The creation of new glucose is GLUCONEOGENESIS

A rise in blood glucose concentration:
1) receptors pick up that there is high glucose in the blood
2) the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin directly into the blood stream.
3) insulin increases the permeability of of cell membranes to glucose , so more glucose is absorbed.
4) Insulin also activates the condensation of glucose to glycogen in glycogenesis
5) insulin also increases the rate of respiration of glucose.
6) blood glucose decreases


A decrease in blood glucose concentration:
1) alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon into the blood stream.
2) this activates the hydrolysis of stored glycogen to glucose . this is called glycogenolysis
3) blood glucose increases

Pancreas:
key organ in controlling blood glucse levels
cells are known as the islets of langerhaans, are endocrine function.
Alpha cells secrete: glucagon
beta cells secret: insulin

these hormones are secreted straight into the blood capillaries
they are antagonistic

Insulin is a hormone that decreases the level of glucose in the blood. Two effects of insulin are cells are more permeable to glucose, speeds up acquisition. it also activates enzymes stimulation the conversion of glucose to glycogen.
Its main target organs are the Pancreas, Liver, muscles.

Glucagon hormone that increase blood sugar, main effect is that it activates enzymes which are responsible for converting glycogen into glucose (glycogenolysis)

the brain only respires glucose

glycogenesis: the synthesis of glycogen from glucose under the influence of insulin

glycogenolysis: the breakdown of insoluble glycogen under the influence of glucagon to form glucose.
gluconeogenesis: the creation of glucose from non carb sources e.g. lipids/ fatty acids or protein.

test for glucose:
diabur strips, yellow= no glucose,
progressively darkgreen-blue= glucose present

Benedicts test:(less sophisticated)
not specific to glucose just for redcuing sugars
after heating for 3 mins a blue solution means no glucose.
a brick red means glucose

The kidney

The kidney
The kidneys are organs that filter waste products out of the blood and excrete then e.g. urea along with water as urine.
Urea is made by the liver. Excess amino acids can’t be stored therefore the liver breaks them down to urea.(ornithine cycle)
OSMOREGULATION: The homeostatic mechanism of the active regulation of the osmotic pressure of bodily fluids to maintain the homeostasis of the body’s level of water, minerals and salts in the blood.
NITROGENOUS EXCRETION: excretion of nitrogen in urine.

The kidney is involved with the homeostatic functions of regulating the chemical properties of the blood. (Water, solvent concentration and pH)

When the blood passes through the kidney nephrons liquid is filtered out of the blood, carrying solutes with it, including urea. Useful nutrients are selectively reabsorbed and the wasted products are removed in urine.
There are two main stages of kidney function:

1) ULTRAFILTRATION
This occurs in the barrier between the blood and the filtrate in the Bowman’s capsule. In the Bowman’s capsule there is a dense network of capillaries called the glomerulus, blood flows into the capillaries.
A glomerulus is enclosed in the sac. Fluids from blood in the glomerulus are collected in the Bowman's capsule (i.e., glomerular filtrate) and further processed along the nephron to form urine. This process is known as ultrafiltration.
A high pressure caused by the blood moving into the capillaries via the afferent wide arteriole and moving out through the narrow efferent arteriole. The high pressure forces small molecules such as water, glucose, amino acids, sodium chloride and urea through the filter, from the blood in the glomerular capsule across the basement membrane of the Bowman's capsule and into the nephron. This type of high pressure filtration is ultrafiltration.
Blood is forced against the capillary endothelium which has pores in it which allow the blood plasma to reach the basement membrane and small molecules are squeezed about but large ones like protein and blood cells stay in.

