How Glucagon Increases Blood Glucose

Question 1

What is the 1st step in the glucagon feedback loop?

Answer 1

• when waking up in the morning or after exercise, the glucose level in the blood is low
• as this blood passes through the pancreas, the alpha cells detect the low glucose levels and respond by secreting glucagon into the blood

Question 2

What is the 2nd step in the glucagon feedback loop?

Answer 2

• the target cells are the liver cells
• where the glucagon causes the breakdown of stored glycogen into glucose

Question 3

What is the 3rd step in the glucagon feedback loop?

Answer 3

• the liver releases glucose into the blood
• increasing blood glucose levels

Question 4

What is the 4th step in the glucagon feedback loop?

Answer 4

• the increased glucose level is detected by the glucagon-secreting cells
• which then stop releasing glucagon into the blood