What name is given to the reactions that break food down to obtain energy?
- Catabolic reactions
- Anabolic reactions
- Synthetic reactions
- Buffering reactions
Show answer and solution
Correct answer: A. Catabolic reactions
1. Metabolism splits into two opposite families of reaction.
2. The reactions governing the breakdown of food to obtain energy are called catabolic reactions.
3. Anabolic reactions run the other way, building larger molecules instead.
_Source: OpenStax Anatomy and Physiology (CC BY 4.0), Ch 24 "Metabolism and Nutrition", section 24.1 | Overview of Metabolic Reactions_