# A student eats a large meal containing a lot of sugar. Explain how the body detects the change in blood glucose concentration and responds to return it to the normal set point.

> Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0) — 4.6 Homeostasis · Explain · 5 marks

> After eating, the concentration of glucose in the blood rises above the normal set point. The body must detect this change and respond to restore the normal blood glucose concentration.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose concentration
2. The pancreas releases / secretes insulin
3. Insulin causes the liver (or muscle cells) to convert glucose to glycogen
4. Blood glucose concentration falls back to / towards the normal set point
5. This is an example of negative feedback — the response opposes / reverses the original change

## Key terms

- [blood glucose concentration](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/blood-glucose-concentration)
- [set point](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/glossary/set-point)

## Related

- [Revision notes for Edexcel A-Level Biology A: Salters-Nuffield (9BN0)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/learn)
- [How to answer "Explain" questions](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/tools/command-word-cheatsheet)
- [Practice this with AI marking (free)](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/start)

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Source: [GradeNine](https://www.gradenine.co.uk/q/a-student-eats-a-large-meal-00d71cb4) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.