Explain how insulin controls blood glucose concentration after a meal containing a large amount of carbohydrate.
Written & reviewed by James Millett — Biology (Imperial College London), PGCE Science (University of Cambridge).
Model answer (4 marks)
Blood glucose rises after a carbohydrate meal.
The pancreas senses the rise and secretes insulin.
Insulin stimulates cells and the liver to take up more glucose from the blood.
Glucose is stored as glycogen, lowering the blood glucose concentration back to normal.
The pancreas senses the rise and secretes insulin.
Insulin stimulates cells and the liver to take up more glucose from the blood.
Glucose is stored as glycogen, lowering the blood glucose concentration back to normal.
Examiner tips
- Use the word "secretes" for insulin release. Show the sequence: rise → pancreas → insulin → uptake → glycogen storage. Mention the liver as a key organ.
- common_mistakes
- :
- Forgetting to state that the pancreas releases insulin. Using "glucose is taken up by cells" without linking to insulin. Omitting the conversion to glycogen as the storage step.
Mark scheme (4 marks)
- Blood glucose concentration rises after eating carbohydrate
- The pancreas detects the rise and releases / secretes insulin
- Insulin causes cells / the liver to absorb / take up more glucose from the blood
- Glucose is converted to glycogen for storage, lowering blood glucose back to normal
Key terms in this question
insulin · blood glucose concentration
Related
- All Eduqas GCSE Biology revision notes →
- How to answer a "Explain" question →
- Decode the mark scheme abbreviations →
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