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Biology: Module 5 > Pancreas > Flashcards

Pancreas Flashcards

1
Q

Describe role of pancreas:

A

Release digestive enzymes
~~>amylase, protease, lipase

Control blood glucose levels

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2
Q

State the difference between exocrine glands and endocrine glands?

A

Exo –> release chemicals into a duct

Endo –> releases hormones into blood stream

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3
Q

What is the pancreatic acini?

A

Exocrine tissue

Darker stain

Small berry-like clusters

Produce = secrete digestive enzymes

Goes to pancreatic duct —> duodenum

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4
Q

What are the Islets of Langerhans

A

Endocrine tissue

Lightly stained

Large spherical clusters

Produce + secrete hormones

Capillaries –> transport hormones in blood stream

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5
Q

What are the two types of cells in the Islets of Langerhans?

A

Alpha cells –> produce glucagon
~~>increase blood glucose level
(larger)

Beta cells –> produce insulin
~~> decrease blood glucose levels

Regulated by negative feedback

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6
Q

Describe glycogenesis?

A

Converting glucose to glycogen

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7
Q

Describe gluconeogenesis?

A

Converting amino acids + glycerol to glucose

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8
Q

Describe glycogenolysis?

A

Converting glycogen to glucose

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9
Q

What is the value for normal blood glucose levels?

A

90mgcm-3 of blood

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10
Q

What causes blood glucose levels to rise?

A

Intake of food
~~> carbs broken down = glucose released

Gluconeogenesis

Glycogenolysis

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11
Q

What causes for blood glucose levels to decrease?

A

Exercise
~~> glucose used in respiration

Fasting

Glycogenesis

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12
Q

What happens when blood glucose levels rise?

A

Beta cells –> release insulin
Target liver + most body cells

Decrease levels of glucagon released by alpha cells

Increase of glucose uptake into cells (skeletal muscle cells=)

Increased respiration rate

Increase conversion of glucose to fat

Increases glycogenesis

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13
Q

What happens when blood glucose concentrations decreases?

A

Alpha cells release glucagon
Target liver + fat cells

Increases glycogenolysis

Decrees glucose intake into cells

Increase rate of gluconeogenesis

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14
Q

Why is it important we maintain our BGL at normal levels?

A

BGL –> affect WP gradient of cells

Too high = more water leaves via osmosis –> dehydrated

Too low -= more water enters via osmosis –> cell lysis

Both cases = disrupt concentrations of other chemicals in cell

Inability to do this = diabetes

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15
Q

What happens to a beta cell when there are normal levels of glucose?

A

Resting potential = -70mV

Potassium channels =open
~~> K+ diffuse out of cell

V-gated Ca 2+ channels = closed

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16
Q

What happens to a beta cell when there are high levels of glucose?
(6 marks)

A

Glucose transporters move glucose into B cells.

Mitochondria metabolises glucose (aerobic respiration) –> release ATP.

High ATP level within beta cell cause K+ channels to close
~~> stops K+ moving out of the cell

Leads to build up of K+ inside beta cell
—-> depolarisation of cell membrane (-30mV)

Causes V-gated Ca2+ channels to open –> influx of Ca2+

Secretory vesicles within insulin move + fuse with plasma membrane —> exocytosis

17
Q

What is diabetes?

A

Inability to metabolise glucose properly

hyper/hypoglycaemia

18
Q

What is Type 1?

A

B cells cannot make insulin

Cause = unknown

Autoimmune response to B cells

19
Q

What is Type 2?

A

B cells = not enough insulin

Cells not sensitive to insulin

Causes:
*Obesity
*Bad diet

Glycoprotein insulin receptor = malfunctioning

20
Q

What are the treatments for Type 1 diabetes?

A

Insulin injection

Pancreas transplant
Stem cell therapy

21
Q

What are the treatments for Type 2 diabetes?

A

Regular carbs intake

Regular exercise

Drugs

Insulin injection

22
Q

Why is bacteria GM to make human insulin?

A

Higher yield –> easy to grow bacteria

Purer insulin –> lower risk of allergy

Cheaper

No religious/ethical concerns

23
Q

Why was GM of bacteria used?

A

Problems with pig insulin:
–> Allergy
–> Religious
–> Problems with purification.

24
Q

What issues arise from Type 1 diabetes treatment?

A

Transplant:
–> Rejection
–> Low organ availability

Hard to inject B cells

25
Q

What are the advantages for stem cell treatment?

A

No donors

No rejection

Cure/permanent

26
Q

What are the disadvantages of stem cells as treatment?

A

Difficult to control differentiation
~~>risk of tumour

Ethical concerns over using embryos

27
Q

How to overcome disadvantages of using stem cells?

A

Use ‘spare’ embryos from IVF

Make more SCs from initial embryos

Create embryonic SCs from somatic cell nuclear transfer

Biology: Module 5 (12 decks)

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