Pancreas and blood sugar control — practice questions

Question 1 · difficulty L1 · recall

The pancreatic hormone that raises blood glucose:

• A. insulin
• B. glucagon
• C. calcitonin
• D. prolactin

Question 2 · difficulty L1 · recall

Which pancreatic cells secrete insulin?

• A. Beta cells of the islets
• B. Alpha cells of the islets
• C. Acinar cells only
• D. Adrenal medullary cells

Question 3 · difficulty L2 · understanding

Why can't insulin be given orally to diabetic patients?

• A. Because of structural variation
• B. Its bioavailability will be increased
• C. Human body will elicit strong immune response
• D. It will be digested in Gastro-Intestinal (GI) tract

Question 4 · difficulty L2 · understanding

The pancreatic hormone that lowers blood glucose:

• A. glucagon
• B. cortisol
• C. insulin
• D. adrenaline

Question 5 · difficulty L2 · understanding

What is the overall effect of insulin on blood glucose concentration?

• A. It raises blood glucose
• B. It lowers blood glucose
• C. It has no effect on carbohydrate metabolism
• D. It converts glucose into glucagon

Question 6 · difficulty L3 · understanding

Select incorrect statement, regarding chemical structure of insulin.

• A. Mature insulin molecule consists of three polypeptide chains-A, B and C.
• B. Insulin is synthesized as prohormone which contains extra stretch of C-peptide.
• C. C-peptide is not present in mature insulin molecule.
• D. Polypeptide chains A and B are linked by disulphide bridges.

Question 7 · difficulty L3 · application

Blood glucose falls during a period without food. Which pancreatic response helps restore it?

• A. Complete suppression of alpha cells
• B. Increased insulin secretion
• C. Increased glucagon secretion
• D. Increased calcitonin secretion

Question 8 · difficulty L4 · analysis

After a carbohydrate-rich meal, blood glucose rises. Which hormonal pattern is most appropriate?

• A. Calcitonin becomes the main glucose regulator
• B. Glucagon rises sharply while insulin falls
• C. Both hormones disappear from blood
• D. Insulin rises while glucagon action is relatively reduced

Question 9 · difficulty L5 · analysis

A person produces very little insulin but normal amounts of glucagon. Which disturbance is most directly expected?

• A. Persistent elevation of blood glucose
• B. Persistent severe lowering of blood glucose
• C. Failure of thyroid hormone synthesis
• D. Loss of blood calcium regulation