Scurvy, caused by a deficiency of ascorbic acid (Vitamin C), is primarily characterized by the weakening of what substance in the body?
Explanation
This question connects Vitamin C deficiency (scurvy) to its underlying biochemical defect, the failure to produce strong collagen fibers.
Other questions
How many major sources of carbohydrates are mentioned to exist in a normal human diet?
What percentage of starches are typically hydrolyzed by the time food is swallowed, due to the action of ptyalin in the mouth?
What is the optimal pH range for the activity of pepsin, the primary peptic enzyme of the stomach?
What is the first step in fat digestion, which begins in the stomach and occurs mostly in the duodenum under the influence of bile?
What is the approximate total quantity of fluid that must be absorbed by the intestines each day, combining ingested fluid and gastrointestinal secretions?
By how much do the folds of Kerckring, villi, and microvilli collectively increase the total absorptive area of the small intestine's mucosa?
What is the approximate total surface area of the small intestine's absorptive mucosa, including all its folds and projections?
How many grams of sodium must the intestines absorb each day to prevent a net loss, considering both dietary intake and intestinal secretions?
What is the role of aldosterone in the intestinal tract?
How are most carbohydrates absorbed from the intestine into the blood?
What is the primary mechanism for absorbing glucose from the intestinal lumen into the epithelial cells?
In the absence of bile micelles, what percentage of ingested fat can be absorbed?
What is the composition of feces normally, in terms of water and solid matter?
What percentage of the solid matter in feces is composed of dead bacteria?
What causes the brown color of feces?
What is the maximum absorption capacity of the large intestine for fluid and electrolytes per day?
What is the primary function of the bacterial action in the absorbing colon for human nutrition?
Which important vitamin, often insufficient in daily ingested foods, is formed by bacteria in the colon and is essential for adequate blood coagulation?
What condition is defined as a failure of the lower esophageal sphincter to relax during swallowing?
What is the primary cause of gastritis, an inflammation of the gastric mucosa?
Pernicious anemia commonly accompanies gastric atrophy and achlorhydria due to the failure to absorb which vitamin?
What is the usual cause of peptic ulceration?
What percentage of persons with peptic ulcers are found to have a chronic infection with Helicobacter pylori?
What are the two most common causes of acute pancreatitis?
Nontropical sprue, also known as celiac disease, results from the toxic effects of what substance on intestinal enterocytes?
What is the primary cause of Hirschsprung’s disease, also known as megacolon?
What is antiperistalsis in the context of the gastrointestinal tract?
What is the chemoreceptor trigger zone for vomiting and where is it located?
Which of the following is NOT a common cause of gastrointestinal obstruction?
What is the average amount of gases, or flatus, expelled through the anus each day?
How many Calories of physiologically available energy are in one gram of fat?
What is the average daily requirement of protein for a person to maintain normal protein stores?
What is the respiratory quotient, and what is its value for pure carbohydrate metabolism?
In untreated severe diabetes mellitus, what does the respiratory quotient typically remain near?
Which area of the hypothalamus is identified as the primary feeding center?
What are the two distinct types of neurons in the arcuate nuclei that are critical for controlling appetite?
Which hormone is released mainly by the stomach, especially during fasting, and stimulates appetite?
What is the primary function of the hormone leptin in regulating food intake?
Obesity is generally defined as having a Body Mass Index (BMI) of what value or greater?
What is the primary source of energy for the body during the early stages of starvation, after readily available carbohydrates are depleted?
How much energy (in Calories) is required to store 1 gram of fat in the body?
What is the primary function of Vitamin A related to vision?
Thiamine (Vitamin B1) deficiency is known to cause lesions primarily in which body system?
What is the clinical name for severe niacin (Vitamin B3) deficiency?
What is the primary role of Vitamin D in the body?
Which trace element is a critical component of carbonic anhydrase, an enzyme essential for carbon dioxide transport and metabolism?
How many Calories per hour does an average 70-kilogram man expend as part of the Basal Metabolic Rate (BMR)?
What percentage of the daily energy expenditure in most sedentary persons is accounted for by the basal metabolic rate (BMR)?
What is the thermogenic effect of food, and what percentage of total daily energy expenditure does it typically account for?