# Explain how the hormone insulin helps to restore blood glucose concentration back to its optimum level after a meal high in carbohydrates. In your answer, refer to the role of the pancreas and the liver.

> Eduqas A-Level Biology — 4.2 Inheritance · Explain · 5 marks

> After eating a large meal containing bread, pasta and sugary drinks, the blood glucose concentration of a person rises well above the optimum level.

## Mark scheme (5 marks)

1. The pancreas detects the rise in blood glucose concentration and releases / secretes insulin (into the blood).
2. Insulin travels in the blood(stream) to target organs / cells.
3. Insulin increases the uptake of glucose into cells (from the blood).
4. Insulin causes the liver to convert glucose into glycogen (for storage).
5. This is an example of negative feedback — the corrective mechanism returns blood glucose concentration back to the optimum / normal level.

## Key terms

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

## Related

- [Revision notes for Eduqas A-Level Biology](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/explain-how-the-hormone-insulin-helps-0d1ff169) · Published by Druglandscape Ltd.