16.1 - 16.7 Homeostasis Flashcards
Define homeostasis
The maintenance of an organisms internal environment within restricted limits
Explain why homeostasis is important with regards to proteins
- Enzymes and channel proteins
- Any changes to pH or temp can cause these to denature
- This affects the rate of biochemical reactions
Explain why homeostasis is important with regards to water potential
- Water potential of blood and tissue fluid
- Can cause cells to shrink and expand as water moves by osmosis
Explain why homeostasis is important with regards to glucose potential
- Effects water potential
- Needed for respiration
Explain why homeostasis is important with regards to the external environment
- Can better resist external changes such as weather and seasons
Give the steps of a control mechanism
- Receptor - Detects any deviation from the optimum point and informs the coordinator
- Coordinator - Coordinates information from receptors and sends information to effectors
- Effector - Causes changes to bring the system back to the optimum point
Define optimum point
The point at which the system operates best
Define positive feedback
When a deviation from an optimum causes changes that result in an even greater deviation
What factors may affect blood glucose conc?
- Diet - hydrolysis of carbohydrates
- Glycogenolysis
- Gluconeogenesis
Define glycogenesis
Conversion of glucose to glycogen
Define glycogenolysis
Breakdown of glycogen to glucose
Define gluconeogenesis
Producing glucose from sources other than carbohydrates e.g glycerol and amino acids
Where is glucagon produced?
- Pancreas
- Alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans
- a-cells are larger
Where is insulin produced?
- Pancreas
- Beta cells of the islets of Langerhans
- B-cells are smaller
Describe the action of insulin
- Binds to specific receptors on cell-membranes of target cells
- Increases cell uptake of glucose
- Activates enzymes involved in glycogenesis
- Decreases blood glucose conc
Describe how insulin increases a cells rate of absorption of glucose
- Change in the tertiary structure of the channel proteins
- Increased respiratory rate of cell
- Increases the number of channel proteins
Describe the action of glucagon
- Attach to receptor on the surface of liver or muscle cells
- Activates enzymes involved in glycogenolysis
- Activates enzymes involved in gluconeogenesis
- Increases blood glucose conc