Control of Blood Glucose Concentration - Increasing and Decreasing Blood Glucose Levels (GCSE Biology)
Increasing and Decreasing Blood Glucose Levels
Glucagon and Insulin
- Glucagon (made by alpha cells) – Glucagon converts glycogen into glucose. This works to increase the amount of glucose in the blood when blood glucose levels get too low. This is important in times such as starvation, and sometimes during exercise when glucose is in short supply.
- Insulin (made by beta cells) – Insulin acts on the liver in order to reduce the blood glucose levels. It does this by converting more glucose into glycogen. This occurs in many ways, but the most important method involves increasing the amount of glucose that can be taken in by the cells of the body. This means there is less glucose circulating in the blood and so reduces blood sugar levels.
Negative Feedback of Glucagon and Insulin
We covered the basic principles of negative feedback earlier. Glucagon and insulin work together to maintain the blood sugar level via negative feedback.
When the blood sugar level decreases below the set point, glucagon is released, to bring the blood sugar level back to where it should be.
When the blood sugar level increases too much above the set point, insulin is released to reduce it. Once the set point has been maintained once more, the amount of insulin released is reduced.
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