Which cell type in the pancreatic islets is responsible for producing the hormone insulin and makes up approximately 75 percent of each islet?

Correct answer: The beta cell

Explanation

The pancreatic islets contain distinct cell types, each producing a specific hormone. Beta cells are the most abundant type and are responsible for producing insulin, the hormone that lowers blood glucose levels.

Other questions

Question 1

Which hormone, produced by the adrenal medulla, is considered more powerful and is produced in a ratio of approximately 4 to 1 compared to norepinephrine?

Question 2

According to Table 14.1, what is the primary difference in the 'Distance traveled' for signals between the endocrine system and the nervous system?

Question 3

What type of chemical signaling occurs when a chemical triggers a response in the very same cell that secreted it, such as Interleukin-1 in inflammation?

Question 4

What is the term for the process where the presence of a significant level of a hormone causes its target cells to decrease their number of receptors, making them less reactive?

Question 5

The release of oxytocin during childbirth, where uterine contractions lead to more oxytocin release and stronger contractions, is an example of what type of regulatory mechanism?

Question 6

Which network of capillaries connects the hypothalamus to the anterior pituitary, allowing hypothalamic hormones to be transported without first entering systemic circulation?

Question 7

What disorder in children is caused by the secretion of abnormally large amounts of growth hormone (GH), resulting in excessive growth?

Question 8

Which nuclei in the hypothalamus are responsible for producing antidiuretic hormone (ADH)?

Question 9

A disease called diabetes insipidus is characterized by chronic underproduction of which hormone?

Question 10

Prolactin (PRL) secretion is normally inhibited by prolactin-inhibiting hormone (PIH), which is actually what neurotransmitter?

Question 11

What is the essential and unique component required for the production of thyroid hormones T3 and T4?

Question 12

What is the name of the first stage of the general adaptation syndrome (GAS), which is characterized as the short-term stress or fight-or-flight response?

Question 13

Which hormone, known as a glucocorticoid, has an overall effect of inhibiting tissue building while stimulating the breakdown of stored nutrients to maintain fuel supplies during long-term stress?

Question 14

What percentage of pancreatic islet cells do alpha cells, which produce glucagon, approximately constitute?

Question 15

Which hormone, produced by the male testes, inhibits the secretion of FSH from the anterior pituitary gland?

Question 16

Which condition is characterized by high blood glucose levels and the accumulation of lipid deposits on the face and neck, caused by the hypersecretion of cortisol?

Question 17

What is the term for the interaction where two hormones with similar effects produce an amplified response, such as FSH and estrogens working together for the maturation of female egg cells?

Question 18

Which class of hormones, derived from lipids like cholesterol, are not soluble in water and must travel to their target cell bound to a transport protein?

Question 19

How long may it take for target cells to respond to certain reproductive hormones, in contrast to the rapid, seconds-long response prompted by epinephrine?

Question 20

Of the hormones produced by the anterior pituitary, which group is collectively referred to as tropic hormones because they 'turn on' or 'turn off' the function of other endocrine glands?

Question 21

What is the 'diabetogenic effect' of Growth Hormone (GH)?

Question 22

Which hormone from the placenta promotes progesterone synthesis and reduces the mother’s immune function to protect the fetus from immune rejection?

Question 23

The adrenal cortex consists of three structurally distinct regions. Which is the most superficial region that produces mineralocorticoids like aldosterone?

Question 24

ACE inhibitors are drugs that block the conversion of angiotensin I to angiotensin II, thus mitigating its ability to increase blood pressure. What does ACE stand for?

Question 26

Hirsutism, a symptom of excessive hair growth in women, is typically caused by an excessive production of which class of hormones?

Question 27

According to the text, the pancreas has both endocrine and nonendocrine functions, making it what kind of gland?

Question 28

Which hormone's secretion varies according to the level of light received from the environment, promoting wakefulness when its levels fall and drowsiness when they rise?

Question 29

What type of diabetes occurs during pregnancy in women who do not have a prior history of diabetes and generally resolves after the child is born?

Question 30

The hormone calcitonin is produced by which cells within the thyroid gland?

Question 31

Which hormone released from the anterior pituitary stimulates the adrenal cortex to secrete corticosteroid hormones such as cortisol?

Question 32

Which of the gonadotropins triggers ovulation in women and stimulates the production of testosterone by the male testes?

Question 33

Which hormone from the posterior pituitary stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth and is also necessary for the milk ejection reflex?

Question 34

What is the primary function of the hormone aldosterone, which is the major mineralocorticoid from the adrenal cortex?

Question 35

In the antagonistic effect between two pancreatic hormones, insulin decreases blood glucose, whereas glucagon has what opposing effect?

Question 36

The posterior pituitary gland does not produce hormones. Instead, it serves to store and secrete hormones that are produced in what other structure?

Question 37

What are the primary hormones produced by the ovaries?

Question 38

Graves' disease is a disorder of the thyroid gland that results in what condition?

Question 39

What hormone, released by the parathyroid glands, is the major hormone involved in the regulation of blood calcium levels?

Question 40

According to the text, the heart, kidneys, and stomach are examples of organs that have a primary function but also contain cells with what secondary function?

Question 41

Which part of the pancreas contains the endocrine cells, such as alpha and beta cells?

Question 42

Melanocyte-stimulating hormone (MSH) is formed by the cleavage of what precursor protein?

Question 43

Which hormone is produced by the delta cells of the pancreatic islets and functions as an inhibiting hormone, inhibiting the release of both glucagon and insulin?

Question 44

A rare disorder that causes low blood glucose levels and low blood sodium levels, with vague symptoms such as general weakness and cravings for salty food, is known as what?

Question 45

In the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), the enzyme renin catalyzes the conversion of the blood protein angiotensinogen into what hormone?

Question 46

What is the name for the tiny, round structures usually found embedded in the posterior surface of the thyroid gland, which produce PTH?

Question 47

The hormone ADH is also known by what other name, because in very high concentrations it causes constriction of blood vessels?

Question 48

Dysfunction of the endocrine system's control of growth can result in acromegaly in adults. What is this disorder?

Question 49

What is the most common method of hormone regulation, characterized by the inhibition of further secretion of a hormone in response to adequate levels of that hormone?

Question 50

Which chemical class do hormones such as testosterone, estrogens, aldosterone, and cortisol belong to?