Biochemical Foundations of Human Vital Activity - Volkov, N. I., & Nesen, E. N. 2000
Biochemical Foundations of Human Vital Activity
Introduction to Biochemistry
✵ Introduction to Biochemistry
✵ METABOLISM in the Organism
✵ Energy Metabolism in the Organism
✵ Water and Mineral Metabolism
✵ Acid-Base Balance of the Organism
✵ Enzymes as Biological Catalysts
✵ Vitamins
✵ Hormones AS REGULATORS of Metabolism
✵ Biochemistry of CARBOHYDRATES
✵ Biochemistry of Nucleic Acids
✵ Integration and REGULATION OF METABOLISM: The BIOCHEMICAL BASIS OF Adaptation Processes
The Human Body can be viewed as an integrated, interconnected system characterized by various Levels of Organization: systemic, organ, tissue, cellular, and molecular (Fig. 1).
THE MOLECULAR LEVEL of body organization is represented by numerous chemical compounds specific to individual Cells and Tissues. These compounds vary in chemical composition, complex Structure, and properties, and they perform specific biological roles in the functioning of the organism as a whole. Only molecules of living matter are capable of self-Replication, energy transformation, movement, and many other vital Functions within the organism.
Chemical compounds in the body combine into supramolecular complexes, which form cellular Organelles and cells. The Cell serves as the Structural and functional unit of the organism, possessing all its inherent properties. It contains intracellular organelles where Metabolism and Energy transformation take place, along with the synthesis of new substances and numerous other biochemical processes that sustain the entire organism.
Each level of biological organization possesses unique characteristics and is therefore studied by different biological disciplines. For instance, the MOLECULAR AND CELLULAR levels fall under The Scope of biochemistry, the Morphology of cells, Organs, and the organism as a whole is studied by anatomy, and the functions of various body systems are the domain of physiology.
Last update: 06/08/2026
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