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