Chapter 10 - Homeostasis of Blood Sugar, Gas Concentrations and Blood Pressure Flashcards
What is a Glycogen?
- It is a molecule made of long chains of glucose molecules.
- Glycogen is the form in which carbohydrate is stored in the body.
- Storage is mainly in the liver and muscle cells.
How does the liver contribute to the regulation of blood sugar level?
•The liver stores glycogen, from which glucose can be made and added to the blood, or glucose can be removed from the blood and stored as glycogen.
Give a summary of the glucose-glycogen conversions.
- When blood sugar level is high (after a meal) glucose is converted to Glycogen.
- When blood sugar level is low (during exercise) Glycogen is converted into glucose.
Explain the regulation of blood sugar after nomnoms.
- After a meal, blood glucose concentration can rise sharply.
- Homeostatic mechanisms then begin to operate to reduce the blood glucose concentration and maintain it at the normal level.
- Any excess glucose in the blood must be removed and stored ready for use in cellular activities between meals.
Where does most of the liver’s blood supply comes through?
The hepatic portal vein, which brings blood directly from the stomach, spleen, pancreas and small and large intestines.
-Thus, the liver has the first chance to absorb any of the nutrients from digested food.
After consuming a typical meal containing a high proportion of carbohydrates, what happens to the products that is broken down?
Mainly glucose, are absorbed into the blood capillaries of the villi of the small intestine.
The hepatic portal vein carries the glucose to the liver where a number of different things may occur:
- Glucose may be removed from the blood by the liver to provide energy for liver functioning.
- It may be removed by the liver and/or muscles and converted into glycogen for storage.
- It may continue to circulate in the blood where it is available for body cells to absorb and use as a source of energy.
- Glucose in excess of that required to maintain both the normal blood sugar level and the tissue glycogen level is converted into fat for long-term storage.
The body is able to store 500g of glycogen, which part of the body are they stored?
- 100g is stored in the liver
- Remainder in skeletal muscle cells.
Explain the process of Glycogensis.
- This process is stimulated by the pancreatic hormone Insulin.
- It is the process of Glucose molecules combining chemically in long chains to form glycogen molecules.
Why can’t glycogen be used by cells?
It must be converted back into glucose or to other simple sugars.
Where does the conversion of glycogen take place?
Glycogen stored in the liver is available for conversion into glucose to maintain blood sugar levels and supply energy for liver activity.
What is the role of the glycogen stored in the muscle cells?
It provides the glucose requirement for muscle activity.
What is Glycogenolysis?
- Stimulated by another pancreatic hormone, Glucagon.
- It occurs most frequently between meals.
- It is the process of converting glycogen back into glucose.
What is one of the disadvantages of having Glycogen stored in the liver?
- It is a short-term energy supply.
- It can provide glucose for bode cell use for only about six hours if no other supply is available.
- If more energy is required, the body uses the energy reserves in the stored fat.
What is a Pancreas?
- Pale grey gland
- 12-15cm long
- lying partly in the curve of the duodenum
What lies within the Pancreas?
Within the pancreas are clusters of hormone-secreting cells called the Islets of Langerhans.
What two types of cells are present in the islets?
- Alpha cells secrete glucagon
- Beta cells secrete insulin
-Both hormones are secreted into the bloodstream and are concerned with the control of blood sugar levels.
How does insulin from the beta cells cause a decrease in blood sugar levels?
- It accelerates the transport of glucose from the blood into the cells, especially those of the skeletal muscles.
- It accelerates the conversion of glucose into glycogen.
+Insulin stimulates the conversion of glucose into fat in adipose tissue (fat storage tissue) and causes an increase in protein synthesis in some cells.
How does the level of blood sugar regulate the secretion of insulin?
Negative Feedback System.
What happens when blood sugar levels rise above normal?
- Chemical sensors in the beta cells of islets of Langerhans stimulate those cells to secrete insulin.
- As the level of blood sugar level decreases, the cells are no longer stimulated and production is reduced.
What does the secretion of insulin (beta cells) specifically do?
- Enables entry of glucose into cells.
- Promotes conversion of glucose into glycogen in liver and muscles.
- Promotes fat storage.
- Promotes protein synthesis.
What causes an increase in the blood sugar level?
-Glucagon from the alpha cells.
How does Glucagon increase the blood sugar level?
- Glucagon does this by stimulating glycogenolysis - the conversion of glycogen into glucose - in the liver.
- The glucose formed is then released into the blood, and the blood sugar level rises.
What is Gluconeogenesis?
It is when Glucagon stimulates the liver to produce new sugar molecules from fats and amino acids.
What other effects does glucagon have?
- It may have a mild stimulating effect on protein breakdown.
- The regulation of the secretion of glucagon, like that of insulin secretion, is directly determined by the level of sugar in the blood and is again based on a negative feedback system.
What happens when blood sugar levels drops below normal?
- Chemical sensors in the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans stimulate those cells to secrete glucagon.
- As the level of blood sugar increases, the cells are no longer stimulated and production is reduced.
Explain the structure of the Adrenal Glands.
-Each gland is composed of two distinct parts:
- Cortex (outer part)
- Medulla (inner part)
What are the 3 main hormones involved in regulating blood sugar levels?
- Glucocorticoids - Adrenal Cortex
- Adrenaline (epinephrine) -Adrenal Medulla
- Noradrenaline (norepinephrine) - Adrenal Medulla
How does the adrenal cortex secrete hormones?
They are stimulated by adrenocorticotrophic hormone (ACTH) from the anterior lobe of the pituitary.
What is the role of the Glucocorticoids (Cortisol)?
- They regulate carbohydrate metabolism by making sure enough energy is provided to the cells.
- In doing so, they stimulate the conversion of glycogen into glucose.
- Increase the rate at which amino acids are removed from cells (mainly muscle cells) and transported to the liver.
- Promotes the mobilisation of fatty acids from adipose tissue, allowing muscle cells to shift from glucose to fatty acids for much of their metabolic energy.
Define Glycogenesis, Glycogenolysis and Gloconeognesis.
- Glycogenesis - is the formation of glycogen from other carbohydrates especially glucose (genesis: ‘origin or creation’)
- Glycogenolysis - Breakdown of glycogen to glucose (lysis: ‘to separate or break down’.)
- Gluconeogenesis - Conversion of fats or proteins into glucose (neo: new)
What is the effect of Glucocorticoids (cortisol) on blood glucose levels? (AC)
- Stimulate conversion of glycogen into glucose in liver.
2. Stimulate protein breakdown in muscles and conversion of amino acids into glucose in liver.
What is the effect of Adrenaline and Noradrenaline on blood glucose levels? (AM)
Stimulate breakdown of glycogen in liver and release of glucose into blood.
What muscles causes air to move in and out of the lungs ?
- Diaphragm - a muscle that separates the thorax from the abdomen.
- Intercostal Muscles - the muscles between the ribs.
What type of muscles are the Diaphragm and the Intercostal muscles?
They are skeletal muscles and require stimulation from nerve impulses to initiate contraction.
What specific nerves stimulate the Diaphragm and the Intercostal muscles ?
- Diaphragm - phrenic nerve
2. Intercostal muscles - intercostal nerves (DUH!)
What type of nerves are the Phrenic nerve and Intercostal nerves ?
They are spinal nerves and they have their origin in the spinal cord at the level of the neck and thorax.
What happens if the spinal nerves are injured?
Complete paralysis of the muscles that ventilate the lungs.
-Death inevitably follows unless some form of artificial respiration is rapidly applied.