Topics for Medical Chemistry
Find educational topics for Medical Chemistry aligned with the Zambian tertiary curriculum.
atomic-structure-and-chemical-bonding
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Understanding atomic structure and chemical bonding forms the absolute cornerstone of medical chemistry, providing the essential framework for comprehending biomolecular interactions, drug-receptor dynamics, and metabolic pathways at their most fundamental level. This topic delves into the architecture of atoms, the forces holding molecules together, and the principles governing molecular shape …
acids-bases-and-buffers-in-biological-systems
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The precise regulation of pH through acids, bases, and buffer systems is a matter of life and death in human physiology, directly impacting enzyme function, protein structure, oxygen transport, and electrolyte balance. This topic explores the principles of acid-base chemistry, including calculations of pH, pKa, and buffer capacity, with direct …
organic-chemistry-principles-for-medicine
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Organic chemistry principles tailored for medicine provide the critical lens through which you will understand drug action, metabolism, toxicity, and the structure of every major biomolecule. This focused study moves beyond rote memorization to emphasize reaction mechanisms, stereochemistry, and functional group reactivity that explain how pharmaceuticals are designed, how they …
functional-groups-in-biomolecules
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Functional groups are the reactive 'personalities' of molecules, dictating the chemical behavior of every carbohydrate, lipid, protein, and nucleic acid in the body. This topic provides a detailed inventory of hydroxyl, carbonyl, carboxyl, amine, phosphate, and sulfhydryl groups, focusing on their properties, interactions, and roles in determining molecular function. Understanding …
chemical-reactions-relevant-to-metabolism
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Metabolism is not magic—it's a tightly orchestrated series of predictable chemical reactions including oxidation-reduction, group transfer, hydrolysis, and isomerization. This topic dissects the core reaction types that power glycolysis, the Krebs cycle, beta-oxidation, and synthesis pathways, emphasizing the chemical logic that connects them. You will learn to follow the movement …
solutions-osmolarity-and-concentration-calculations
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Precision in preparing, diluting, and calculating concentrations of solutions is a non-negotiable, life-saving skill in medicine, directly applied in prescribing medications, preparing IV fluids, and interpreting laboratory values. This topic provides rigorous training in calculating molarity, molality, percent composition, and dilution factors, with a special focus on the clinically critical …
electrolytes-and-ion-balance
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Electrolytes—sodium, potassium, chloride, bicarbonate, calcium, magnesium, phosphate—are the charged ions that govern cellular excitability, membrane potential, osmotic balance, enzyme cofactors, and acid-base status. This topic explores the sources, functions, regulation, and complex interplay of these vital ions, providing the chemical basis for understanding their homeostatic control by the kidneys, gut, …
chemical-thermodynamics-and-kinetics-basic-concepts
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The laws of thermodynamics and kinetics are the invisible forces driving every biochemical reaction, determining whether a process is energetically feasible, how fast it proceeds, and how it is regulated. This topic introduces key concepts like free energy (ΔG), enthalpy, entropy, activation energy, and reaction rates, applying them directly to …
ph-regulation-in-the-human-body
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Maintaining blood pH within the razor-thin range of 7.35-7.45 is a supreme homeostatic challenge, achieved through the exquisite integration of chemical buffers, respiratory ventilation, and renal excretion. This topic provides a systems-level deep dive into the three primary mechanisms of pH regulation: the instantaneous action of the bicarbonate and other …