Pancreatic Physiology

Question 1

Role of insulin

Answer 1

Insulin regulates cellular absorbtion and utilisation of glucose

Question 2

What do pancreatic ɑ, β and delta cells produce

Answer 2

Ɑ - glucagon
Β - insulin
Delta - somatostatin

Question 3

What does somatostatin do in the GI tract as well as what it does to insulin

Answer 3

Inhibits insulin release

Causes slowing of the peristaltic movement of the GI tract
↓ absorption
↓ secretion

PROTECTS AGAINST RAPID INCREASE IN PLASMA NUTRIENT LEVELS

Question 4

What causes the regulation of insulin

Answer 4

Elevation of the plasma glucose concentration
Elevation of the plasma amino acid concentration
Vagus nerve innervation due to food ingestion

Somatostatin inhibits glucose release

Question 5

Effect of insulin on carbohydrate metabolism

Answer 5

↑ uptake of glucose into skeletal muscle adipose tissue and hepatocytes
(When glucose goes into hepatocytes it doesn’t need facilitated diffusion, the limiting factor is the concentration gradient, this is overcome by insulin phosphorylation of intracellular glucose)

↑ glycogen production in cells

Stimulates use of glucose as energy

Question 6

Effect of insulin on fat metabolism triglycerides into lipid stores

Answer 6

Prevention of glyconeogenesis
Fatty acid synthesis to glucose
Promoting carbohydrate metabolism instead of fat

Question 7

Effect of insulin of protein metabolism ↑ protein

Answer 7

↑ protein synthesis
↑ amino acid uptake, for protein synthesis
Prevention of gluconeogenesis