PSY 374 Study Guide - Midterm Guide: Acetaldehyde Dehydrogenase, Alcohol Dehydrogenase, Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder
Document Summary
Ethyl alcohol (ethanol) is the form used in beverages. Methyl alcohol (wood alcohol) is highly toxic the liver metabolites include formic acid and formaldehyde; causes blindness, coma, and death. Isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) is often used as a solvent; it is not safe to drink. Ethanol is easily absorbed from the gastro-intestinal (gi) tract and diffuses throughout the body, readily entering most tissues, including the brain. Alcohol absorption: alcohol moves by passive diffusion across membranes from higher concentration (the gi tract) to lower concentration (the blood). Blood alcohol concentration (bac) is expressed as a percentage of ethanol in the blood in units of mass of alcohol per volume of blood. These beverages (by volume shown) raise your bac by the same amount: 5-oz glass of wine cocktail with 1. 5 oz of spirits. Alcohol dehydrogenase converts alcohol to acetaldehyde, which is then converted to acetic acid by acetaldehyde dehydrogenase (aldh).
