Energy Within the Body Unit 5 Health and Social Care Level 3

Energy within the body

Energy is something which is very important within the human body as it is needed for every living cell within the body. Energy is a power which is used to various different things such as: eliminating waste, regulating body temperature, thinking, breathing, muscle contraction, talk, digest food and maintain blood pressure.

Where energy comes from

The main source of energy is usually food, but the original source of energy is from the sun. Our bodies digest the food which we eat by mixing it with fluids (acids and enzymes) in the stomach. When the stomach digests food, the carbohydrate (sugars and starches) in the food breaks down into another type of sugar, called glucose. Energy is used for many types of activities, but the amount of energy which you need depends on your age, sex and how much activity you do.

Forms of energy

There are several forms of energy which exist and the most common form is chemical energy, this form of energy is the chemical bond which joins atoms or molecules with one another, when a new bond is made between two atoms, energy is needed for its formation and it is usually in the form of heat, even though light and electrical energy can be used. Also, when the bond is broken and the atoms are released the energy that was in the bond will also be released. There are also other forms of energy such as:

• Mechanical Energy - Muscle contraction when walking

• Heat Energy - Temperature control within the body

• Sound Energy - Hearing

• Electrical Energy - Nervous impulses

Energy laws

Within the human body, energy is something which is really important for everyday bodily functions, and there are two different laws of energy. The first law of thermodynamic is also known as the conservation of energy and this law states that energy can be transformed but it can’t be created or destroyed. The second law of energy is known as the transformation of energy and this may not be of use or be capable of being measured.

Energy metabolism

Energy is not just need for muscular activity and movement but it is also to circulate blood, lymph and tissue fluids throughout the body, it is also needed for breathing and taking in oxygen, for making new cells for growth and repair, to transmit nerve impulses so we can respond to changes within the environment, and to also build complex molecules like enzymes and hormones from simple molecules made after the digestion of food. Moreover, Catabolism is the breakdown of complex molecules within living organisms to form simpler ones; this is done with the release of energy and destructive metabolism. And anabolism