Question 3

(Ai)

(The question states that figure 1 illustrates the concentration of insulin in the blood plasma over a
480 min period, however the graph corresponding to that is labeled figure 2, assuming that there
was an error in labelling, this is my answer for part a).

Time (mins) Effect of inhaled Effect of injected Inference

Insulin insulin
0 15 abu of insulin was 0 abu insulin was Inhaled insulin
found in the blood found in the blood reached the blood
plasma plasma plasma faster via the
capillaries of the
alveoli and was almost
immediately
transported back to
the heart and rest of
body. The injected
Insulin had to be
administered
intramuscularly and is
then transported to
the heart via the veins
then to the rest of the
body. This accounts
for the lag in insulin
concentrations.
0-42 The blood insulin The blood insulin The inhaled insulin,
levels increased from levels rose from 0 to was transported from
15 to 44 abu of insulin 16 abu of insulin, the the alveoli to the
found in plasma, this levels will continue to blood plasma and
is the highest the rise after this point, as being used up,
concentration reaches the insulin is still whereas the insulin in
for inhaled, the entering the blood the muscles were still
concentration of plasma from the being transported into
insulin for inhaled injection site. Note the blood plasma in
decreases after this that the insulin is lower concentrations
point being utilized. while still being
utilized by the body
42 - 120 A steep drop in insulin Insulin lvels show a This indicated that the
levels are seen here, gradual increase in insulin, in both cases
from 44 abu to 34 abu insulin level from 16 were being used by
abu to 25 abu the body to convert
glucose to glycogen,
but the drastic drop in
inhaled was since the
body using more
insulin than could be
replaced. As the
transport of the
injected into the blood
 stream was slower
and more gradual
despite being used up
it showed a slow
increase in insulin
concentration
120-180 During this phase the The insulin levels from It can be inferred that
insulin levels in the 120 to 180 dip the insulin is being
plasma drops from 34 momentarily used up to lower
abu to 19 abu. indicating that the blood glucose levels in
Indicating that the levels are beginning to the body and the
body is utilizing the be used up more than amount of insulin
insulin. It is during this it can be supplied. entering the blood
phase we see the plasma is either
levels of insulin for depleted or being
inhaled drop below depleted.
the levels for injected
180 to 360 A slow steady A slow steady An indication that
decrease in decrease in most excess glucose
concentration is seen concentration is seen may have been
converted to glycogen
and glycagon levels
may be increasing to
prevent the blood
sugar levels from
dropping too low.
360 to 480 Insulin levels plateaus Insulin levels plateaus The glucose spike has
out out been dealt with and
glucose levels are
within normal ranges

(Aii)

Time (mins) Effect of inhaled Insulin Effect of injected insulin

0-60 High concentrations of insulin, As the insulin enters the blood

means that more glucose plasma it converts the glucose to
molecules will be converted to glycogen but lower concentrations
glycogen, this gives a steep means a less drastic change in
decrease in glucose concentration concentration

60 -180 High insulin concentrations will
result in steep depletion of glucose
levels. at 180 the glucose levels
drop to low and the hormone
glucagon is secreted.
The increasing inculin levels will
result in a gradual drop in glucose
levels. glucose levels are not to low
and no glucagon secreted.

180 – 300 Inuslin still at work but also with at the 240 point the blood glucose
the glucagon present glycogen is levels drop to low and glucagon is
also converted to glucose and secreted to raise the blood glucose
 results in an increase in glucose
levels
300- 480 Both insulin and glucagon present
in blood plasma but they work in
harmony to plateau the blood
glucose levels.
levels.
Both insulin and glucagon present
in blood plasma but they work in
harmony to plateau the blood
glucose levels.

(Aiii)

As seen in both figures 1 and 2 the following can be noted:

1) Advantage of Inhaled insulin is that it works quicker than injected.

2) A Disadvantage is that it can push the blood glucose level to low too quickly as it is available in
higher doses initially and drops rapidly.

(bi)

Sensory Neurone- to transmit the changes in the environment detected by the receptors, towards
the Central Nervous system.

Relay Neurone- located in the grey matter of the spinal cord, and functions to transmit the nerve
impulse information from the Sensory Neurone to the Motor Neurone.

Motor Neurone – to conduct impulses from the Central nervous System to the Effectors which
brings about the necessary changes.

(bii)

Poison A – this will cause the sodium channel proteins in the post synaptic knob to not open
resulting in no Excitatory postsynaptic potential (EPSP), resulting in no action potential being fired in
the neurone attached to the post synaptic knob.

Poison B- this will prevent chlorine ions from entering the presynaptic knob and will result in the
acetylcholine vesicles not moving to the membrane of the pre synaptic knob an the impulse will end.

Poison C- if exocytosis is inhibited, the acetylcholine molecules will not be released in the synaptic
cleft and it will not be able to bind to the receptors in the post synaptic knob and the impulse will
end.

Poison D- this will cause the acetylcholine to remain in the cleft and continue to bind to the receptor,
causing the impulse to be transmitted over and over.