BRAINCAKEEndocrine Glands
Endocrine glands are made of groups of cells specialised to secrete chemicals called hormones directly into the blood.
The pancreas produces insulin and glucagon to regulate blood sugar concentrations.
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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.
- ADH
- A hormone released by the posterior pituitary that increases the permeability of the collecting duct to water by inserting aquaporins, so more water is reabsorbed.
More in Hormonal Communication
- Hormones
- The Adrenal Glands
- Adrenal Cortex
- Adrenal Medulla
- Pancreas
- Blood glucose concentration
- Insulin
- Glucagon
All 11 lessons in Hormonal Communication · All OCR A-level Biology topics