Year 10 - Science
Insulin and the control of blood sugar level
Coordination and control: hormones and the human endocrine system
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This pupil-friendly study guide includes a unit summary, clear notes, common mistakes, and quick questions with answers.
Unit Summary
This unit explores hormonal control by the endocrine system, including blood sugar regulation by insulin and glucagon, and the roles of thyroxine and adrenaline. It covers the importance of maintaining a stable internal environment and compares types 1 and 2 diabetes and their treatments.
Lesson Summary
You will learn to describe the role of the hormone insulin in controlling blood sugar level.
Key Notes
- If conditions in the body change too much this can be dangerous to our health (e.g. enzymes).
- Homeostasis is the regulation of internal conditions for optimum enzyme activity.
- Glucose travels in the blood plasma and is delivered to cells for aerobic respiration.
- The hormone insulin helps to keep human blood sugar level constant.
- The pancreas secretes insulin when blood sugar level is too high; it causes liver cells to convert glucose to glycogen.
Vocabulary To Learn
- homeostasis: homeostasis is the regulation of the internal conditions to maintain optimum conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions
- respiration: a chemical reaction in living organisms that releases energy from glucose
- insulin: a hormone secreted by the pancreas when blood glucose is too high, lowering blood glucose levels
- glucose: a sugar that travels in the blood and is supplied to cells for respiration
- glycogen: a stored form of glucose found in liver and muscle cells
Common Mistakes To Avoid
- Not linking the idea that glucose concentration is important for cellular respiration, even during times of rest.
3 Quick Questions (With Answers)
1. Explain the scientific idea in this lesson using two key points.
If conditions in the body change too much this can be dangerous to our health (e.g. enzymes). Homeostasis is the regulation of internal conditions for optimum enzyme activity.
2. Define this scientific word and use it in context. 'homeostasis'
homeostasis is the regulation of the internal conditions to maintain optimum conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions. Include the word in a full scientific explanation, not as a single label.
3. Correct this common scientific misunderstanding.
Mistake: Not linking the idea that glucose concentration is important for cellular respiration, even during times of rest. Correction: There are a selection of slides in LC2 that specifically link glucose and respiration and discuss the idea of respiration occurring during rest.
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