Module 2 Lesson 6 - 7

Lesson Summary

Communication of information to and from a command centre in a battle is essential for success. The pancreas is similar to a command centre that monitors blood glucose. High levels of glucose stimulate the beta cells in the islets of the pancreas to secrete insulin, which increases the passage of glucose into body cells and promotes the conversion of glucose to glycogen in liver and muscle cells and to fat in the adipose cells. Low glucose levels stimulate the pancreatic alpha cells in the islets to secrete glucagon, which promotes the breakdown of glycogen to glucose and the release of this glucose into the bloodstream.