Control of Blood Glucose

Anatomy to Keep in Mind

Liver: Decreasing Blood Glucose

• When blood glucose levels increase glycogenesis begins

• Glycogenesis- the liver removes excess glucose from blood and combines glucose to make glycogen (glucose storage molecule)

Liver: Increasing Blood Glucose

• As the blood glucose levels drop, liver breaks down stored glycogen

• Glycogenolysis (“glycogen splitting”) supplies body with more glucose.

Pancreas

• Pancreas has different cells for producing different chemicals – Alpha cells glucagon– Beta cells insulin

• Produces these hormones in clusters of cells the islets of Langerhans

• Then released into blood and go directly to the liver

That brings us back to…

• Glucagon causes the liver to break glycogen (glucose storage molecule) into individual glucose molecules so body can use glucose

• http://bcs.whfreeman.com/thelifewire/content/chp50/5002s.swf

• Insulin causes body cells to take up glucose from the blood and liver cells to store glucose as glycogen

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuQMpN7rM-4

Insulin & Glucagon