Control of Blood Glucose Concentration

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inaaya

Cards (19)

What hormones control blood glucose concentration? 
Insulin and glucagon
What does blood glucose concentration refer to? 
The amount of sugar in the bloodstream
Why do we need a decent amount of sugar in our blood?
To provide a constant supply of glucose for respiration
What happens if blood glucose concentration gets too high? 
It can start to damage our tissues
What occurs when a person eats a large meal high in carbohydrates?
Carbohydrates are broken down into glucose, increasing blood glucose concentration
How does blood glucose concentration change after eating carbohydrates? 
It spikes as glucose is absorbed into the blood
What organ detects the rise in blood glucose levels after a meal?
The pancreas
What hormone does the pancreas release in response to high blood glucose levels? 
Insulin
What is the role of insulin in blood glucose regulation? 
It tells cells to take in glucose from the blood
Which cells are most important for taking up glucose in response to insulin? 
Liver and muscle cells
What is glycogen? 
A long-term storage form of glucose
What happens to blood glucose concentration after insulin is released? 
It decreases as glucose is removed from the blood
What hormone is released when blood glucose levels drop too low? 
Glucagon
How does glucagon function in blood glucose regulation? 
It increases blood glucose levels
How does glucagon affect liver cells? 
It prompts them to break down glycogen into glucose
What is the relationship between insulin and glucagon in blood glucose regulation? 
They create a negative feedback loop
What happens to blood glucose concentration during the negative feedback loop? 
It fluctuates around the normal level
What is the effect of skipping breakfast on blood glucose levels? 
It can cause blood glucose levels to drop too low
Why does blood glucose concentration constantly change rather than being a flat line?
Because insulin and glucagon are continuously released