Blood Glucose & Temperature Regulation

• High blood glucose stimulus response model


  1. Stimulus: High blood glucose

  2. Receptor: Beta cells in the pancreas release insulin

  3. Modulator: Pancreatic Beta cells

  4. Effector: Glucose is taken up by liver and turned into glycogen, muscles use glucose as energy

  5. Response: Blood glucose levels decrease
• Low blood glucose stimulus response model


  1. Stimulus: Low blood glucose

  2. Receptor: Alpha cells in the pancreas release glucagon

  3. Modulator: Pancreatic Alpha cells

  4. Effector: Liver breaks down stored glycogen into glucose and releases it

  5. Response: Blood glucose levels increase
• High core body temperature stimulus response model


  1. Stimulus: Body temperature above 37ºC

  2. Receptor: Thermoreceptors

  3. Modulator: Hypothalamus in the CNS

  4. Effector: Vasodilation, sweating, hairs flatten, finding shade

  5. Response: Core body temperature lowers
• Low core body temperature stimulus response model


  1. Stimulus: Body temperature below 37ºC

  2. Receptor: Thermoreceptors

  3. Modulator: Hypothalamus in the CNS

  4. Effector: Vasoconstriction, shivering, hairs raised, putting a jacket on

  5. Response: Core body temperature rises
• Body responses to high body temperature


  • Vasodilation - Increase blood flow to the skins surface to lose heat via radiation
  • Sweating - The water on the skin gets evaporated, taking heat with it
  • Hairs flatten - Allows for air to flow across the skin
  • Find shade, remove layers - Behavioural response
• Body responses to low body temperature


  • Vasoconstriction - Decrease blood flow to the skin, keep heat with important organs
  • Shivering - Muscle movement generates heat
  • Hairs raise - Creates an insulating layer between the external environment and the skin
  • Putting a jacket on - Behavioural response
• Factors that increase blood glucose concentration


  • Eating a meal
  • Secretion of glucagon which becomes glucose
• Factors that decrease blood glucose concentration


  • Onset of exercise/energy expenditure
  • Secretion of insulin which converts glucose to glycogen
• Insulin


  Reduces the blood glucose levels by converting it into glycogen to be stored in the liver
• Glucagon


  Increases blood glucose by converting glycogen into glucose
• Fasting blood glucose


  The measure of glucose concentrated in the blood without the intake of food
• Individuals with diabetes


  Unable to return to homeostasis after eating either because they are unable to produce insulin or they are immune to its effects
• Type 2 diabetes


  The body either does not produce enough insulin, or the body ignores it, therefore the glucose is not converted into glycogen because of the liver and muscles not responding. This type appears to be related to aging, sedentary lifestyle, genetic influence, but mainly obesity
• Why is regulating blood glucose levels important?

  The regulation of blood glucose levels prevents or delays serious health problems. It ensures normal body function.
• How do the cells in the body respond when blood glucose levels are high?


  Beta cells in the pancreas release insulin
• How do the cells in the body respond when blood glucose levels are low?


  Alpha cells in the pancreas release glucagon
• What gland and associated cells are involved in the regulation of blood glucose?

  Pancreatic beta & alpha cells