BRAINCAKECarbohydrate Metabolism in the Liver
Hepatocytes are target cells for insulin and glucagon, both hormones responsible for the regulation of blood glucose concentration. When the blood glucose level rises hepatocytes convert glucose to glycogen. When blood glucose levels fall, the hormone glucagon stimulates the hepatocytes to convert glycogen back to glucose.
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Key terms in this lesson
- Hormone
- A chemical messenger, secreted directly into the blood by an endocrine gland, that travels to target cells and alters their activity.
- Insulin
- A hormone secreted by beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to high blood glucose concentration that increases the uptake of glucose by cells.
- Glucagon
- A hormone secreted by alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans in response to low blood glucose concentration that raises blood glucose concentration.
- Hepatocyte
- A liver cell, responsible for most of the liver's metabolic functions.
More in Homeostasis
- Warming Up
- Excretion
- The Liver
- Structure of the Liver
- Transamination and Deamination
- Detoxification
- Production of Bile Salts, Bile Pigments and Cholesterol
- The Kidneys
All 33 lessons in Homeostasis · All OCR A-level Biology topics