Question

The pancreas is a human body organ that produces digestive enzymes and two very important hormones: insulin and glucagon. These two hormones work together to regulate the level of the sugar glucose in the bloodstream. If glucose levels in the bloodstream are too low, the pancreas secretes glucagon which causes the glucose level to increase. If blood glucose levels are too high, the hormone insulin will lower the glucose level. If a person has just eaten a meal containing a large amount of sugars and other carbohydrates, which statement BEST describes how the pancreas will respond? A) The amount of insulin produced by the pancreas will increase to reduce the amount of glucose in the bloodstream. B) The amount of insulin produced by the pancreas will decrease to allow the glucose levels in the blood to decrease. C) The amount of glucagon produced by the pancreas will decrease so that the amount of glucose in the bloodstream may increase. D) The amount of glucagon produced by the pancreas will increase to allow the sugars in the digestive tract to enter the bloodstream.

Answer 1

The correct answer is "the amount of insulin produced by the pancreas will increase to reduce the amount of glucose in the bloodstream".

When glucose enters the body; high glucose levels will stimulate the pancreatic cells to secrete insulin. Insulin functions to lower blood glucose levels by increasing the glucose uptake of muscles and adipose tissue. 

Glucagon on the other hand increases blood glucose levels in the event of low blood glucose by increasing the rate of glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis.