Lesson 6 — The Pancreas


Self-Check


Apply your understanding of the concepts on the pancreas and its regulation of blood glucose by answering the multiple-choice and numerical-response items that follow.


  1. Which of the following rows correctly matches the endocrine gland to the hormone it secreted and to the effect caused by the hormone?

    Row

    Endocrine Gland

    Hormone Secreted

    Target Cell/Organ

    a.

    Thyroid Gland

    Thyroxine

    Increases blood glucose

    b.

    Pancreas

    Insulin

    Increases blood glucose

    c.

    Pancreas

    Glucagon

    Increases blood glucose

    d.

    Adrenal cortex

    Epinephrine

    Increases blood glucose



  2. Which hormone is not correctly matched to the disorder or disease associated with it?

    1. Insulin and diabetes mellitus
    2. Aldosterone and diabetes insipidus
    3. Thyroxine and goitre
    4. Cortisol and depressed immune system

  3. Which of the following hormones does not affect the carbohydrate metabolism?

    1. Human growth hormone
    2. Epinephrine
    3. Insulin
    4. ADH

  4. Which of the following endocrine glands does not produce a hormone that directly affects blood glucose levels?

    1. Posterior pituitary
    2. Pancreas
    3. Adrenal glands
    4. Thyroid gland

  5. Which of the following explains one of the differences between Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes?

    1. The treatment for Type 2 diabetes involves insulin injections, but Type 1 can usually be controlled by diet.
    2. Only Type 1 can result in complications such as kidney disease, reduced circulation, or stroke.
    3. Type 1 can be a result of lifestyle, and Type 2 is thought to be caused by a virus or other agent.
    4. People with Type 2 diabetes can produce insulin, but this insulin cannot be used; Type 1 diabetes results from lack of insulin production.

  6. Which pair consists of antagonistic hormones?

    1. Thyroxine and calcitonin
    2. Epinephrine and norepinephrine
    3. Cortisol and epinephrine
    4. Insulin and glucagon


  7. Use the following diagram to answer the next three questions.


     

     

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  8. Which of the following rows correctly matches the endocrine gland labelled in the diagram to the hormone it produces?

    Row

    Label on Diagram

    Endocrine Gland

    Hormone

    a.

    E

    Adrenal Gland

    Cortisol and Thyroxine

    b.

    A

    Pituitary Gland

    Releasing Hormone and ADH

    c.

    F

    Pancreas

    Insulin and Glucagon

    d.

    C

    Thyroid

    TSH and Thyroxine


  9. Which endocrine gland shown on this diagram is directly responsible for the development of diabetes mellitus in humans?

    1. B
    2. D
    3. E
    4. F

  10. Symptoms resulting from low secretions of the hormones produced by the gland labelled F include

    1. high levels of sodium and sugar in the urine
    2. increased thirst and decreased urine production
    3. loss of weight and high levels of glucose in the urine
    4. obesity and increased risk of stroke

  11. The endocrine function of the pancreas was studied in Canada using dogs as experimental animals. The pancreatic cells with an endocrine function are
    1. islet cells
    2. C cells
    3. follicle cells
    4. interstitial cells


  12. Use the following diagram to answer the next question.


     

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  13. Hormones X and Y, respectively, are

    1. insulin and glucagon
    2. glucagon and insulin
    3. insulin and epinephrine
    4. epinephrine and insulin


  14. Use the following information to answer the next two questions.

    A Treatment for Pancreatitis

    Surgical removal of the pancreas is a procedure that doctors use to relieve the pain of patients suffering from chronic pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). Unfortunately, the surgery causes the onset of diabetes mellitus and other complications in these patients. In a recent study involving five individuals who had undergone this treatment, islet cells from the removed pancreas were infused (transplanted) back into the liver of each patient. This procedure eliminated effectively the occurrence of diabetes in these patients.


  15. Blood glucose levels are kept relatively constant by a negative feedback mechanism. The islet cells are part of this mechanism. The role of these cells is to secrete

    1. glucagon to raise blood glucose levels, and insulin to lower blood glucose levels
    2. glucagon to lower blood glucose levels, and insulin to raise blood glucose levels
    3. glucagon and insulin, both of which lower blood glucose levels
    4. glucagon and insulin, both of which raise blood glucose levels

  16. Patients who participated in this study no longer have pancreas glands. To maintain normal body functions in these patients, the infusion of islet cells must be accompanied by a daily intake of

    1. glycogen to stimulate liver function
    2. hormones to promote glycogen release from the liver
    3. digestive enzymes into the blood to maintain nutrient levels
    4. digestive enzymes to replace those produced by the pancreas



  17. Use the following information to answer the next question.

    Responses Stimulated by Hormones
    1. Release of thyroxine
    2. Growth of bones
    3. Water reabsorption by kidneys
    4. Conversion of protein and fat to glucose
    5. Conversion of glucose to glycogen
    6. Conversion of glycogen to glucose


    Numerical Response
  18. Identify the response, as numbered above, that is stimulated by each hormone given below.

    Response:
                            ______           ______           ______            ______
    Hormone:     Insulin           Cortisol         Glucagon      hGH



  19. Use the following information to answer the next question.

    Some Endocrine Glands and Hormones
    1. Adrenal Cortex
    2. Insulin
    3. Epinephrine
    4. Pancreas
    5. Glucagon
    6. Human Growth Hormone
    7. Anterior Pituitary


    Numerical Response
  20. To complete this statement, select the number of the gland or hormone from the information above that best completes each blank.

    The hormones of the _____ act antagonistically to regulate blood glucose levels. The beta cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete ____, which lowers blood glucose levels. The alpha cells secrete _____, which raises blood glucose levels. Type 1 diabetes causes hyperglycemia because the secreting cells have degenerated. Type 2 diabetes tends to develop gradually, often because the _____ receptors on the body's cells stop responding to this hormone.


Self-Check Answers

  1. c
  2. b
  3. d
  4. a
  5. d
  6. d
  7. c
  8. d
  9. c
  10. a
  11. a
  12. d
  13. NR 5 4 6 2
  14. NR 4 2 5 2