Which of the following organs produces hormones that regulate glucose levels within the body?
The kidney
The intestine
The pancreas
The stomach
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: The pancreas
The pancreas is the primary organ responsible for producing hormones that regulate glucose levels in the body. It performs both exocrine and endocrine functions. In its endocrine role, the pancreas contains clusters of cells called the Islets of Langerhans, which include several types of hormone-secreting cells. The two most important for glucose regulation are the beta cells and the alpha cells.
Beta cells produce insulin. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into the body’s cells, especially muscle and fat cells, and by promoting the storage of glucose in the form of glycogen in the liver. When blood sugar levels rise after eating, insulin is released into the bloodstream to bring the levels back down to normal.
Alpha cells produce glucagon. Glucagon has the opposite effect of insulin. It raises blood glucose levels by stimulating the liver to break down glycogen into glucose and release it into the bloodstream. This occurs mainly when the body is fasting or in between meals, to ensure a constant supply of glucose for energy.
The pancreas carefully balances the secretion of insulin and glucagon based on the body’s needs, keeping blood sugar levels within a narrow range. This balance is essential for normal body function. Disruption in this regulatory system can lead to conditions such as diabetes mellitus. In type 1 diabetes, the pancreas fails to produce sufficient insulin, while in type 2 diabetes, the body becomes resistant to insulin’s effects.
In contrast, the kidney, intestine, and stomach have other functions in digestion and metabolism but do not play the central role in hormone production for glucose regulation. Therefore, the pancreas is the correct and most relevant organ for this purpose.