Cellular Metabolism
Self-Test (R.4)
It is a requirement to complete self-tests for all three of the
Advanced 202 Anchoring Essential courses and also this one
Clinical Course before attempting the Level 2 AFMC certification exam.
You must complete all questions and submit this self-test to WSHC via email, ideally within a
few weeks of when you complete this course material. You have two choices for completion:
1. Complete it online in Word format. First, open and then save this template to your own
computer. Complete the test by replacing the lines below with your answers. Save the final Word
file and email to us. Please send only Word format.
2. Print this file, answer by hand on the hard copy, scan your completed test into a PDF file format.
Please use neat penmanship and scan your test only into PDF format. Then email us the file.
Email your file to [email protected]
Once we have received your completed test, we will email you the appropriate answer key for
your review. At that time, we highly encourage you to thoroughly review and research any concepts
that are still unclear or confusing to you. Note that the answer key may present concepts that are new to
you, and the answer key is indeed included within the scope of the Certification exam. Please be sure
to review the answer key thoroughly.
This quiz is designed to be a bit challenging! Take your time, complete it thoroughly, and use it as a way
to assess your learning to date and where you still need more reinforcement.
Questions
1. Biochemically, ATP is classified as a ________________. The vast majority of our ATP is
formed in the ________________ of our cells. The overall process of ATP generation is
called __________________.
2. There are three main, biochemical steps in cellular energy production; in order, they are
__________________, _________________, and ____________________. This last
step of cellular respiration has two byproducts: ATP and ______________. One of these steps
produces many more times ATP per molecule than the other two; it’s called the
___________________.
3. In terms of gaseous components, cellular respiration requires as input adequate levels of
______________ and then generates ___________________ which the body must expel.
4. For metabolism and weight maintenance, “calories do matter”. Beyond small initial stores,
ongoing, over-consumption of any food is stored as _______________.
5. __________ is a hormone that is required to support cellular uptake and action of
T3 thyroid hormone within cells. However, too high levels of this hormone can promote
synthesis of Reverse T3 which reduces basal metabolic rate, in part by lowering levels of available
Free T3.
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6. There are three types of macronutrients from food which can be used to generate energy.
But adequate digestion is key. Proteins must be broken down into ___________________.
Carbohydrates must be broken down into ________________________. Dietary fats and
oils must be broken down into ____________________ and ____________________.
7. Each fatty acid molecule produces approximately _______________ more energy than a
molecule of glucose. The biochemical process the body uses to convert fatty acids into acetyl-CoA
is called __________________. Primarily in the mitochondria of liver cells, fatty acids can be
converted into ____________ which are an alternative to glucose in cellular energy production.
8. The amino acid _____________ is a required “shuttle” to move fats into mitochondria
and increase their usage in ATP generation.
9. Both short-term fasting and higher lean muscle mass increase our
____________________ (3 words), that is the energy expenditure required by a unique
individual at rest.
10. Arguably, the most important skill you can teach your client is ________________.
Individuals with poor – or even just suboptimal - ________________ are likely to feel less
energetic and more fatigue.
11. ___________ is a pancreatic hormone released in response to the body’s intake of both
carbohydrate and protein in the diet.
12. Cell membranes are primarily made up of _________________ and
___________________. The type of fat that can make cell membranes the most rigid (and
thus less responsive) is ____________________. Higher levels of __________ fats
specifically increase cell membrane fluidity.
13. Fatty acid molecules that are vulnerable to oxidation are called ____________ fats.
Evening primrose oil and borage oil are examples of _________________, an antiinflammatory omega-6 fatty acid which can use up enzymes which are otherwise used in the
production of ____________________, a pro-inflammatory omega-6 fatty acid.
14. Mitchondria use 90% of the body’s oxygen. Name four relatively common dynamics in which our
cells’ access to oxygen may be significantly hampered.
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________________________
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________________________
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________________________
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________________________
15. At the molecular level, ATP generates energy in tissues in the body by transfer of a
_____________ which is held in the molecule with a high-energy bond. Once depleted of its
energy, ATP becomes _________ which can then be converted back into ATP again through
catabolism of food (or use of stored nutrient sources).
16. As primarily a medium chain fatty acid, coconut oil is believed to be particularly helpful
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dietary choice for those with low or poor cellular energy production (especially
manifested neurologically e.g. dementia, Alzheimers). Explain why this might be the case.
_____________________________________________________________________
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17. ___________ is the precursor molecule for all fuel going into the full citric acid cycle.
18. _____________ is a sulfur-containing fatty acid which helps the body to recycle
glutathione for use in countering oxidative stress.
19. ________________ is a common additive to municipal drinking water which impairs
the action of several enzymes involved in the citric acid cycle. Unfortunately, levels of this
neurotoxin can be much higher in food even than in water because it’s a common
ingredient in ___________________.
20. The three amino acids used in the synthesis of tripeptide glutathione are ____________,
_____________, and ______________.
21. Name three very common medications which can reduce cellular access to CoQ10, a critical
enzyme involved in the citric acid cycle
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