The ________ stores excess glucose and releases it into the blood when needed.
Pancreas
Stomach
Liver
Spleen
small intestine
The Correct Answer is C
A. Pancreas: This gland regulates blood glucose levels by secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon from the islets of Langerhans. While it monitors glucose concentrations, it does not serve as a primary storage depot for glycogen. It facilitates glucose uptake in other tissues rather than sequestering it.
B. Stomach: The primary functions of this organ are mechanical churning and initial chemical proteolysis of the ingested bolus. It does not possess the metabolic pathways for glycogenesis or glycogenolysis. It serves as a temporary reservoir for food but not for systemic energy substrates.
C. Liver: Hepatocytes convert surplus blood glucose into glycogen through the process of glycogenesis for long-term storage. When blood sugar levels decline, the liver performs glycogenolysis to release glucose back into the systemic circulation. It acts as the central metabolic hub for glucose homeostasis.
D. Spleen: This lymphatic organ is primarily involved in filtering blood, recycling iron from senescent erythrocytes, and mounting immune responses. It serves as a reservoir for platelets and white blood cells rather than carbohydrates. It plays no significant role in the regulation of blood glucose levels.
E. small intestine: This is the principal site for the absorption of monosaccharides into the portal venous system following digestion. While it transports glucose across its epithelial lining, it does not store significant quantities of glycogen for systemic use. It functions as a gateway rather than a storage organ.
Nursing Test Bank
Naxlex Comprehensive Predictor Exams
Related Questions
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. adrenal medulla, epinephrine: The adrenal medulla secretes catecholamines like epinephrine in response to acute sympathetic stimulation. These hormones primarily influence cardiovascular and metabolic activity, such as increasing heart rate and glycogenolysis. They do not have a direct mineralocorticoid effect on renal sodium or water retention.
B. pancreas; cortisol: Cortisol is a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal cortex, not the pancreas, in response to systemic stress. While it has minor mineralocorticoid activity at very high levels, its primary role involves metabolic regulation and immune suppression. The pancreas focuses on glucose homeostasis through insulin and glucagon.
C. kidneys; corticosterone: The kidneys secrete renin and erythropoietin but do not synthesize corticosterone. Corticosterone is a corticosteroid produced in the adrenal glands of many species. While the kidney is the target for mineralocorticoids, it does not produce them as a local or systemic secretion.
D. adrenal cortex aldosterone: The zona glomerulosa of the adrenal cortex secretes aldosterone, a potent mineralocorticoid. This hormone acts on the distal tubules of the kidney to stimulate the reabsorption of sodium ions, which leads to osmotic water retention. It is a critical component of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system.
E. thyroid; calcitonin: Calcitonin is secreted by the parafollicular cells of the thyroid gland to lower blood calcium levels. It inhibits osteoclast activity and promotes calcium excretion by the kidneys. It has no significant effect on the renal handling of sodium or the retention of total body water.
Correct Answer is D
Explanation
A. Pulmonary veins and vena cavae: The venae cavae return deoxygenated blood from the systemic circulation to the right atrium. However, the pulmonary veins carry oxygenated blood from the lungs back to the left atrium. This choice incorrectly groups a vessel carrying oxygen-rich blood with one carrying oxygen-poor blood.
B. Aorta and pulmonary veins: Both the aorta and the pulmonary veins are primary conduits for oxygenated blood. The pulmonary veins deliver re-oxygenated blood to the heart, which the aorta then distributes to systemic tissues. Neither of these vessels carries the deoxygenated blood returning from the body or headed to the lungs.
C. Aorta and vena cavae: The aorta is the largest artery in the body and carries highly oxygenated blood under high pressure. While the venae cavae do carry oxygen-poor blood, the inclusion of the aorta makes this selection incorrect. Arterial systemic blood is characterized by high oxygen saturation levels.
D. Venae cava and pulmonary arteries: The superior and inferior venae cavae transport deoxygenated blood from the systemic circuit into the right heart. The pulmonary arteries then pump this oxygen-poor blood to the lungs for gas exchange. This accurately identifies the two major vessel sets involved in the deoxygenated portion of circulation.
E. Pulmonary veins and pulmonary arteries: This choice incorrectly pairs the oxygen-rich pulmonary veins with the oxygen-poor pulmonary arteries. In the pulmonary circuit, the relationship between vessel type and oxygenation is reversed compared to the systemic circuit. Only the pulmonary arteries carry deoxygenated blood away from the heart.
Whether you are a student looking to ace your exams or a practicing nurse seeking to enhance your expertise , our nursing education contents will empower you with the confidence and competence to make a difference in the lives of patients and become a respected leader in the healthcare field.
Visit Naxlex, invest in your future and unlock endless possibilities with our unparalleled nursing education contents today
Report Wrong Answer on the Current Question
Do you disagree with the answer? If yes, what is your expected answer? Explain.
Kindly be descriptive with the issue you are facing.