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Ch. 3 Cells: The Living Units
Marieb - Human Anatomy & Physiology 11th Edition
Marieb, Hoehn11th EditionHuman Anatomy & PhysiologyISBN: 9780136874034Not the one you use?Change textbook
All textbooksMarieb, Hoehn 11th EditionCh. 3 Cells: The Living UnitsProblem 24
Chapter 3, Problem 24

Explain why alcoholics are likely to have much more smooth ER than teetotalers.

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Understand the function of the smooth endoplasmic reticulum (smooth ER) in cells, which is primarily involved in lipid synthesis and detoxification processes, including the metabolism of drugs and toxins.
Recognize that alcohol (ethanol) is a toxin that the body needs to metabolize and detoxify, primarily in liver cells where smooth ER is abundant.
Know that chronic alcohol consumption induces the proliferation of smooth ER in liver cells to increase the capacity for metabolizing alcohol and other toxins, a process called enzyme induction.
Explain that this increase in smooth ER allows alcoholics to process larger amounts of alcohol more efficiently, but it also reflects cellular adaptation to the increased demand for detoxification.
Contrast this with teetotalers, who do not consume alcohol and therefore have less need for enhanced detoxification, resulting in fewer smooth ER structures in their liver cells.

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Key Concepts

Here are the essential concepts you must grasp in order to answer the question correctly.

Smooth Endoplasmic Reticulum (Smooth ER) Structure and Function

The smooth ER is a cellular organelle involved in lipid synthesis, detoxification, and metabolism of various substances. Unlike rough ER, it lacks ribosomes and is abundant in cells that process toxins or produce lipids, adapting its size based on cellular needs.
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Endoplasmic Reticulum

Role of Smooth ER in Alcohol Metabolism

Smooth ER contains enzymes like cytochrome P450 that metabolize alcohol and other drugs. Chronic alcohol consumption induces the proliferation of smooth ER to increase the cell's capacity to detoxify ethanol, leading to an expanded smooth ER network in liver cells.
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Introduction to Metabolism

Cellular Adaptation to Chronic Alcohol Exposure

Cells adapt to repeated exposure to toxins by increasing organelles involved in detoxification. In alcoholics, liver cells respond to continuous ethanol presence by producing more smooth ER, enhancing their ability to metabolize alcohol but also potentially causing cellular stress.
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