Describe how the hormone insulin returns blood glucose levels to normal after a meal high in carbohydrates. Include the role of the pancreas and liver in your answer.

AQA GCSE Biology (8461) — 4.5.3 Hormonal coordination in humans · Describe · 4 marks · View as Markdown

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

After eating a meal high in carbohydrates, blood glucose levels rise above the normal level.

Model answer (4 marks)

The pancreas senses the rise in blood glucose and secretes insulin into the bloodstream.
Insulin signals the liver and other body cells to take up glucose from the blood.
In the liver, glucose is converted to glycogen and stored.
Blood glucose levels fall back to the normal range, completing the negative feedback loop.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact sequence: pancreas → insulin → liver/body cells → glycogen storage → normal glucose level.
  • Show the negative feedback idea: rise → insulin → uptake → fall.
  • Include the pancreas and liver explicitly as required.

Common mistakes

  • Omitting the pancreas or liver from the answer.
  • Confusing insulin with glucagon or describing only glycogen breakdown instead of storage.

Mark scheme (4 marks)

  1. The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose levels and releases (secretes) insulin into the bloodstream.
  2. Insulin causes the liver (and body cells) to take up glucose from the blood.
  3. Glucose is converted to glycogen (and stored in the liver).
  4. Blood glucose levels return to (the normal/optimum level), completing the negative feedback cycle.

Key terms in this question

insulin · pancreas

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