Homeostasis of blood sugar and gas concentration Flashcards
What is the use of glucose?
Glucose is the source of energy for cells’ activities.
Energy is released from glucose molecules by cellular respiration.
When is carbohydrates broken down into glucose?
digestion
Where is glucose absorbed into the. blood?
Through walls of small intestine
BGL after meal
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.
Main organs involved in blood sugar regulation :
Pancreas
Liver
Adrenal glands
what is Glycogenesis?
Formation of glycogen from other carbohydrates, esp
glucose
What is Glycogenolysis?
Breakdown of glycogen into glucose
What is Gluconeogenesis?
Conversion of fats or proteins into glucose
What is Lipogenesis?
Conversion of glucose to fat or the synthesis of fatty acids from glucose
What is the role of liver in BGL
Converts:
glucose into glycogen for storage
glycogen to glucose for release into the blood.
Most of the liver’s blood supply comes through the:
Hepatic portal vein
brings blood directly from the stomach, spleen, pancreas and small and large intestines.
Thus, the liver has the first chance to absorb the nutrients from digested food.
What happens to glucose in the liver?:
- Used by liver cells as an energy source.
- Converted into glycogen for storage (glycogenesis).
- Continue to circulate in the blood, available for body cells to absorb and use as a source of energy.
- Converted into fat for long-term storage (lipogenesis)
Explain glycogenesis
Glucose molecules are chemically combined to form glycogen.
Stimulated by the pancreatic hormone insulin.
Glycogen are stored in the liver and muscle cells.
Explain glycogenolysis
Occurs when the level of glucose in the blood drops below normal
Glycogen stored in the liver and muscle cells can be broken down into glucose.
Stimulated by another pancreatic hormone, glucagon
What is the role of pancrease
The cells in the islets of Langerhans are of two types:
Alpha cells secrete glucagon
Beta cells secrete insulin
What is the role of insulin?
Decreases in blood sugar levels in two main ways:
promotes transport of glucose from the blood into the cells
stimulates the conversion of glucose into glycogen
Also stimulates the conversion of glucose into fat in adipose tissue & increase in protein synthesis in some cells.
What is the role of glucagon?
Causes an increase in blood sugar levels.
Stimulates:
Glycogenolysis – the conversion of glycogen into glucose in the liver.
Gluconeogenesis - the conversion of fats and amino acids into glucose in the liver.
What is the role of adrenal glands?
Each gland is composed of two distinct parts:
outer part is called the cortex
inner part is the medulla