B5 - homeostasis Flashcards
homeostasis
Homeostasis is the regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external stimuli
3 things regulated by homeostasis
- regulation of blood glucose concentration
- regulation of body temperature
- regulation of water levels
automatic control systems
the process by which the body maintains conditions of the internal environment
order of automatic control system
- receptors - detect stimuli and send information to cc
- coordination center - process information and organise response
- effectors - produce response to return condition to optimum (either chemical or nervous)
receptors
detect stimuli and send information to coordination centers
coordination centers
- located in brain spinal chord and pancreas
- process information and coordinate a response
effecters
- produce response to return conditions to optimum
- either a chemical response ( hormones secreted from glands) or nervous response (electrical impulses causing muscle contraction)
what does thyroxine do
thyroxine is a hormone that uses negative feedback to regulate metabolism
what does adrenaline cause and does it use negative feedback
Adrenaline is a hormone that triggers a ‘fight or flight‘ response and is not controlled by negative feedback.
how do negative feedback cycles work
They work by detecting and counteracting changes in bodily conditions
what causes the negative feedback CYCLE
Effectors continue producing responses as long as they are stimulated by coordination centres which means it is common for the level to be increased/decreased too much. In these cases, negative feedback begins again in the opposite direction.
3 things
what does thyroxine do
- it controls metabolism.
- regulates the speed of chemical reactions when at rest (basal metabolic rate)
- controls growth and development by stimulating protein synthesis.
where is TSH released
Thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH) is released from the pituitary gland
what does TSH do
stimulates the thyroid gland to release thyroxine.
how are thyroxine levels regulated
(in terms of hormones)
When thyroxine levels are too high, the secretion of TSH is restricted reducing the amount of thyroxine released from the thyroid gland.
When thyroxine levels become too low, the secretion of TSH is increased, increasing the amount of thyroxine released from the thyroid gland.
how is adrenaline secreted
Fear and stress are detected by the brain which sends nervous impulses to the adrenal glands which start secreting adrenaline.
what happens after adrenaline is secreted (what does ot cause)
Adrenaline triggers systems that will increase the delivery of oxygen and glucose to the brain and muscles, e.g. increasing heart rate, increasing breathing rate, This prepares the body so it is able to respond quickly in dangerous situations.
purpose of homeostasis
Homeostasis maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions
how is body temperature monitored and controlled
Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the brain.
inthe thermoregulatory center
how is body temperature monitored and controlled
The thermoregulatory centre contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of the blood.
how does the skin monitor body temperature
The skin contains temperature receptors and sends nervous impulses to the thermoregulatory centre
2
how does the skin react when body temperature is too high
- blood vessels dilate (vasodilation)
- sweat is produced from the sweat glands.
- Both these mechanisms cause a transfer of energy from the skin to the environment.
3
how does the skin react when the body temperature is too low
If the body temperature is too low,
* blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction),
* sweating stops
* skeletal muscles contract (shiver).
what is vasoconstriction
when blood vessels constrict due to low body temperature
what is vasodilation
when blood vessels dilate due to high body temperatures
what is the endocrine system
The endocrine system is composed of glands which secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream.
how do hormones travel to organs around the body
The blood carries the hormone to a target organ where it produces an effect.
compared to the nervous system how fast is the endocrine system and how long does it last
Compared to the nervous system the effects are slower but act for longer.
compared to the endocrine system how fast is the nervous system and how long does it last
the effects are faster but dont last as long
what is the pituitary gland
The pituitary gland in the brain is a ‘master gland’ which secretes several hormones into the blood in response to body conditions.
what do hormones released from the pituitary glands do
These hormones act on other glands to stimulate other hormones to be released to bring about effects.
where are the coordination centers located
located in brain ,spinal chord and pancreas
what is a chemical effector response
hormones secreted from glands
what is a nervous effector response
electrical impulses causing muscle contraction
where is thyroxine secreted
thyroid gland
purpose of the nervous system
The nervous system enables humans to react to their surroundings and to coordinate their behaviour.
Where is information passed in the nervous system? and how does it get there?
Information from receptors passes along cells (neurones) as electrical impulsesto the central nervous system (CNS).
What is the central nervous system composed of?
The CNS is the brain and spinal cord.
2
what response does the central nervous system coordinate through the effectors?
The CNS coordinates the response of effectors which may be muscles contracting or glands secreting hormones.
Recall the reflex arc.
Stimulus –> receptor –> coordinator –> effector –> response
Recall the 3 types of neurones found in the reflex arc.
Sensory neurone, Relay neurone and Motor neurone.
Describe reflex actions.
Reflex actions are automatic and rapid; they do not involve the conscious part of the brain.
three
Describe the function of the brain.
The brain controls complex behaviour. It is made of billions of interconnected neurones and has different regions that carry out different functions.
What have neuroscientists so far achieved? And how?
Neuroscientists have been able tomap the regions of the brain to particular functions by studying patients with brain damage, electrically stimulating different parts of the brain and using MRI scanning techniques.
Why is the brain difficult to study?
The complexity and delicacy of the brain makes investigating and treating brain disorders very difficult.