chapter 9: homeostasis Flashcards
homeostasis
a relatively stable, balanced internal environment that is optimized for cellular activities
motivation
psychological process that induces or sustains a particular behavior
endotherms
we make our own heat inside our bodies using metabolism and muscular activity
ectotherms
animals that get their heat from outside the body
negative feedback
process whereby a system monitors its own output and reduces its activity when a setpoint is reached
set point
a point of reference in a feedback system
allostasis
varying behavioral and physiological adjustments that an individual makes in order to maintain optimal functioning of a regulated system in the face of changing environmental stressors
obligatory losses
unavoidable expenditures of bodily resources that must then be regained from the external environment
intracellular compartments
water that is contained within our cells
extracellular compartments
fluid that is outside of our cells, divided between interstitial fluid and blood plasma
diffusion
molecules of a substance (solute) dissolved in another substance (solvent) with move until a uniform concentration is achieved
osmosis
passive movement of a solvent, usually water, through a semipermeable membrane until a uniform concentration of solute (often salt) is achieved on both sides of the membrane
osmotic pressure
physical force that pushes or pulls water across the membrane
osmotic thirst
a desire to ingest fluids that is stimulated by high concentration of solute (salt) in the extracellular compartment
osmosensory neurons
neurons that specifically monitor the concentration of the extracellular fluid
circumventricular organs
monitor the concentration of extracellular fluid
vasopressin
pituitary hormone which acts on the kidneys to slow the production of urine by increasing the reabsorption of water