How does the body respond following a meal to ensure a relatively constant blood sugar level?

After a meal blood sugar levels will rise. In the Islets of Langerhans beta cells detect hyperglycaemia and secrete insulin, while alpha cells stop releasing glucagon.
The insulin moves in the blood stream to the liver where it binds to receptors on a hepatocyte. The binding of the insulin to a receptor causes a Glut-4 vesicle to move to and fuse with the cell surface membrane by exocytosis. This increases the permeability of glucose into the cell. Glucose is then removed inside the cell by either glycolysis to produce ATP or conversion to Glycogen in glycogenisis.

CJ

Related Biology A Level answers

All answers ▸

How does the structure of a nucleotide contribute to the structure of DNA, and its function as a carrier of genetic information?


What is the role of the synapse in neuronal transmission, and why is it important?


Describe the structure and function of plasma membranes.


Explain how capillaries are adapted to their function of exchanging substances, giving 3 examples.