13.14 Homeostasis Flashcards
Define homeostasis
Involves physiological control systems that maintain (keep constant) the internal environment within restricted limits.
What factors affect enzyme activity?
Temperature
pH
Substrate concentration
Enzyme concentration
Inhibitors
Define negative feedback
Where there is an increase/decrease from the set point, the opposite effect is produced that returns value to the norm.
What is the set point?
Optimum/ norm at which the systems operates
Define positive feedback
Occurs when a deviation from an optimum causes even greater deviation from the norm.
Example of positive feedback
A stimulus causes Na+ ions to diffuse through Na+ channel proteins into post SN, once threshold is reached, voltage gated Na+ channels open, so there is rapid diffusion of MORE Na+ ions into neuron.
= SMALL STIMULUS LEADING TO LARGER, RAPID RESPONSE.
What is thermoregulation?
Regulation of body temperature.
Explain what happens to enzymes when body temp is too low .
Enzyme controlled reactions take place too slowly.
Lack of KE
Less successful collisions
Less ESCS form per second
Explain what happens to enzymes when body temp is too high .
Body temp is too high, enzymes could be denatured.
Breaking of hydrogen and ionic bonds which hold specific tertiary structure.
Characteristics of hormones
- Produced by glands which secrete directly into blood
- Carried in blood plasma to target cells
- Receptors are complementary shape to hormone
- Hormones BIND to specific receptors ONLY on target cells which have complementary receptors
Range of blood glucose conc
80-100 mg
100 cm-3
Very low levels of blood glucose
Hypoglycaemia
Very high levels of blood glucose
Hyperglycaemia
Which organ monitors blood glucose conc?
Controlled by pancreas.
Where are alpha and beta cells located and what do they do?
Endocrine cells/islets of langerhans. These secrete hormones.
Alpha cells secrete….
hormone called glucagon.
Beta cells secrete…..
hormone called insulin.
What is the aim of insulin?
To reduce blood glucose levels to normal.
It is synthesised and secreted by beta cells in pancreas.
How does insulin work?
- Insulin binds to complementary receptors on cell surface membrane of target cells.
- Controls uptake of glucose by regulating addition of glucose carrier proteins in surface membranes of target cells.
- Insulin also activates enzymes that stimulate the conversion of glucose to glycogen- GLYCOGENESIS, decreasing blood glucose conc.