Name: CALONIA, ABIGAIL S.

Section: BSPSY3-C1 Schedule: 1:00PM-4:00PM Subject: PSY038:Biopsychology

Digestion:
1. What is digestion?
- Digestion is the process by which the body breaks down food into smaller, absorbable
components. It involves mechanical processes (chewing, mixing) and chemical processes
(enzymatic breakdown) that convert complex molecules into simpler ones for absorption and use
by the body.

2. How is the food being absorbed and stored in the body? What are the mechanisms?
- Absorption occurs mainly in the small intestine. Nutrients, once broken down, are absorbed
through the intestinal lining into the bloodstream. They are then transported to various cells and
tissues for immediate energy use or storage. Storage often involves converting excess nutrients
into glycogen (in the liver) or adipose tissue.

3. Role of insulin and glucagon in blood sugar levels?

- Insulin lowers blood sugar levels by facilitating glucose uptake into cells and promoting storage
as glycogen in the liver. Glucagon, on the other hand, raises blood sugar levels by stimulating the
breakdown of glycogen into glucose and its release into the bloodstream.

4. What are the 3 phases of Digestive Metabolism?

The three phases are:
Cephalic phase: Triggered by sensory stimuli before food reaches the stomach.
Gastric phase: Initiated by the presence of food in the stomach, leading to gastric enzyme
release.
Intestinal phase: Involves the release of digestive hormones in response to the entry of
chyme into the small intestine.

5. Why do we get hungry? Site some theories that explain the question.
- Hunger is influenced by physiological cues, such as low blood glucose levels, as well as
psychological factors. Theories include the glucostatic theory (focuses on blood glucose levels),
the lipostatic theory (related to fat storage), and the hormonal theory (involving various
appetite-regulating hormones).
Name: CALONIA, ABIGAIL S.

Section: BSPSY3-C1 Schedule: 1:00PM-4:00PM Subject: PSY038:Biopsychology

6. Factors influencing what, when, and how much we eat.

- Factors include physiological cues (hunger, fullness), psychological factors (stress, mood),
environmental factors (availability, social context), and learned behaviors (eating patterns
developed over time).

Hormones and Sex:

1. What are hormones? Explain their role in sex.
- Hormones are chemical messengers produced by endocrine glands. In sex, hormones such
as testosterone (males) and estrogen/progesterone (females) regulate reproductive functions,
secondary sexual characteristics, and overall sexual development.

2. Explain the role of the Hypothalamus in the release of sex hormones. Describe its
pathways.
- The hypothalamus releases gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), which signals the
pituitary gland to release gonadotropins (FSH and LH). These hormones, in turn, stimulate the
gonads (testes or ovaries) to produce sex hormones (testosterone, estrogen, and progesterone).

3. Explain how hormones regulate primary and secondary sexual development.

- Sex hormones influence primary sexual development (development of reproductive organs)
during fetal development. During puberty, they contribute to secondary sexual development,
including the development of secondary sex characteristics such as body hair and breast
development.

4. What happens when males are castrated? What is its effect on the release of gonadal
hormones?
- Castration involves the removal of the testes. In males, this results in a significant decrease in
testosterone production. Testosterone plays a crucial role in maintaining male reproductive
functions and secondary sexual characteristics, so its reduction can lead to a loss of fertility,
altered sexual function, and changes in physical appearance.