Minerals and Their Function in Human Body

Calcium  >>>   Builds bones and teeth, muscle contraction, heart action, nerve impulses, blood clotting
Magnesium  >>>   Bones, liver, muscles, transfer of intercellular water, alkaline balance, neuromuscular activity
Sodium  >>>   Electrolyte balance, body fluid volume, nerve impulse condition

Vitamins

A vitamin is an organic compound required as a vital nutrient in tiny amounts by an organism.

The discovery dates of the different types of vitamins and their sources

Functions of Fats in the Human Body

•    Fats on oxidation provide nearly twice as much energy as that given by carbohydrates.
•    The main function of fats in the body is to provide energy: By supplying energy, fats save proteins from being used for energy and allow them to perform their more important role of building and repairing tissues.

Functions of Protein

Protein has a range of essential functions in the body, including the following:

•    Required for building and repair of body tissues (including muscle)
•    Enzymes, hormones, and many immune molecules are proteins
•    Essential body processes such as water balancing, nutrient transport, and muscle contractions require protein to function.

Functions of carbohydrates

As a source of energy: The main function of carbohydrate is to supply energy for the body processes. A greater part of the energy in the diet i.e more than 50-80%) is supplied by carbohydrates. Some of the carbohydrates are immediately utilized by the tissues and the remaining is stored as glycogen in the liver and muscles and some are stored as adipose tissues for future energy needs.

Nutrients

The nutrients are essential for biosynthesis. To run life human beings and other organisms performs some key functions termed as nutrition. This is one of the basic functions of life in which includes intake of food, digestion, absorption, assimilation and egestion of food. These exist mainly three categories of substances which provide energy to body when we take food. These substances and their characteristics are discussed below.

The nervous system

The nervous system is an organ system containing a network of specialized cells called neurons that coordinate the actions of an animal and transmit signals between different parts of its body. The nervous system in humans consists of three parts, central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and automatic nervous system.

Circulatory System

•  The circulatory system is an organ system that passes nutrients (such as amino acids, electrolytes and lymph), gases, hormones, blood cells, etc. to and from cells in the body. The circulatory system help fight diseases, stabilize body temperature and pH, and to maintain homeostasis.
•    The discovery of blood circulation or blood flow was done by William Harvey in 1628.

Major organ systems

•    Circulatory system: pumping and channeling blood to and from the body and lungs with heart, blood, and blood vessels.
•    Digestive System: digestion and processing food with salivary glands, esophagus, stomach, liver, gallbladder, pancreas, intestines, rectum, and anus.
•    Endocannabinoid system: neuromodulatory lipids and receptors involved in a variety of physiological processes including appetite, pain-sensation, mood, motor learning, synaptic plasticity, and memory.

Human Blood

•    Human blood is the fluid circulated by the heart through the human vascular system.

•    There are three cellular components of human blood: red blood cells (r.b.c.), white blood cells (w.b.c.), and platelets.