Emergency Medical Technician (EMT) Intermediate Practice Exam

How does insulin maintain homeostasis in the body?

1. Facilitating cellular glucose uptake

2. Increasing blood glucose levels

3. Regulating body temperature

4. Stimulating the production of glycogen

The correct answer is: Facilitating cellular glucose uptake

Insulin plays a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis, particularly in the regulation of blood glucose levels. It primarily functions by facilitating cellular glucose uptake, allowing cells to absorb glucose from the bloodstream. This process is essential for providing energy to cells and tissues throughout the body, ensuring that they can perform their necessary functions. When blood glucose levels rise after eating, insulin is released from the pancreas. This hormone then binds to receptors on cells, particularly in muscle and fat tissues, activating transport proteins like GLUT4 that enable glucose to enter these cells. As glucose is absorbed, blood glucose levels decrease, which is vital for maintaining the balance required for physiological processes. While insulin does stimulate the production of glycogen in the liver and muscles, which serves as a storage form of glucose, this is a secondary action to its primary role of facilitating glucose uptake. On the other hand, increasing blood glucose levels runs contrary to insulin's role, as it works to lower these levels. Regulating body temperature is unrelated to insulin's primary function in glucose metabolism. Therefore, facilitating cellular glucose uptake is the correct and most relevant mechanism through which insulin maintains homeostasis in the body.