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Multiple Choice
Which of the following statements best describes the role of insulin in the body?
A
Insulin increases gluconeogenesis in the liver.
B
Insulin inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids in adipose tissue.
C
Insulin stimulates the breakdown of glycogen to increase blood glucose levels.
D
Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose into cells, thereby lowering blood glucose levels.
Verified step by step guidance
1
Step 1: Begin by understanding the role of insulin in the body. Insulin is a peptide hormone produced by the beta cells of the pancreas. Its primary function is to regulate blood glucose levels by promoting glucose uptake into cells.
Step 2: Analyze the incorrect options one by one. For example, 'Insulin increases gluconeogenesis in the liver' is incorrect because gluconeogenesis is the process of synthesizing glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, which is typically inhibited by insulin.
Step 3: Evaluate the second incorrect option, 'Insulin inhibits the synthesis of fatty acids in adipose tissue.' This is incorrect because insulin actually promotes fatty acid synthesis in adipose tissue by stimulating lipogenesis.
Step 4: Assess the third incorrect option, 'Insulin stimulates the breakdown of glycogen to increase blood glucose levels.' This is incorrect because insulin inhibits glycogenolysis (the breakdown of glycogen) and instead promotes glycogen synthesis (glycogenesis) to store glucose.
Step 5: Confirm the correct answer, 'Insulin promotes the uptake of glucose into cells, thereby lowering blood glucose levels.' Insulin facilitates glucose transport into cells by activating glucose transporters, such as GLUT4, and helps maintain homeostasis by reducing blood glucose levels.