Triglycerides

Triglycerides are a type of lipid, or fat, found in your blood. When you eat, your body converts any calories it doesn't need to use right away into triglycerides. The triglycerides are stored in your fat cells. Later, hormones release triglycerides for energy between meals. If you regularly eat more calories than you burn, particularly "easy" calories like carbohydrates and fats, you may have high triglycerides.

Structure of Triglycerides

Triglycerides are composed of a glycerol molecule and three fatty acid chains. The fatty acid chains can vary in length and degree of saturation, leading to different types of triglycerides.

Function of Triglycerides

Triglycerides serve as a major source of energy for the body. They are stored in adipose tissue and are released when the body needs energy. Additionally, they provide insulation and protection for organs, and help in the absorption of fat-soluble vitamins.

Role in Health

Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood, known as hypertriglyceridemia, are a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. High triglycerides can also be a sign of metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, and type 2 diabetes.

Study Guide

What are the components of triglycerides?
What is the function of triglycerides in the body?
How are triglycerides related to cardiovascular health?
Explain the structure of a triglyceride molecule.
What are the factors that can lead to high levels of triglycerides in the blood?

◂Chemistry Worksheets and Study Guides High School. The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

Worksheet/Answer key

The Science of Chemistry

The resources above cover the following skills:

Nature of Science

The Practice of Science - A: Scientific inquiry is a multifaceted activity; The processes of science include the formulation of scientifically investigable questions, construction of investigations into those questions, the collection of appropriate data, the evaluation of the meaning of those data, and the communication of this evaluation. B: The processes of science frequently do not correspond to the traditional portrayal of ''the scientific method.'' C: Scientific argumentation is a necessary part of scientific inquiry and plays an important role in the generation and validation of scientific knowledge. D: Scientific knowledge is based on observation and inference; it is important to recognize that these are very different things. Not only does science require creativity in its methods and processes, but also in its questions and explanations.

Define a problem based on a specific body of knowledge, for example: biology, chemistry, physics, and earth/space science, and do the following:

Use tools to gather, analyze, and interpret data (this includes the use of measurement in metric and other systems, and also the generation and interpretation of graphical representations of data, including data tables and graphs)