Kaplan Nursing Entrance Practice Exam

What does the liver convert excess glucose into for storage?

1. Fructose

2. Glycogen

3. Starch

4. Glucose

The correct answer is: Glycogen

The liver has a vital role in regulating blood sugar levels and managing energy storage within the body. When there is an excess of glucose in the bloodstream, the liver converts this surplus glucose into glycogen, which serves as a key storage form of energy. Glycogen is a polysaccharide composed of long chains of glucose molecules, making it easily convertible back to glucose when the body needs energy. This conversion is particularly important because it helps maintain stable blood glucose levels and provides a readily available energy source during periods of fasting or between meals. Glycogen can be broken down back into glucose through a process called glycogenolysis when the body requires it, such as during physical activity or when blood sugar levels drop. In contrast, while fructose is a type of sugar, it is not the form in which the liver stores glucose. Starch, primarily found in plants, is also not relevant in this context since it is not produced by the human body. Simply converting glucose back to itself does not constitute storage; rather, it indicates a lack of storage transformation. Thus, glycogen is the correct answer as it is the actual storage form of excess glucose in the body specifically in the liver.