Homeostasis & Insulin (Cambridge (CIE) IGCSE Biology): Revision Note
Exam code: 0610 & 0970
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Role of insulin in homeostasis
Homeostasis is defined as:
the maintenance of a constant internal environment
Homeostasis ensures that internal conditions within the body (such as temperature, blood pressure, water concentration, glucose concentration etc) are kept within set limits in order to ensure that reactions in body cells can function
The role of insulin
Insulin is secreted into the blood at times when blood glucose levels are high
This is (most often) directly after a meal
The kidneys can only cope with a certain level of glucose in the blood
If the level gets too high, glucose gets excreted and is lost in the urine
This is like running a car with a hole in the petrol tank; valuable fuel is being wasted
To avoid this, insulin temporarily converts excess glucose into glycogen in the liver and muscles
Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration
The glycogen is converted back to glucose several hours later when blood glucose levels have dipped due to respiration in all tissues
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