Optometry Admission Test (OAT) Practice

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Study for the Optometry Admission Test (OAT). Dive into multiple choice questions, each with explanations and helpful hints. Enhance your knowledge and prepare for success in your exam!

Each practice test/flash card set has 50 randomly selected questions from a bank of over 500. You'll get a new set of questions each time!

Practice this question and more.

What is the overall effect of cortisol, a type of glucocorticoid?

Lower blood pressure
Reduce inflammation and increase blood glucose
Increase potassium retention
Enhance calcium absorption

The correct answer is: Reduce inflammation and increase blood glucose

Cortisol, a glucocorticoid produced by the adrenal glands, plays a significant role in the body's metabolic processes. The overall effect of cortisol is primarily to reduce inflammation and increase blood glucose levels. It achieves anti-inflammatory effects by inhibiting the release of substances in the immune response, which is why it is often used therapeutically to treat inflammatory conditions. At the same time, cortisol promotes gluconeogenesis, the process by which glucose is produced from non-carbohydrate sources, thus raising blood glucose levels to provide energy during stress situations. This response is vital for maintaining energy supplies during periods of fasting, stress, or illness, thereby ensuring that the body has adequate glucose. The other options don't accurately reflect the primary actions of cortisol. While cortisol may have complex interactions with blood pressure, potassium, and calcium, its defining characteristics are primarily its role in inflammation and glucose metabolism.