For storage, the liver converts glucose into which storage molecule?

Study liver anatomy and function with our medical students test. Engage with detailed multiple choice questions, each with hints and explanations. Prepare effectively for your test!

The liver stores excess glucose by converting it into glycogen, the storage form of glucose in animals. This process, glycogenesis, creates a highly branched polymer that can be rapidly synthesized or broken down to maintain blood glucose levels between meals. The other molecules listed are not produced for storage in the liver: starch is the plant storage polysaccharide, while chitin and cellulose are structural polymers found in fungi/arthropods and plants, respectively. In the liver, insulin promotes glycogen synthesis, whereas glucagon and epinephrine trigger glycogen breakdown to release glucose when needed.