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The Endocrine Pancreas Quiz
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Which pancreatic cell type secretes glucagon?
- A Beta cell in a pancreatic islet You picked ✕
- B Alpha cell in a pancreatic islet You picked ✓
- C Delta cell in a pancreatic islet You picked ✕
- D Acinar cell of the exocrine pancreas You picked ✕
- E Pancreatic duct epithelial cell You picked ✕
Correct!
Incorrect
The answer is B: Alpha cell in a pancreatic islet
Explanation
Why B is correct
See The Pancreas. Option B is correct because alpha cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon. The pancreas has two quite different jobs: about 99 per cent of the tissue is exocrine (making digestive enzymes that are released through ducts into the duodenum), and the rest is endocrine (making hormones that are released directly into the blood). The endocrine tissue is arranged in the islets of Langerhans (small clusters of hormone-making cells scattered through the pancreas), and they are made mostly of alpha and beta cells. Glucagon acts mainly on the liver to raise blood glucose, by breaking down glycogen and making new glucose. Alpha cells therefore protect against hypoglycaemia (a low blood glucose) during fasting and between meals. The pairing is the foundation for understanding glucose control and diabetes. A memory aid: alpha cells add glucose, beta cells bring it back down.
- Cell type: alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon.
- Action: glucagon acts on the liver, breaking down glycogen and making new glucose, to raise blood glucose.
- Purpose: it protects against hypoglycaemia during fasting and between meals.
Remember that only the islet cells are endocrine, and they are outnumbered by the exocrine cells that make digestive enzymes.
Why the other options are incorrect
- A. Beta cell in a pancreatic islet: Beta cells are the other main islet cell type, but they make insulin, which lowers blood glucose. They would be the answer to a question about insulin. Your answer
- C. Delta cell in a pancreatic islet: Delta cells are a smaller group of islet cells that make somatostatin, a hormone that helps to regulate the other islet cells. They do not make glucagon. Your answer
- D. Acinar cell of the exocrine pancreas: Acinar cells make digestive enzymes, which are released through ducts into the duodenum. They belong to the exocrine part, which forms most of the pancreas, and they make no glucagon. Your answer
- E. Pancreatic duct epithelial cell: Duct cells line the channels that carry the exocrine secretions towards the duodenum. They are not hormone-secreting cells, so they do not make glucagon. Your answer
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What you will practise
More questions from this set. Start the quiz to answer them and see each explanation.
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1
After glucose metabolism raises ATP in a pancreatic beta cell, what is the first membrane event in the usual insulin secretory pathway?
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2
Which statement best describes the role of insulin in maintaining a normal plasma glucose concentration?
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