Final answer:
Antagonistic hormones are pairs of hormones that have opposite effects to maintain homeostasis, such as insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels.
Step-by-step explanation:
Antagonistic Hormones
Antagonistic hormones refer to pairs of hormones that have opposite effects on the body to maintain homeostasis. A primary example of this mechanism involves the hormones insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood glucose levels.
Insulin, produced by the beta cells of the pancreas, lowers blood glucose by facilitating the uptake of glucose into cells and stimulating the liver to store glucose as glycogen. On the other hand, glucagon, produced by the alpha cells of the pancreas, raises blood glucose levels by promoting the breakdown of glycogen into glucose in the liver.
These hormones are crucial for maintaining a stable internal environment and ensure that energy is available to cells when needed, demonstrating the dynamic balance of hormone regulation.