Thyroid, adrenal, pancreas and the other glands
Answers are for parents and teachers.
1
A blood sample of 40 cm³ contains 36 mg of glucose. How many milligrams per 100 cm³ is that, and is it inside the book’s range of 80 to 120?
36 ÷ 40 = 0.9 mg per cm³, so 0.9 × 100 = 90 mg per 100 cm³. It is inside the range. A real result still has to be read by a doctor.
2
Name the two main groups of hormones of the adrenal cortex, say what each group regulates and give one example of each.
Glucocorticoids regulate carbohydrate metabolism, for example cortisone. Mineralocorticoids balance the minerals sodium and potassium, for example aldosterone.
3
Explain how insulin and glucagon work against each other to keep blood glucose steady.
When glucose is high, insulin lowers it by helping cells take it up and store it as glycogen or fat. When it is low, glucagon raises it by turning liver glycogen into glucose.
4
Where do the thyroid and the parathyroid glands lie in relation to each other, and how many parathyroid glands are there?
The thyroid lies in the neck in front of the windpipe. The four small parathyroid glands lie next to it, two on each side.
5
A person has a swollen neck. Why should the person see a doctor instead of simply taking iodine?
A swollen thyroid can have different causes, including too little or too much thyroxine, and the right action differs. Only a doctor can decide which one it is.