Chapter 10 - Homeostasis and thermoregulation Flashcards
Homeostasis
The maintenance of a constant internal environment within tolerance limits despite fluctuations in the external environment
what is the purpose of homeostatic regulation
To maintain internal factors around a set normal value. When the factors deviate away from the value, homeostatic adaptations will attempt to bring the factor back to the normal value
Metabolism
The sum of all the chemical reactions occurring within an organism to maintain life. Includes reactions enabling an organism’s growth, homeostasis and reproduction
enzymes
A reusable, biological catalyst that lowers the activation energy of chemical reactions, making them proceed faster. It is a protein that is sensitive to factors such as temperature and pH
negative feedback
feedback that reduces the effect of, or eliminates the original stimulus. eg aircon in building
receptors
A cell or tissue that detects a stimulus (change in the environment). May be internal or external
what are the five main types of receptors
- Chemoreceptors (chemical stimuli - aorta, carotid arteries)
- Mechanoreceptors (mechanical stimuli)
- Photoreceptors (light signals - eyes)
- thermoreceptors (change in temperature - skin, hypothalamus)
- nociceptors (pain)
- Osmoreceptors (osmotic pressure - hypothalamus)
Interstitial fluid
fluid that lies in spaces between cells
what does the nervous system consist of
- The central nervous system (brain and spinal cord) - receives sensory information from receptors, interprets and processes the information and produces a response
- The peripheral nervous system (sensory and motor neurons) transmit info to and from the CNS
what is the pathway of nerve impulses
Follow sensory neurons from source of stimulation, via the PNS to the CNS. Interconnecting neurons located in the CNS relay the electrical impulses from the sensory neurons to the appropriate motor neurons. From the CNS, motor neurons relay information signals via the PNS to the effectors.
Afferent
From receptor to CNS
Efferent
From the CNS to the effector
What are the four differences between the actions of nerves and hormones
- Nervous responses are more rapid than hormonal as nerve impulses travel rapidly along nerve fibres while hormones are transported in the bloodstream
- Nerve impulses bring about an immediate response which lasts for a short time. Hormones are slower acting but can last a considerable time
- Nervous messages are an electrochemical change that travels along membrane of neuron. Endocrine messages are hormones that are transported by blood
- Nervous impulses travel along a nerve fibre to a specific part of the body and often influence just one effector. Hormones travel to all parts of the body and effect a number of different organs
example of hormone regulation in humans
ADH secreted by the pituitary gland effecting the kidneys, stimulating the reabsorption of water, helping maintain an appropriate water balance in the body
example of hormone regulation in other organisms
Female ring doves coo during courtship to stimulate the release of the hormones that result in egg development.
what are the three types of neurons on their function
- Sensory (receptors –> CNS)
- Interconnecting (Sensory neurons –> motor neurons)
- Motor (CNS –> effector)
examples of factors that can vary in the environment
Temperature, water availability, nutrients, oxygen and carbon dioxide
Positive feedback
feedback model that strengthens and intensifies the effects of the stimulus. EG, blood clotting, childbirth, development of frogs and toads
Five parts of a negative feedback model
- Stimulus: change in internal or external environmental factors. Involves a deviation away from normal value
- Receptor: Cell or tissue that detects the stimulus. May be internal or external
- Modulator (coordinating centre): Structure that receives messages from receptors (via sensory neurons), coordinates a response, send instruction to effector
- Effector: Muscle or gland that receives message from control centre and carries out the response
- Response: the action of the effector that counteracts the stimulus
- Negative feedback: factor returns to normal value
set point
optimal value for an internal variable such as temperature