Search results
Results From The WOW.Com Content Network
n/a Ensembl n/a n/a UniProt n a n/a RefSeq (mRNA) n/a n/a RefSeq (protein) n/a n/a Location (UCSC) n/a n/a PubMed search n/a n/a Wikidata View/Edit Human Glucagon is a peptide hormone, produced by alpha cells of the pancreas. It raises the concentration of glucose and fatty acids in the bloodstream and is considered to be the main catabolic hormone of the body. It is also used as a medication ...
Alpha cells are endocrine cells, meaning they secrete a hormone, in this case glucagon. Alpha cells store this glucagon in secretory vesicles that typically have an electron dense core and a grayish outer edge. [1] It is believed that alpha cells make up approximately 20% of endocrine cells within the pancreas. [1]
Insulin, which lowers blood sugar, and glucagon, which raises it, are the most well known of the hormones involved, but more recent discoveries of other glucoregulatory hormones have expanded the understanding of this process. The gland called pancreas secretes two hormones and they are primarily responsible to regulate glucose levels in blood. [1]
Heterocrine glands (or composite glands) are the glands which function as both exocrine gland and endocrine gland. [1] These glands exhibit a unique and diverse secretory function encompassing the release of proteins and non-proteinaceous compounds, endocrine and exocrine secretions into both the bloodstream and ducts respectively.
The alpha cells of the pancreas secrete hormones to maintain homeostatic blood sugar. Insulin is produced and excreted to lower blood sugar to normal levels. Glucagon, another hormone produced by alpha cells, is secreted in response to low blood sugar levels; glucagon stimulates glycogen stores in the liver to release sugar into the bloodstream ...
Endocrine glands are ductless glands of the endocrine system that secrete their products, hormones, directly into the blood. The major glands of the endocrine system include the pineal gland , pituitary gland , pancreas , ovaries , testicles , thyroid gland , parathyroid gland , hypothalamus and adrenal glands .
The pituitary gland (or hypophysis) is an endocrine gland about the size of a pea and weighing 0.5 grams (0.018 oz) in humans. It is a protrusion off the bottom of the hypothalamus at the base of the brain, and rests in a small, bony cavity (sella turcica) covered by a dural fold (diaphragma sellae).
This is why glucagon has been known for decades as a counter-regulatory hormone. [12] When blood glucose levels are low, the pancreas secretes glucagon, which in turn causes the liver to convert stored glycogen polymers into glucose monomers, which is then released into the blood. This process is called glycogenolysis.