ch 8 (revised) Flashcards
define homeostasis
an equilibrium between an organism’s physiological functions and between the organism and the environment
- response to changing envrironments
define steady state
achieved by self adjustment (opposite is death)
define dynamic equilibrium
remains stable with fluctuation limits
components of control systems/feedback loops:
- monitor (special sensors in the organs detect changes in homeostasis)
- coordinating centre (the brain) (receives messages from sensors and relays to appropriate regulator, aka the organ/tissue that will restore steady state)
- regulator (muscle/organ that restore the normal balance)
process of control systems/feedback loops
- stimulus disrupts homeostasis (increases/decreases a controlled condition monitored by receptors)
- receptors send input to control center
- control center receives input and gives output as effectors
- effectors respond to alter controlled condition
- return to homeostasis when condition is back to normal
define negative feedback loop
- most control systems
- prevent small changes from becoming too large
- response opposite to stimulus
define positive feedback loops
- small effect is amplified
- response same as stimulus
- leads to instability/death
example of negative feedback loop
body provides insulin when blood pressure is low
example of positive feedback loop
childbirth
1. decrease in progesterone (prevents preterm birth), increase in uterine contraction
2. release of oxytocin, increase in stronger contractions
3. baby expelled, contractions stop, release of oxytocin stops
chemical signals
- hormones: produced by endocrine system, convey info BETWEEN ORGANS
- pheromones: chemical signals used to communicate BETWEEN INDIVIDUALS
- neurotransmitters:chemical signals between local cells (short distances/between neurons)
nervous vs endocrine system
nervous: involved with high speed messages
endocrine: involved in the production, release, and movement of chemical messengers
role of the nervous system
- the brain is the body’s control centre
- nervous system: the body’s interface with the external environment and control system for internal environment (monitors and controls processes)
- brain, spinal cord, and nerves make up the nervous system (brain has more than 100 billion nerve cells, each with up to 10,000 connections with other nerve ends)
function of CNS
(brain and spinal cord) integrates and processes info from nerves (PNS)
function of PNS
(nerve network) carries sensory messages to CNS (afferent) + sends info from CNS to muscles/glands (efferent)
PNS: afferent system
carries TOWARDS
- receives messages from receptors/body and transmits to CNS/brain for interpretation by afferent neurons (sensory neuron)
PNS: efferent system
carries AWAY
- messages from brain to effectors (muscles/glands) by efferent neurons (motor neurons)
- divided into somatic and autonomic
PNS: efferent system: somatic system
- composed of efferent (motor) neurons that carry signals to skeletal muscles in response to external stimuli
- voluntary (though some skeletal muscle contractions are involuntary, like reflexes/shivering)
PNS: efferent system: autonomic system
- communicates with smooth muscles/glands
- mostly involuntary processes (digestion, sweating)
- division are always active + have opposing effects on their organs
- divided into sympathetic and parasympathetic division
PNS: efferent system: autonomic system: sympathetic division
- increases energy consumption + preps body for action
- dominates in situations of stress (/danger/excitement/physical strain)
PNS: efferent system: autonomic system: parasympathetic division
- stimulates body activities acquiring/conserving energy
- dominates in quiet/low stress situations
- effects of sympathetic division are reduced and maintenance activities dominate (digestion)
two kinds of cells of nervous system:
- neurons (nerve cells)
- glial cells