2.10.2 Control of Homeostasis

Question 1

Homeostasis (maintaining controlled conditions within the body) is under, what?

Answer 1

involuntary (automatic) control

Question 2

This means that the brain stem (or non-conscious part of the brain) and the spinal cord are involved in, what?

Answer 2

maintaining homeostasis – you don’t consciously maintain your body temperature or blood glucose level

Question 3

These automatic control systems may involve, what?

Answer 3

nervous responses or chemical responses (e.g. via hormones)

Question 4

All control systems that carry out co-ordinated responses require the following, what?

Answer 4

A stimulus (a change in the environment e.g. a change in glucose levels in the blood, a change in body temperature, etc.)

A receptor (receptor cells that detect stimuli)

A coordination centre (such as the brain, spinal cord and pancreas), which receives and processes information from receptors

An effector (a muscle or gland), which brings about responses to restore optimum levels

Question 5

What does a co-ordinated response require

Answer 5

A co-ordinated response (such as that required when there is not enough water in the blood) requires a stimulus, a receptor, and an effector