Regulating Blood Glucose Concentration Flashcards

All 6 cards in this deck

Which organ monitors blood glucose concentration, and which two hormones does it release?

The pancreas; it releases insulin and glucagon.

What are the steps by which insulin lowers blood glucose concentration?

e.g. after a carbohydrate meal

1. The pancreas detects high blood glucose and releases insulin.
2. Insulin makes liver and muscle cells take up glucose from the blood.
3. The glucose is converted to glycogen for storage, so blood glucose falls to normal.

What are the steps by which glucagon raises blood glucose concentration?

e.g. several hours after eating

1. The pancreas detects low blood glucose and releases glucagon.
2. Glucagon makes the liver convert stored glycogen back into glucose.
3. The glucose is released into the blood, so blood glucose rises to normal.

What is glycogen and where is it stored?

The storage carbohydrate made from glucose; it is stored in the liver and muscles.

True or false? Glucagon and glycogen are two names for the same substance.

False. Glucagon is a hormone from the pancreas; glycogen is the storage carbohydrate in the liver and muscles.

What happens to blood glucose concentration during exercise, and why?

It falls, because muscle cells take up and respire more glucose to release energy.