Homeostasis Control of blood glucose concentration
The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or Monitored and controlled by the pancreas
organism to maintain optimum conditions for If the pancreas detects a rise in blood glucose levels
function in response to internal and external changes. i.e. after eating, the pancreas releases the hormone
In humans it includes the control of: insulin. This makes liver and muscle cells take in more
Blood glucose concentration glucose to store as glycogen which causes blood
Body temperature glucose levels to fall to normal levels (90mg/litre)
Water levels If the pancreas detects a fall in blood glucose levels,
These automatic control systems may involve the pancreas releases the hormone glucagon which
nervous responses or chemical responses and all makes liver cells break down glycogen to glucose and
control systems include: release it into the blood which causes blood glucose
levels the rise to normal levels
Receptors
Coordination centres Type 1 diabetes
Effectors A disorder in which the pancreas fails to produce
sufficient insulin which causes the patient to have
Human endocrine system
uncontrollably high blood glucose levels
Composed of glands which secrete chemicals called
Symptoms include:
hormones directly into the bloodstream. The blood
then carries the hormone to a target organ where it Losing weight
produces an effect. Compared to the nervous system Lacking energy
the effects are slower but act for longer Feeling tired
The pituitary gland There is no cure but it can be treated using insulin
injections and managed by careful attention to the
Located in the brain it secretes several hormones into
amount of sugar in the diet. Insulin can’t be taken
the blood in response to body conditions which in
orally because it’s a protein and would be denatured
turn act on other glands to stimulate other hormones
by the hydrochloric acid and digested by pepsin in the
to be released and bring about effects
stomach
Type 2 diabetes
Caused by the body cells no longer responding to
insulin but obesity is also a risk factor
It can be treated by making lifestyle changes such as
exercising more and eating a balanced diet with
controlled levels of carbohydrates
Chronic kidney disease
Kidney failure means a person’s blood is not adequately
filtered so urea and other waste products needs to be
Kidney transplants can be received from living or removed by either dialysis or kidney transplant
deceased donors but they must be tissue matched to
reduce rejection
Advantages Disadvantages
Dialysis isn’t needed Organs aren’t readily
available
Live almost a completely Immunosuppressant
normal life – no diet drugs and regular
check-ups needed
Filters blood constantly –
don’t need to go to hospital
The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or Monitored and controlled by the pancreas
organism to maintain optimum conditions for If the pancreas detects a rise in blood glucose levels
function in response to internal and external changes. i.e. after eating, the pancreas releases the hormone
In humans it includes the control of: insulin. This makes liver and muscle cells take in more
Blood glucose concentration glucose to store as glycogen which causes blood
Body temperature glucose levels to fall to normal levels (90mg/litre)
Water levels If the pancreas detects a fall in blood glucose levels,
These automatic control systems may involve the pancreas releases the hormone glucagon which
nervous responses or chemical responses and all makes liver cells break down glycogen to glucose and
control systems include: release it into the blood which causes blood glucose
levels the rise to normal levels
Receptors
Coordination centres Type 1 diabetes
Effectors A disorder in which the pancreas fails to produce
sufficient insulin which causes the patient to have
Human endocrine system
uncontrollably high blood glucose levels
Composed of glands which secrete chemicals called
Symptoms include:
hormones directly into the bloodstream. The blood
then carries the hormone to a target organ where it Losing weight
produces an effect. Compared to the nervous system Lacking energy
the effects are slower but act for longer Feeling tired
The pituitary gland There is no cure but it can be treated using insulin
injections and managed by careful attention to the
Located in the brain it secretes several hormones into
amount of sugar in the diet. Insulin can’t be taken
the blood in response to body conditions which in
orally because it’s a protein and would be denatured
turn act on other glands to stimulate other hormones
by the hydrochloric acid and digested by pepsin in the
to be released and bring about effects
stomach
Type 2 diabetes
Caused by the body cells no longer responding to
insulin but obesity is also a risk factor
It can be treated by making lifestyle changes such as
exercising more and eating a balanced diet with
controlled levels of carbohydrates
Chronic kidney disease
Kidney failure means a person’s blood is not adequately
filtered so urea and other waste products needs to be
Kidney transplants can be received from living or removed by either dialysis or kidney transplant
deceased donors but they must be tissue matched to
reduce rejection
Advantages Disadvantages
Dialysis isn’t needed Organs aren’t readily
available
Live almost a completely Immunosuppressant
normal life – no diet drugs and regular
check-ups needed
Filters blood constantly –
don’t need to go to hospital
