Exam 1-Fundamentals Flashcards
homeostasis
maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment
not equilibrium
structural dynamism
chemical structures of a living organism are remodeled, such that there are not absolute boundaries between an animal and its environment
avoider
maintains a set-point by avoiding certain environmental conditions
conformer
maintains a set-point by matching certain environmental conditions
(invertebrates, “give up”)
regulator
maintains a set-point by altering internal body function
we regulate body temp. glucose levels, water levels differently than our environment
Setting a goal
based on: natural selection, intraspecies variability (individual genetics, gender), life history
(changing a goal)
life-cycle
set-points may change during different life stages
(changing a goal)
acclimatization
chronic response of an individual to a natural environment that has changed in numerous ways (permanent/long lasting, cyclic-seasonal/circadian)
(changing a goal)
developmental acclimatization
exposure to a certain environment during critical periods of childhood to serve to establish a set point
(changing a goal)
acclimation
chronic response of an individual to an environment that has changed in a controlled manner
(not as realistic as acclimatization but easier to record)
negative feedback
a deviation from the set-point is opposed, bringing the system back to the set-point (blood pH, Calcium)
positive feedback
a deviation from the set-point is temporarily reinforced, escalating changes (action potentials, oxytocin when baby being born)
feed-forward regulation
the body anticipates a deviation from a set point, and thus alters function in order to minimize the deviation (preparing to eat, sleep/wake schedules, stress hormone, conscious-clothing)
