Commnication and Homeostasis Flashcards
What is cell signalling
this is the way that cells communicate with each other
what are the set of conditions that all living things need to maintain
- a suitable temperature
- a suitable pH
- an aqeous environment that keeps the substrates and products in solution
- freedom from toxins and excess inhibitors
What happens when cell conditions are not maintained
- the cells become inactive and die, in multicellular organisms cells are specialised and rely upon each other therefore they must be able to communicate in order to coordinate their activities without this they may die
what threat can the external environment cause
- if the external environment changes it may put pressure on the organism, for example cooler environment will cause greater heat loss
- if the organism wants to survive then it has to monitor the changing environment and change its behaviour and physiology to reduce stress
- environmental is a stimulus and the way which the organism changes its behaviour or physiology is a response
- may adapt slowly as the environment changes throughout the year
How do organism change there internal environment
- range of tissues that are protected by epithelial tissues and organs
- internal cells and tissues are bathed in tissue fluid and this is the environment of the cells
- cells undergo metabolic activities and use up their unwanted substrates and create new products these move into and out of the tissue fluid therefore the cells create their own environment
- for example a waste product is co2 this goes into the tissue fluid and alters the ph of the cells which can stop enzymes from functioning, this change in environment is a stimulus and causes a response
How does the body maintain its internal environment
- composition of tissue fluid is maintained by the blood - blood is a transport so gets rid of unwanted substances and brings wanted substances to the cells
- wastes are removed by excretion
- concentrations are monitored closely to make sure that they do not excrete to much useful substances and too little waste
What does a good communication system have
- covers the whole body
- enables cells to communicate with each other
- enable specific communication
- enable rapid communication
- enables both short term and long term responses
Why is a multicellular organism more effective than a single celled organism
Because cells are differentiated
- cells perform specific jobs and work together in tissues
- cells monitor blood can remove waste substances
What are the two major systems of communication
Neuronal system
Hormonal system
Describe the neuronal system
- interconnected network of neurones that signal to each other across synapse junctions
- very quick and get rapid responses to stimuli that may be quickly changing
Describe the hormonal system
- uses blood to transport signals
- cells in endocrine organ release signal directly into the blood this is then transported throughout the whole body but is recognised by specific target cells
- long term responses
What are the aspects maintained by homeostasis
- body temperature
- blood glucose concentration
- blood salt concentration
- water potential of the blood
- blood pressure
- carbon dioxide concentration
describe the standard response pathway
stimulus - receptor - communication pathway - effector - response
what is needed for the response pathway to work
- sensory receptors
- communication system
- effector
describe sensory receptors
- for example temperature receptors
- receptors may be on the surface of the skin, monitor changes in the external environment
- other monitor internal conditions in the body
- when it detects a change it will be stimulate to send a message to an effector
describe an effector
- cells such as liver or muscle cells
- bring about a response
What is homeostasis
- maintaining a constant internal environment despite changes in external and internal factors
what is negative feedback
the mechanism that reverses change bringing the system back to the optimum
what is positive feedback
the mechanism that increases a change taking the system further away from the optimum