u2: regulation of blood sugar

Question 1

liver

Answer 1

• organ with many functions
• produces bile to emulsify fats
• produces an insulin-like growth factor which has functions similar to insulin in the body

Question 2

pancreas

Answer 2

• organ with many functions
• makes digestive enzyme released in small intestine
• produces several imp. hormones (i.e. glucagon+insulin)

Question 3

islets of langerhans

Answer 3

• endocrine cell clusters within the pancreas
• produce hormones insulin and glucagon
• alpha cells create/secrete glucagon
• beta cells create/secrete insulin

Question 4

glucagon

Answer 4

• hormone
• produced by alpha cells of islets of langerhans
• stimulate liver to turn glycogen back glucose and release it to blood

Question 5

insulin

Answer 5

• hormone
• secreted by beta cells of islets of langerhans
• make target cells more permeable to glucose = enables body to use sugar+carbs

Question 6

what happens when glucose levels in blood are high?

Answer 6

1. meal is eaten = high blood glucose levels
2. beta cells in pancreas secrete insulin
3. insulin reduces blood sugar levels by :
   - signalling cell membranes to be more permeable to glucpse
   - storing glucose as glycogen in the liver and in muscle cells
   - converts glucose to fat in adipose/fat tissue

Question 7

what happens when glucose levels in blood are low?

Answer 7

1. skipped meal = low blood glucose level
2. alpha cells in pancrease secrete glucagon
3. glucagon increases blood sugar levels by:
   - signalling liver to break down glycogen to glucose
   - signalling adipose tissue to break fat into glucose