Key term
OCR A-Level Biology H420
Cell Structure
Biological Molecules
Nucleotides and Nucleic Acids
Enzymes
Biological Membranes
Cell Division, Cell Diversity and Cellular Organisation
Exchange Surfaces
Transport in Animals
Transport in Plants
Communicable Diseases, Disease Prevention and the Immune System
Biodiversity
Classification and Evolution
Communication and Homeostasis
Excretion as an Example of Homeostatic Control
Neuronal Communication
Hormonal Communication
Plant and Animal Responses
Topic overviewTropisms and plant responses to stress and herbivoryPlant hormones and their commercial usesThe nervous system and the brainReflex actions and the knee jerk reflexFight or flight and the control of heart rateThe structure of skeletal muscleThe neuromuscular junction and the sliding filament model
Photosynthesis
Respiration
Cellular Control
Patterns of Inheritance
Manipulating Genomes
Cloning and Biotechnology
Topic overviewNatural plant cloning and taking cuttingsMicropropagationAdvantages and disadvantages of plant cloningAnimal cloning: embryo twinning and nuclear transferAdvantages and disadvantages of animal cloningMicroorganisms in food productionAseptic techniqueFermentation and its conditionsThe microbial growth curveImmobilised enzymes
Ecosystems
Populations and Sustainability
Practical Skills and Mathematical Requirements
Hormonal Communication
- 4 subtopics
- 6 things to know
- Components 01 and 03
What Hormonal Communication covers
Hormonal communication is the fourth section of Module 5. It covers how a hormone reaches its target and why only some cells respond, the adrenal glands and their hormones, the islets of Langerhans and the control of blood glucose by insulin and glucagon, and the two types of diabetes and how they are treated.
Where it is assessed
Components 01 and 03
Module 5 is examined on Biological Processes, then the unified paper.
Check the OCR specification ↗The 4 subtopics
Each one has its own page.
- Hormones and the adrenal glandsHow an endocrine gland signals at a distance and why only target cells respond, and the mineralocorticoids, glucocorticoids and adrenaline the adrenal glands secrete.Open →
- The pancreas and the islets of LangerhansThe exocrine and endocrine tissue of the pancreas, the alpha and beta cells of the islets, and how the islets appear in a stained section.Open →
- Controlling blood glucoseThe negative feedback loop between insulin and glucagon, glycogenesis and glycogenolysis in the liver, and the events inside a beta cell from glucose entry to insulin release.Open →
- Diabetes and its treatmentWhat causes Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes and the risk factors involved, how each is treated, and the use of genetically modified bacteria and of stem cells.Open →
What you need to know
Answer each one before you reveal it.
Your recallNot started
Process
Explain hormonal control of blood glucose.
Process
How do beta cells release insulin after glucose rises?
Key term
What are the two distinct regions of the adrenal gland?
Key term
What is the name of the endocrine tissue found in the pancreas?
Evaluation
State three advantages of using insulin produced by genetically modified bacteria compared to animal-derived insulin.
Take Hormonal Communication further
The same content, four other ways.
Commonly confused
Pairs that lose marks when they are blurred together.
Glycogenesis vs Glycogenolysis
Glycogenesis: conversion of glucose into glycogen for storage. Glycogenolysis: breakdown of glycogen to release glucose.
Questions from this topic
Each one with the model answer underneath.
- 1
What is the mechanism by which endocrine glands communicate with distant parts of the body?
Model answer
Endocrine glands secrete hormones directly into the blood, which then carries them to target tissues throughout the body.
- 2
How are hormones transported around the body after secretion?
Model answer
Hormones are transported in the blood plasma to reach all parts of the body.
- 3
Why do hormones only affect certain cells despite being transported throughout the entire body?
Model answer
Only target cells or tissues that possess specific complementary receptors for that hormone can detect and respond to it.
- 4
Where are the adrenal glands located in the body?
Model answer
Above the kidneys.
- 5
What are the two distinct regions of the adrenal gland?
Model answer
The outer cortex and the inner medulla.
- 6
Name the two categories of steroid hormones secreted by the adrenal cortex.
Model answer
Mineralocorticoids (e.g. aldosterone) and glucocorticoids (e.g. cortisol).
What is inside Levo
Six ways to work the same material.
Hormonal Communication revision questions
- What does Hormonal Communication cover in OCR A-Level Biology?
- 4 subtopics: hormones and the adrenal glands, the pancreas and the islets of langerhans, controlling blood glucose and diabetes and its treatment. Each one has its own page with questions and model answers.
- How is Hormonal Communication organised?
- By the OCR H420 specification, subtopic by subtopic, so it matches the order you are taught it in.
Every question in Hormonal Communication, on a schedule.
Attempt a question from memory, write the correct version, then attempt it again. Levo records the jump between your first attempt and your last, and brings each question back on the day you are due to forget it.
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