Final answer:
2/3rds of absorbed glucose after a meal is stored in the liver and muscle cells, with the liver converting it to glycogen and muscle cells storing it as muscle glycogen, regulated by insulin.
Step-by-step explanation:
When glucose is absorbed after a meal, 2/3rds is stored in the liver and muscle cells.
- After ingesting a carbohydrate-rich meal, our body experiences a rise in blood glucose levels, which prompts specific metabolic responses to deal with this influx. The liver plays a crucial role by converting most of the dietary glucose into glycogen through a process called glycogenesis, thus preventing a further increase in blood glucose levels. Besides the liver, muscle cells are also significant storage sites for glucose in the form of muscle glycogen. Concurrently, insulin, secreted by the pancreatic ß-cells, facilitates glucose uptake by various tissues for energy production through glycolysis. Adipose tissue contributes when glucose and energy storage capacity in the liver and muscles is exceeded; it converts the excess glucose into fat and stores it as triacylglycerols (TAG). This regulatory mechanism ensures that the body maintains a steady supply of energy while also preparing for periods when food intake is not possible, such as during the postabsorptive state.