Which organ is primarily responsible for storing glucose as glycogen?

Which organ is primarily responsible for storing glucose as glycogen?

• A. Liver
• B. Heart
• C. Lungs
• D. Spleen

Answer: (A)

Storing glucose as glycogen happens mainly in the liver. When glucose is abundant, liver cells perform glycogenesis, converting glucose into glycogen and storing it in hepatocytes. This stored glycogen can be broken down again into glucose when blood sugar drops, helping to keep blood glucose levels stable. The liver also has the enzyme to release glucose into the bloodstream, which is essential for maintaining systemic glucose. In contrast, skeletal muscle stores glycogen for its own use during activity and doesn’t export glucose to the blood, so it isn’t the main source for circulating glucose. The lungs and spleen aren’t primary glycogen storage sites. So the organ primarily responsible for storing glucose as glycogen is the liver.

Storing glucose as glycogen happens mainly in the liver. When glucose is abundant, liver cells perform glycogenesis, converting glucose into glycogen and storing it in hepatocytes. This stored glycogen can be broken down again into glucose when blood sugar drops, helping to keep blood glucose levels stable. The liver also has the enzyme to release glucose into the bloodstream, which is essential for maintaining systemic glucose. In contrast, skeletal muscle stores glycogen for its own use during activity and doesn’t export glucose to the blood, so it isn’t the main source for circulating glucose. The lungs and spleen aren’t primary glycogen storage sites. So the organ primarily responsible for storing glucose as glycogen is the liver.