Texas Esthetician License Practice Exam

Which organ controls insulin and glucagon production?

1. Liver

2. Pancreas

3. Kidneys

4. Adrenal glands

The correct answer is: Pancreas

The pancreas is the organ responsible for the production and regulation of insulin and glucagon, which are crucial hormones that manage blood sugar levels in the body. It contains clusters of cells known as the islets of Langerhans, where beta cells produce insulin and alpha cells produce glucagon. Insulin lowers blood glucose levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells, while glucagon has the opposite effect, increasing blood glucose levels by promoting the release of glucose stored in the liver. The liver, while it plays a significant role in glucose metabolism and is the main site of glucose storage, does not produce insulin or glucagon itself. The kidneys are primarily involved in filtering blood and regulating electrolytes and fluids, and the adrenal glands produce hormones involved in the stress response, such as adrenaline and cortisol, but do not directly control insulin and glucagon levels.