7.13 - Insulin and 7.14 - **Higher Only** Glucagon Flashcards
What happens when you eat foods containing carbohydrates?
It increases the glucose levels in the blood.
What does the pancreas produce when glucose levels are too high?
The pancreas produces the hormone insulin.
What does insulin do in target organs?
Insulin binds to cells in target organs (muscles and liver) causing glucose to move from the blood into muscle cells for respiration and excess glucose to be converted into glycogen stored in the liver.
What is the result of insulin’s action?
The blood glucose concentration is reduced.
What happens during rigorous activity like exercise?
It uses glucose for respiration, resulting in less glucose in the blood.
What does the pancreas produce when glucose levels decrease?
The pancreas produces the hormone glucagon.
What does glucagon do?
Glucagon binds to liver cells causing glycogen to be broken down into glucose, which is then released into the blood, increasing blood glucose concentration.
How is blood glucose concentration maintained?
It is kept constant through the actions of insulin and glucagon in a negative feedback loop.
What is a negative feedback loop in the context of blood glucose levels?
When blood glucose levels increase or decrease, a hormone is secreted to oppose the change.
What happens when blood glucose levels reach a certain concentration?
The other hormone is produced, resulting in the opposite effect.
