Biochemistry for nurses

1. Biochemistry for nurses
What is Biochemistry?

2. Biochemistry is the study of the
structure, composition and chemical
reactions of substances in living
systems
BIOLOGYBIOLOGY CHEMISTRYCHEMISTRY+
BIOCHEMISTRYBIOCHEMISTRY
Biochemistry for nurses

3. Biochemistry for nurses

4. Biochemistry for nurses
Some basic knowledges

5. Some definitions Organization levels of
the human body
Biochemistry for nurses

6. The atom = nucleus + electrons
electron
nucleus
OXYGEN ATOM
The atom is the smallest chemical
Component of our body ex: hydrogen
(H), oxygen (O), nitrogen (N) and carbon (C).
Biochemistry for nurses

7. The molecule = a group of atoms
The atoms get together to form molecules
ex: glucose, amino acids, vitamins…
GLUCOSE
Biochemistry for nurses

8. A big molecule = a macromolecule
Biochemistry for nurses

9. Mass composition of our body
Percent of mass:
• 65 % water (H2O)
•20 % proteins
•12 % lipids
• ~1.5 % nucleic acids
• ~ 1.5 % inorganic molecules (mineral salts)
Biochemistry for nurses

10. The Cell
Our body is composed by 14
billions of cells. The cell is the
basic unity of any living
organism.
Ex: muscular cell, nerve cell…
Biochemistry for nurses

11. The tissue
The tissue is a grouping of the same type of cells. There are various types of tissues
inside our body ex: Muscle, bone, etc…
Biochemistry for nurses

12. The organ
An organ is a grouping of differents
types of tissues in order to perform
a specific function ex: The heart,
the pancreas, the liver, the kidneys
etc…
Biochemistry for nurses

13. Human organ system
An organ system is a grouping of several organs in order to perform a
specific function ex: Digestive system, nervous system, respiratory
system, etc…
Biochemistry for nurses