Explain how the body uses negative feedback to control blood glucose concentration after a meal containing a large amount of carbohydrate. Include in your answer the names of the organ and hormone involved, and describe what happens when blood glucose concentration returns to its optimum level.

Eduqas A-Level Biology — 4.1 Reproductive biology · Explain · 5 marks · View as Markdown

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

After eating a large meal containing pasta and bread, a person's blood glucose concentration rises well above the normal level.

Model answer (5 marks)

The pancreas senses the rise in blood glucose.
The pancreas secretes insulin into the bloodstream.
Insulin stimulates cells to take up glucose and the liver to store glucose as glycogen.
Blood glucose concentration falls back to the normal level.
The pancreas then stops secreting insulin – a negative‑feedback response.

Examiner tips

  • Use the exact terms: pancreas, insulin, negative feedback. Show the sequence: detection → secretion → action → return to optimum → stop secretion.
  • Include the organ and hormone explicitly in the first two points.

Common mistakes

  • Confusing glucagon for insulin. Omitting the pancreas as the detecting organ. Failing to mention the return to normal level or the stop in insulin release.

Mark scheme (5 marks)

  1. The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose concentration
  2. The pancreas releases/secretes insulin into the blood
  3. Insulin causes cells to take up more glucose from the blood / the liver converts glucose into glycogen for storage
  4. Blood glucose concentration falls back to its optimum / normal level
  5. The pancreas stops releasing insulin / less insulin is secreted — this is the negative feedback response

Key terms in this question

negative feedback · blood glucose concentration

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