B1: Homeostasis Flashcards
Define the term ‘homeostasis’.
The maintenance of a constant internal environment.
What bodily levels need to be controlled?
- Ion content
- Sugar content
- Water content
- Temperature
How are ions taken into the body?
Through the consumption of food, which is then absorbed into the blood.
How are ions lost from the blood?
- Some ions are lost in sweat
2. The kidneys will remove excess ions from the blood, which excreted from the body through urine
How are sugars taken into the body?
Through foods containing carbohydrates, which puts glucose into the blood from the gut
How are sugars removed from the body?
- The normal metabolism of cells removes glucose from the blood
- Insulin (a hormone) helps to maintain the right level of glucose in your body so your cells get a constant supply of energy.
How is water taken into the body?
Through food and drink.
How is water lost from the body?
- Through the skin as sweat
- Through the lungs in breath
- Via the kidneys as urine
- Some water is also lost in faeces
What happens to your urine on a cold day?
The urine will be more diluted and pale because on a cold day, or when you’re not exercising, you do not sweat as much so more urine is produced in order to maintain the water content in the body.
What happens to your urine on a hot day?
The urine will be more concentrated and deeper in colour because on a hot day, or when exercising, you sweat a lot so you will produce less urine in order to maintain the water content in the body. You will also lose more water through your breath when you exercise because you breathe faster.
What temperature do enzymes work best at in the human body?
37 degrees Celsius.
How does the brain regulate body temperature?
Part of the brain is sensitive to the blood temperature in the brain, and it receives messages from the skin that provide information about skin temperature.
