1a Glucose Homeostasis Flashcards
What is significantly impaired when glucose concentration falls below normal levels of 4-5mmol/L?
Cerebral function
What is glucose particularly important for?
The functioning of the central nervous system
What is hypoglycaemia?
Blood glucose concentration levels fall below a normal levels
What can happen if blood glucose concentration falls below 2mmol/L?
Unconsciousness, coma and ultimately death
What does persistent hyperglycemia result in?
Diabetes mellitus
What hormones act against hypoglycemia?
Glucagon
Cortisol
Growth hormone
Catecholamines
What is the most prevalent form of diabetes?
Type 2 diabetes mellitus
What are the three types of diabetes
Type 1 DM
Type 2 DM
Maturity onset diabetes of the young
What is meant by a retroperitoneal structure?
Has a peritoneum on the anterior side only
What are the small clumps of cells in the pancreas called?
Islets of Langerhans
What are exocrine acinar cells?
Cells that generate exocrine secretions
What are the three types of islet cells?
Alpha, beta and delta cells
What are the alpha cells involved with?
Glucagon secretion
What are the beta cells in the islets of langerhans involved with?
Insulin secretion
What are the delta cells in the islet of langerhans involved with?
Somatostatin secretion
What are gap junctions?
They allow small molecules to pass directly between cells
What are tight junctions?
Create small intercellular spaces
What type of communication is found between the islet cells and what enables this?
Paracrine communication due to presence of gap junctions
What does insulin do?
Stimulates growth and development and reduces blood glucose
What affect does insulin secreted from the beta cells have?
Increased:
- Glycolysis
- Glycogenesis
- Glucose transport into cells via GLUT 4
Where is GLUT 4 predominantly expressed?
Adipocytes and skeletal muscle