Which of the following statements regarding hormones and their metabolic actions are correct?   A. Insulin increases protein synthesis  B. Thyroxine decreases basal metabolic rate  C. Insulin decreases blood glucose levels  D. Epinephrine increases glycogenolysis  E. Glucagon increases gluconeogenesis

1. A

   A. A, B and C only

2. B

   B. A, C and D only

3. C

   C. A, C, D and E only

4. D

   D. All of the above

Appeared in: INI-CET EXAM -2026

Explanation

• Statement A is correct: Insulin is an anabolic hormone that promotes the uptake of amino acids into cells, thereby stimulating protein synthesis.
• Statement C is correct: Insulin facilitates the transport of glucose from the blood into muscle, liver, and fat cells, thus lowering blood glucose levels.
• Statement D is correct: Epinephrine, released during stress, stimulates glycogenolysis (breakdown of glycogen to glucose) in the liver and muscles to provide a quick energy source.
• Statement E is correct: Glucagon acts to raise blood glucose by stimulating gluconeogenesis (synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources) in the liver.
• Statement B is incorrect because thyroxine increases, not decreases, the basal metabolic rate. Therefore, the combination of A, C, D, and E is the correct answer.

Why Other Options Were Wrong

• Option A: This option incorrectly includes statement B (Thyroxine decreases BMR), which is false. It also omits the correct statements D (Epinephrine) and E (Glucagon).
• Option B: This option is incomplete. While it includes the correct statements A, C, and D, it omits the correct statement E (Glucagon increases gluconeogenesis).
• Option D: This option, 'All of the above', is incorrect because statement B is false. Thyroxine increases the basal metabolic rate, it does not decrease it.

Related Visual

Clinical Relevance

• Nursing practice connection: Knowing Metabolic actions of key hormones (Insulin, Thyroxine, Epinephrine, Glucagon) helps nurses interpret findings accurately and avoid errors in routine assessment, medication administration, and patient teaching.
• Understanding these hormonal actions is fundamental for managing metabolic disorders like Diabetes Mellitus (related to insulin and glucagon) and thyroid disorders (related to thyroxine).
• Nurses must recognize the signs of hypoglycemia and hyperglycemia and understand the actions of administered medications like insulin or emergency drugs like epinephrine.
• What if? If a patient with type 1 diabetes is found unresponsive, the immediate nursing priority is to check blood glucose. If it's low (hypoglycemia), administering glucagon (if prescribed) is a critical intervention, demonstrating the opposing action to insulin.

How to Approach the Question

• This is a multiple-response question presented as a single-best-answer format. The first step is to evaluate each individual statement (A, B, C, D, E) for its accuracy.
• Go through each statement one by one, recalling the primary function of each hormone.
• Statement A (Insulin/protein synthesis): Recall insulin is anabolic (building up). This is correct.
• Statement B (Thyroxine/BMR): Recall thyroid hormone controls metabolism. It increases BMR. This statement is incorrect.
• Statement C (Insulin/blood glucose): Recall insulin's main job is to lower blood sugar. This is correct.
• Statement D (Epinephrine/glycogenolysis): Recall the 'fight or flight' response requires quick energy from glucose stores. This is correct.

Concept Tested & Keywords

• Concept Tested: Metabolic actions of key hormones (Insulin, Thyroxine, Epinephrine, Glucagon)
• Stem keywords: hormones, metabolic actions, insulin, thyroxine, epinephrine, glucagon
• Lead-in keywords: correct

Question ID

qlE-w46_1Hs45lJrdSZud

Copy ID

Reference Book

E6 Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry2023 (pp 26-793 of 813) p. 186-188