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NSC 408 Final exam Questions and Answers | Fall
2026 Update
Describe the Alanine-Glucose Cycle - CORRECT ANSWER = 1. In the
muscle, glycogen (polymer of glucose) is converted to glucose which
undergoes glycolysis (to release ATP energy) making pyruvate
2. Pyruvate (alpha-ketoacid) is trans-animated with glutamate (amino
acid, which comes from the trans-animation of alpha-ketoglutarate and
leucine) to make Alanine (amino acid) and alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-
ketoacid).
3. Alanine travels through blood to the liver, where it is trans-animated
with alpa-ketoglutarate to make glutamate and pyruvate.
4. Glutamate is deanimated to form NH3 which enters urea cycle and
forms urea for excretion
5. Pyruvate undergoes gluconeogenesis forming glucose which then is
released into the blood and goes back to the muscle for energy usage
Glycolysis Definition/purpose - CORRECT ANSWER = - First step of
cellular respiration (purpose is to make energy [ATP] for cell to use)
- Breaks down one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate
- Occurs in cytoplasm of cell
Glucagon
pg. 1
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Insulin
Cytokines
Catecholamines
Cortisol - CORRECT ANSWER = G - Raises blood glucose (activates
glycogen breakdown & gluconeogenesis)
- released in response to low blood glucose levels (adapted startvation)
I - Lowers blood glucose, causes cells to uptake glucose from blood to
use for energy)
Cyto- Proteins involved in the inflammatory response (messengers)
Cat- Include adrenaline and dopamine (fight or flight response)
Cort - Increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis
- Released in response to stress and low blood glucose
Describe what happens for during adapted starvation for energy
production - CORRECT ANSWER = Increased Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty
acids are transported to the liver for ketogenesis which produces
ketones that enter the blood and travel to muscles for energy use. Fatty
acids are also taken to the muscle. Glycerol is taken to the liver for
gluconeogenesis.
pg. 2
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Regular Responses
1. Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produce glucose which travels to
the muscles and is broken down into pyruvate then turned into alanine
and lactate. Alanine (which also comes from muscle breakdown) and
lactate travel through the blood back to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
2. Muscle also broken down to make glutamine which travels to other
organs
Describe what happens for during sepsis/infection for energy
production - CORRECT ANSWER = Increased Responses
1. In the liver, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produces glucose
which travels to the muscles where it is converted into pyruvate which
is converted into either lactate or alanine which both go back to the
liver for gluconeogenesis
2. Muscles undergo muscle protein proteolysis which yields amino acids
that go into gluconeogenesis (alanine) and to other immune cells
(glutamine)
Regular Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
2. Some fatty acids go to the muscle while some go to gluconeogenesis
with glycerol.
3. Glutamine made from amino acids in the muscle also goes to other
organs.
pg. 3
NSC 408 Final exam Questions and Answers | Fall
2026 Update
Describe the Alanine-Glucose Cycle - CORRECT ANSWER = 1. In the
muscle, glycogen (polymer of glucose) is converted to glucose which
undergoes glycolysis (to release ATP energy) making pyruvate
2. Pyruvate (alpha-ketoacid) is trans-animated with glutamate (amino
acid, which comes from the trans-animation of alpha-ketoglutarate and
leucine) to make Alanine (amino acid) and alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-
ketoacid).
3. Alanine travels through blood to the liver, where it is trans-animated
with alpa-ketoglutarate to make glutamate and pyruvate.
4. Glutamate is deanimated to form NH3 which enters urea cycle and
forms urea for excretion
5. Pyruvate undergoes gluconeogenesis forming glucose which then is
released into the blood and goes back to the muscle for energy usage
Glycolysis Definition/purpose - CORRECT ANSWER = - First step of
cellular respiration (purpose is to make energy [ATP] for cell to use)
- Breaks down one molecule of glucose into two molecules of pyruvate
- Occurs in cytoplasm of cell
Glucagon
pg. 1
,2|Page
Insulin
Cytokines
Catecholamines
Cortisol - CORRECT ANSWER = G - Raises blood glucose (activates
glycogen breakdown & gluconeogenesis)
- released in response to low blood glucose levels (adapted startvation)
I - Lowers blood glucose, causes cells to uptake glucose from blood to
use for energy)
Cyto- Proteins involved in the inflammatory response (messengers)
Cat- Include adrenaline and dopamine (fight or flight response)
Cort - Increase blood sugar through gluconeogenesis
- Released in response to stress and low blood glucose
Describe what happens for during adapted starvation for energy
production - CORRECT ANSWER = Increased Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol. Fatty
acids are transported to the liver for ketogenesis which produces
ketones that enter the blood and travel to muscles for energy use. Fatty
acids are also taken to the muscle. Glycerol is taken to the liver for
gluconeogenesis.
pg. 2
, 3|Page
Regular Responses
1. Glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produce glucose which travels to
the muscles and is broken down into pyruvate then turned into alanine
and lactate. Alanine (which also comes from muscle breakdown) and
lactate travel through the blood back to the liver for gluconeogenesis.
2. Muscle also broken down to make glutamine which travels to other
organs
Describe what happens for during sepsis/infection for energy
production - CORRECT ANSWER = Increased Responses
1. In the liver, glycogenolysis and gluconeogenesis produces glucose
which travels to the muscles where it is converted into pyruvate which
is converted into either lactate or alanine which both go back to the
liver for gluconeogenesis
2. Muscles undergo muscle protein proteolysis which yields amino acids
that go into gluconeogenesis (alanine) and to other immune cells
(glutamine)
Regular Responses
1. Adipose tissue is broken down into fatty acids and glycerol.
2. Some fatty acids go to the muscle while some go to gluconeogenesis
with glycerol.
3. Glutamine made from amino acids in the muscle also goes to other
organs.
pg. 3
