A student cuts their finger. The body responds to maintain a stable internal environment. Explain how the body responds to a change in blood glucose concentration after the student eats a sugary snack to recover from the shock.

Pearson Edexcel A-Level Biology A (9BI0) — Topic 6 Response to Change · Explain · 5 marks · View as Markdown

Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).

After cutting their finger, a student feels faint and eats a sugary snack. Their blood glucose concentration rises above the normal level.

Model answer (5 marks)

The rise in blood glucose is detected by the pancreas.
The pancreas releases more insulin.
Insulin causes the liver (and muscle cells) to convert glucose into glycogen.
Blood glucose concentration falls back to the normal level.
This process is an example of negative feedback, where a change is detected and a response is triggered to reverse/counteract that change.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact terminology: pancreas, insulin, glycogen, negative feedback.
  • Show the sequence: detection → hormone release → action → result.
  • Keep the answer concise – one point per sentence.
  • Mention that the process restores homeostasis.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing glucagon with insulin.
  • Omitting the pancreas as the sensor.
  • Failing to state that the process is negative feedback.

Mark scheme (5 marks)

  1. The rise in blood glucose is detected (by the pancreas)
  2. The pancreas releases (more) insulin
  3. Insulin causes the liver (and muscle cells) to convert glucose into glycogen
  4. Blood glucose concentration falls back to the normal level
  5. This process is an example of negative feedback, where a change is detected and a response is triggered to reverse/counteract that change

Key terms in this question

blood glucose concentration

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