2) Selective reabsorption (proximal tubule)
Selective reabsorption takes place in the proximal convoluted tubule (PCT) of the kidney. Blood leaving the Bowman’s capsule has a low hydrostatic pressure and so flows slowly. It has a high concentration as these could not pass out before. It therefore has a low water potential and this enables it to gain water from the proximal tubule. It is the process by which certain substances that are required by the body (such as glucose, amino acids, vitamins and water) but have been filtered out of the blood during ultrafiltration are reabsorbed. As only certain substances are reabsorbed, it is known as selective reabsorption.

substances secreted into the distal convoluted tubule are: h+ ions and potassium ions.
substances actively reabsorbed from the proximal convoluted tubule are sodium ions and glucose.
the kidney tubule has adaptation such as lots of mitochondria and a brush border for atp for the active reabsorption of molecules and a large surface area for absorption.
overview: sodium ions are actively pumped out, glucose reabsorbed, amino acids reabsorbed and chloride reabsorbed, 50 % urea reabsorbed

ADH makes the collecting duct more permeable to water. So more water is taken back into the body by osmosis. more water is taken back into the blood stream and less is lost in urine. It is secreted by the posterior pituitary gland. Osmoreceptors detect changes in the hypothalamus.

Urine: composition varies due to diet and climate.

Unbalanced diet and diseases

Under nutrition

A lack of protein in the diet is called protein-calorie malnutrition. This is commonly found in the developing world in poorer countries.
Conditions caused by lack of protein:

Marasmus- malnutrition caused by a diet low in protein and energy/carbohydrates. Also caused by early weaning off breast milk. Suffers are grossly underweight, they have thin arms and legs, no body fat and muscle is wasting away.

Kwashiorkor- malnutrition caused by low protein only. usually occurs in slightly later age than marasmus. Suffers have oedema (swelling) in the feet and lower legs, pale thin hair, muscle wasting and a moon face.

Anorexia nervosa and bulimia nervosa are malnutrition due to psychological issues.

Two examples of Under-Nutrition are Anorexia nervosa and Bulimia nervosa.
These are examples of poor dieting, resulting in a lack of essential nutrients. They are eating disorders and the under-nutrition is self induced.
Anorexia nervosa usually starts in the teenage years, mainly affecting women and girls but boys can be affected.
The disease is characterised by a list of symptoms:
1. Body weight is maintained at 15% below that expected for a persons height.
2.Self induced weight loss, from forced vomiting, taking laxatives, avoiding fatty foods and excessive exercise.
3. Fear of putting on weight, obsessed with the size of their body.
4. Pursue a very low ideal weight.
5. Can cause hormonal differences and women can stop having periods.

Normally seen in the western world, from social and biological factors, peer pressure, media and stress can cause Anorexia nervosa.

6. Delayed development of puberty.
7. Feel bloated after a small meal.
8. loose interest of socializing with friends
9. They feel tired
10. Constipation
11. Feeling cold
12. Low blood pressure

Can lead to:
1.Chronic illness
2. Death
3. Osteoporosis
4. Damage to heart, kidneys, liver and brain.
5. Difficulties in concentration
6. Mental health problems

Bulimia nervosa

This is another eating disorder which involves an irresistible urge to 'binge' eat on food, followed immediately by self induced vomiting. laxatives etc are used as well to prevent weight gain.
Vomiting can lead to loss of potassium, chloride and hydrogen ions.

symptoms:
1. Dental erosion
2. Sore throat
3. Swollen salivary glands
4. Fatigue
5. Constipation
6. loss of voice
7. dry skin, brittle nails
8. Anemia
9. Infertility
10. Liver failure


people who suffer from Bulimia nervosa do not show the symptoms of extreme weight loss.
The person will be of normal or higher weight, the person is less likely to drop significant amounts of weight.
This is less to do with food but more with psychological issues.

Vitamin A
retinol is found in dairy products and fish liver oils. It is needed to keep lining tissues healthy.(epithelium). Deficiency leads to night blindness.

Vitamin C
Ascorbic acid is found in citrus fruits, green vegetables etc. it is needed for hydroxylase to work. It maintains collagen fibres in connective tissue. Deficiency is scurvy as the connective tissue weakens.

Calcium
Found in dairy products, bread and flour. calcium is absorbed through the small intestines by carrier proteins. The carrier can only be made with vitamin D. lack of vitamin D can lead to calcium deficiency. This leads to rickets, muscle spasms and osteomalacia.

Iron
found in both meat and plants. its needed for haemoglobin in red blood cells. deficiency leads to anaemia