U14: Hormones 2

1. Insulin is a hormone.
a) Define the term hormone.
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b) The figure below shows the glucose concentration in the blood before and after a meal containing carbohydrates is
eaten.

Use the information in the Figure above to explain how the concentration of glucose changes after a meal is

eaten.

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A person is suffering from type 1 diabetes is unable to make insulin. This person normally receives an
injection of insulin before a meal. Predict the shape in graph in the Figure above if this person did not
receive an insulin injection and briefly explain for your choice of answer.

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2. The stomach releases gastric juice when food is eaten. The action is controlled in three ways:
A – nerve impulses are sent to the stomach when food is tasted in the mouth.
B – the stomach stretches when it fills with food.
C – a hormone is produced when food enters the stomach.

The figure below shows the volume of gastric juice released by each of these three ways after a meal is eaten.
 a) Describe and explain how the figure above shows differences in the action of nervous control and hormonal
control.
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b) The release of gastric juice as a result of tasting food in the mouth is a reflex action. This reflex action is similar to
that of the pupil of the eye in response to bright light. Use the terms motor neurone, relay neurone and sensory
neurone to describe the reflex action occurring in the stomach as a result of tasting food in the mouth.
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c) Gastric juice contains the protease, pepsin.

State what pepsin is and describe its function.
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3. Figure below shows how glucose and insulin concentration in the blood change after a meal.

a) Use the information from Fig. 1.1 to help you describe and explain the production and function of insulin in the
body. [6]
b) Explain how the concentration of glucose in the blood is prevented from falling too low. [4]

4. A person touches a hot object and immediately pulls away his hand. Fig. 2.1 shows this response.

a) Name parts A, B, C and D and explain how these four structures enable this response. [6]
b) A hormonal response would not be as effective as a nervous response in preventing injury from the hot object.
Use your knowledge of hormonal and nervous responses to suggest why. [4]