INSULIN SECRETION Meaning and
Definition
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Insulin secretion refers to the process by which the hormone insulin is released and synthesized by the beta cells of the pancreas in response to changes in blood sugar levels. Insulin is a crucial hormone that regulates blood glucose levels in the body.
When the concentration of glucose in the bloodstream rises, particularly after a meal, it stimulates the beta cells in the islets of Langerhans, which are clusters of cells in the pancreas, to release insulin. This process is known as insulin secretion. Insulin secretion occurs through a series of events commonly referred to as the insulin secretion pathway or insulin release cascade.
The cascade begins with the entry of glucose into the beta cells through glucose transporters. Inside the cells, glucose undergoes various metabolisms, resulting in increased production of ATP (adenosine triphosphate). This rise in ATP levels causes the closure of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, leading to depolarization of the cell membrane. The depolarization opens voltage-gated calcium channels, allowing calcium ions to enter the cell. The increase in calcium triggers the exocytosis of insulin-containing vesicles, causing insulin to be released into the bloodstream.
Insulin secretion plays a vital role in regulating glucose homeostasis by promoting glucose uptake by cells, glycogen synthesis in the liver, and inhibiting glucose production by the liver. It also facilitates the storage of excess glucose as glycogen in skeletal muscles and adipose tissue. Proper insulin secretion is essential for maintaining stable blood sugar levels, preventing hyperglycemia (high blood sugar), and avoiding complications associated with diabetes.
Common Misspellings for INSULIN SECRETION
- unsulin secretion
- jnsulin secretion
- knsulin secretion
- onsulin secretion
- 9nsulin secretion
- 8nsulin secretion
- ibsulin secretion
- imsulin secretion
- ijsulin secretion
- ihsulin secretion
- inaulin secretion
- inzulin secretion
- inxulin secretion
- indulin secretion
- ineulin secretion
- inwulin secretion
- insylin secretion
- inshlin secretion
- insjlin secretion
- insilin secretion
Etymology of INSULIN SECRETION
The term "insulin secretion" has its roots in Latin and Greek.
The word "insulin" originated from the Latin word "insula", meaning "island". It was first coined by Sir Edward Albert Sharpey-Schafer in 1910, who discovered that the hormone was produced in a specific region of the pancreas called the Islets of Langerhans. These islets are scattered like islands within the pancreatic tissue, hence the name "insulin".
The word "secretion" comes from the Latin word "secretus", meaning "to secrete" or "to hide". It refers to the process of releasing a substance, such as a hormone, from a glandular or cellular structure into the bloodstream or external environment.
Therefore, "insulin secretion" refers to the process by which the hormone insulin is released from the Islets of Langerhans in the pancreas into the bloodstream.
