Islets of Langerhans → in pancreas increase secretion of hormone insulin when concentration of blood glucose increases above normal levels. ⇒ insulin promotes utilization of glucose by the cells.
| Amount of insulin | Effect |
|---|---|
| Normal | Decreases blood concentration by: - Making cell membranes more permeable to glucose, allowing more glucose to diffuse into liver and muscle cells - Stimulating liver and muscle cells to convert excess glucose into glycogen for storage - increasing use of glucose for respiration |
| Lack of Secretion | Increases blood glucose concentration as: - glucose cannot be stored or utilized by tissue cells (hence, Blood glucose concentration rises). Some glucose is lost in urine. This gives rise to disease called Diabetes mellitus. - Muscle cells have no reserves of glycogen, the body grows weak and continuously loses weight |
| Oversecretion | Abnormal decrease in blood glucose concentration such that: - low blood glucose concentration results in a condition called Shock |
| Blood Glucose Concentration.canvas |