Control of blood glucose concentration by pancreas and insulin
Regulating blood glucose
A simple sugar used by cells for respiration. is needed by cells for The chemical change that takes place inside living cells, which uses glucose and oxygen to release the energy that organisms need to live. Carbon dioxide is a by-product of respiration.. It is important that the concentration of glucose in the blood is maintained at a constant level and controlled carefully. A hormone that regulates the level of sugar in the blood and can be produced by genetically modified bacteria. is a hormone produced by the Large gland located in the abdomen near the stomach which produces digestive enzymes and the hormone insulin. which regulates glucose concentrations in the blood.
If the blood glucose concentration is too high, the pancreas produces the hormone insulin, this causes glucose to move from the blood into the cells. In liver and muscle cells excess glucose is converted to Animals store glucose as glycogen in their liver and muscle tissues. for storage, and will be used at a later date.
Action of insulin
| Low glucose | High glucose | |
| Effect on pancreas | Insulin not secreted into the blood | Insulin secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | Does not convert glucose into glycogen | Converts glucose into glycogen |
| Effect on blood glucose level | Increases | Decreases |
| Effect on pancreas | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Insulin not secreted into the blood |
| High glucose | Insulin secreted into the blood |
| Effect on liver | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Does not convert glucose into glycogen |
| High glucose | Converts glucose into glycogen |
| Effect on blood glucose level | |
|---|---|
| Low glucose | Increases |
| High glucose | Decreases |
The diagram illustrates how insulin works in the body:
Learn more about blood glucose with Dr Alex Lathbridge.
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Dr Alex Lathbridge examines what happens if blood glucose levels get too high or too low.