Hormonal Response: Kaplan vs. EK

[Flasheh]

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Hey everyone, I've been using both EK and Kaplan to prep for the MCAT, and they seem to have two different rationales for determining how the endocrine system acts.

As an example:

A patient has high blood glucose. What would you expect to find in high concentrations in his blood?

A. Glucagon
B. Insulin
C. Cats
D. Dogs

Kaplan would say A, since a high concentration of glucagon would cause high blood glucose.

ExamKrackers would say B, since the patient's body would be trying to combat the high blood glucose with a high concentration of insulin.

Which is the more correct way of viewing this? Or rather, if such a question appeared on the MCAT, what would AAMC view as correct?

 

[coyfish]

Hey everyone, I've been using both EK and Kaplan to prep for the MCAT, and they seem to have two different rationales for determining how the endocrine system acts.

As an example:

A patient has high blood glucose. What would you expect to find in high concentrations in his blood?

A. Glucagon
B. Insulin
C. Cats
D. Dogs

Kaplan would say A, since a high concentration of glucagon would cause high blood glucose.

ExamKrackers would say B, since the patient's body would be trying to combat the high blood glucose with a high concentration of insulin.

Which is the more correct way of viewing this? Or rather, if such a question appeared on the MCAT, what would AAMC view as correct?

First of all it is unlikely that the MCAT will ask this type of question as a standalone. It will most likely be based off a passage where the entire situation is explained.

That being said choosing A is quite an assumption. Why would the body cause high blood sugar? The body reacts to establish homeostasis. Thus the most logical conclusion here is the person just consumed sugars and thus their blood sugar level has increased. Insulin would be released to counter that.


If blood sugar was very low than it would release glucagon to increase sugar levels to the normal level. It wouldn't overshoot and cause a big sugar spike.