Q 01/05

Which islet cell type produces insulin?

A) Gamma

B) Delta

C) Beta

D) Alpha

Answer · why

C) Beta

Their neighbours, the alpha cells, secrete the opposing hormone glucagon.

Q 02/05

From which Latin word does the name 'insulin' derive?

A) Insula, meaning island

B) Insula, meaning shore

C) Insulare, meaning to shield

D) Insulsus, meaning bland

Answer · why

A) Insula, meaning island

The name refers to the islets of tissue that make it.

Q 03/05

What effect does insulin have on blood glucose?

A) It converts it to fructose

B) It raises it

C) It lowers it

D) It has no direct effect

Answer · why

C) It lowers it

It promotes glucose uptake into liver, fat and muscle cells, where it becomes glycogen or fat.

Q 04/05

Which hormone from the alpha cells raises blood glucose, the opposite of insulin?

A) Somatostatin

B) Cortisol

C) Glucagon

D) Adrenaline

Answer · why

C) Glucagon

It triggers the liver to break down glycogen and make new glucose.

Q 05/05

How many amino acids make up the human insulin protein?

A) 51

B) 110

C) 150

D) 300

Answer · why

A) 51

They form an A-chain and a B-chain linked by disulfide bonds.