Regulation of Blood Glucose

First principles:

·         Blood glucose regulation involves Negative Feedback. This is where a parameter increases or decreases; a receptor detects the change and brings about a change that counters this change.  

·         If the parameter increases, the system will detect this and bring about a change that opposes it: decreases it or in other words, brings it back down. The opposite can be said too.

·         The pancreas contains both endocrine and exocrine functions:

·         Exocrine Function: cells that often appear in groups, arranged into a circle with a tubule in the centre secrete enzymes such as: lipase, protease, and amylase. They secrete these into the tubule which in turn, connects to the Pancreatic Duct.

·         Endocrine Function: Alpha and Beta cells within the islets of Langerhans secrete the hormones: Insulin and Glucagon respectively.

Blood glucose levels too high:

·         Beta cells within the Islets of Langerhans detect the rise in blood glucose levels

·         Beta cells have a…