Oregon Certified Nursing Assistant State Practice Exam

Which gland is responsible for the secretion of insulin?

1. Adrenal gland

2. Thyroid gland

3. Pancreas

4. Parathyroid gland

The correct answer is: Pancreas

The pancreas is the gland responsible for the secretion of insulin. Insulin is a crucial hormone that regulates blood sugar levels by facilitating the uptake of glucose into the cells, thereby lowering blood glucose levels after meals. The pancreas has specialized cells called beta cells located within the islets of Langerhans, which detect rising glucose levels in the blood and respond by secreting insulin. The adrenal gland, while it plays a vital role in the body's response to stress and metabolism through the production of hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, does not secrete insulin. The thyroid gland primarily regulates metabolism through hormones such as thyroxine and triiodothyronine and is not involved in insulin production. The parathyroid glands control calcium levels in the body through the secretion of parathyroid hormone, and they also do not produce insulin. Therefore, the unique role of the pancreas in regulating blood sugar levels through insulin secretion is what makes it the correct answer.