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IGCSE · Cambridge (CIE) · 0610

State that insulin decreases blood glucose concentration

Retain the pancreatic hormone and the direction of its Core effect.

Homeostasis pathway · 14.4

Core and Extended; Biology 0610, 2026–2028. Use the stated specimen features and evidence. Diagrams are schematic. Written practice is self-checked

Before you begin

  • Recall hormone production and blood transport, respiration, liver storage and electrical impulses along neurones.

Work on paper. Try each question before revealing help, and explain why your method works.

Quick readiness check

Which organ secretes insulin?

What you will learn

  • Name the hormone and measured quantity
  • Keep insulin separate from glucose

State that insulin decreases blood glucose concentration

Core: insulin from the pancreas decreases blood glucose concentration. Insulin is a signal; glucose is a respiratory substrate. Original teaching model.

Homeostasis model reference
FeatureMeaning
HormoneInsulin
SourcePancreas
QuantityBlood glucose concentration
DirectionDecreases

Name the hormone and measured quantity

Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration. Insulin is a chemical hormone secreted by the pancreas; glucose is a dissolved substance used by cells as a respiratory substrate. The hormone and the glucose are different substances. A Core answer needs the named hormone, the named blood quantity and the decrease direction rather than a vague statement that insulin changes sugar.

Concentration describes the amount of glucose in a given volume of blood. A decrease means less glucose per volume, not automatically less total blood in the circulation. Insulin is carried by blood to responsive targets and influences their activity. It is not a digestive enzyme that travels through a pancreatic duct into the small intestine.

Keep insulin separate from glucose

Use the effect direction consistently in an unfamiliar supplied example. If a model asks which taught hormone lowers blood glucose concentration, insulin is the required answer. Glucagon is a different pancreatic hormone associated with increasing the concentration; that fuller contrasting control is taught in the Supplement sequence.

A supplied before-and-after record can illustrate a concentration decrease, but it does not by itself identify an insulin dose or provide a personal treatment decision. The course uses invented model quantities for calculation. Detailed liver storage and negative-feedback control follow later, while this Core lesson focuses on the hormone and the required effect direction.

Pause and explain

Which direction matches the Core insulin effect?

Put the idea to work

Worked example

State the Core insulin effect.

Show the worked solution
  1. Insulin is the named hormone.
  2. Blood glucose concentration decreases.

Answer Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration.

Try a topic test

Choose Easy, Normal or Difficult. Save your answers and open worked review after finishing.

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From guided practice to a new situation

Write your answer and reasoning first. Use a hint only if you are stuck. The model solution is for self-checking; your written work is not automatically marked.

1 · Guided

State the effect of insulin on blood glucose concentration.

Give me a hint

Use the hormone, blood quantity and direction.

Compare my reasoning
  1. Name insulin.
  2. State a decrease in blood glucose concentration.

Insulin decreases blood glucose concentration.

Look for these in your work

  • Name insulin
  • Specify decreased blood glucose concentration
2 · Independent

Distinguish insulin from glucose in a supplied blood-borne model.

Give me a hint

One is a signal; the other is a respiratory substrate.

Compare my reasoning
  1. Insulin is a pancreatic chemical hormone.
  2. Glucose is a substance used as a substrate in respiration.

Insulin is a pancreatic hormone; glucose is a respiratory substrate. They are different substances.

Look for these in your work

  • Identify the hormone role
  • Identify the glucose role
3 · Transfer

Correct: insulin is pancreatic juice that increases the amount of glucose per blood volume.

Give me a hint

Correct both output category and effect direction.

Compare my reasoning
  1. Insulin is an endocrine hormone released into blood.
  2. Its taught effect decreases blood glucose concentration.

Insulin is a pancreatic hormone released into blood; it decreases blood glucose concentration. It is not digestive pancreatic juice.

Look for these in your work

  • Correct secretion category
  • Correct concentration direction

Common mistakes

  • Saying insulin increases blood glucose concentration.
  • Treating insulin and glucose as the same substance.
Recall without your notes

What can you explain now?

Which direction matches the Core insulin effect?

Compare with the explanation

Decreased blood glucose concentration

It names both the quantity and decrease direction.

After trying it yourself, choose your next review. This is your self-assessment.

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Make it stick

State the complete insulin effect without confusing signal, substrate or secretion route.

If you needed the solution, close it and solve the problem again from a blank page. A correct answer is stronger when you can explain the reason for each step.

Keep learning Biology

Course scope and assessment

780 sequenced lessons provide 2340 guided, independent and application problems in characteristics, classification, cells, organisation, specimen size, membrane transport, biological molecules, enzymes, plant and human nutrition, plant transport, circulatory systems, the heart, blood vessels, blood, disease transmission, body defences, immunity, gas exchange in humans, respiration energy uses and investigations, aerobic respiration, anaerobic respiration and recovery, excretion in humans, coordination and response, sense organs, hormones, homeostasis, tropic responses, drugs, asexual reproduction, sexual reproduction, sexual reproduction in plants, sexual reproduction in humans, sex hormones in humans, sexually transmitted infections, chromosomes, genes and proteins, mitosis, meiosis, monohybrid inheritance, variation, adaptive features, selection, energy flow, food chains and webs, nutrient cycles, population, community, ecosystem, population-growth phases, food supply, habitat destruction, pollution, conservation, biotechnology and genetic modification. 61 of 61 syllabus sections have linked teaching and staged practice. The earlier inheritance overview remains introductory, and the monohybrid pathway develops the relevant Core and Supplement requirements. This is not full programme completion or guaranteed exam readiness. Written practice is self-checked.

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Original teaching content and links to official sources. Check your exam year and qualification before using a resource.