and catabolic metabolism. Both are phases and reactions during the metabolic process. Anabolism refers to the building of substances from simple building blocks, while catabolism refers to the building of metabolic products and their conversion from complex to simple substances in order to obtain and provide energy. The nutrients stored in different areas are broken down into their components, degraded and consumed. This is how the body obtains its energy. The entire cellular metabolism is divided into four different processes, named after the substances processed. Carbohydrate metabolism ensures that carbohydrates from food are converted and broken down into sugars, such as glucose, during digestion. These enter the cells through the bloodstream, where the process of cell metabolism takes place. Simple sugars are used for energy production, are converted into new starch molecules in the muscles and liver, and are stored there. In addition, there is amino acid and protein metabolism. In order to build muscle cells, hormones or enzymes, it requires amino acids, which are produced during the digestion of protein and transported to the respective cells via the bloodstream.Fat, in turn, serves to generate energy for the cells and is an energy store. In this way, hormones and messenger substances are formed, which the body preserves for “worse times”. Fat metabolism is responsible for this. Equally important is the mineral metabolism. It is used to build bones and for muscle work, for which the body needs minerals such as calcium and phosphorus. Cell metabolism plays an important role in the body’s weight. In order to keep the body’s functions running smoothly, people consume different amounts of energy. Here we speak of a basal metabolic rate, which represents energy consumption at rest. This is genetically determined and varies from person to person. It can also not be boosted, alone the energy metabolism and consumption can be increased by exercise, for example.
Diseases and complaints
If cell metabolism is disturbed, cell metabolic diseases will occur. Among other things, this can occur due to a lack of enzymes and lead to high blood pressure and obesity. Without enzymes, the body cannot convert minerals and vitamins, for example. In general, a metabolic disorder occurs when nutrients cannot be properly utilized by the body, i.e. the substance does not reach where it is needed. Various diseases develop from this, including diabetes, for example.
