Glucoregulation and osmoregulation Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
the maintenance of a constant internal environment in a living organism
What things do homeostasis control?
body temp, blood glucose concentration, water potential of blood
What two systems are involved in homeostasis?
nervous and endocrine system
Why is homeostasis important?
for enzyme activity - pH/temp, for cell size - osmosis due to water potential changes, independence from external conditions - can maintain internal conditions regardless of the external environment
What are alpha receptor cells?
an islet of langerhans cell which produces glucagon
what is the autonomic nervous system?
part of the nervous system that is not under voluntary control
What are beta receptor cells?
an islet of langerhans cell which produces insulin
What is glucagon?
a hormone that increases blood glucose levels
What are effectors?
brings about a change to the system, either a muscle or a gland
What is gluconeogenesis?
the conversion of non-carbohydrate molecules to glucose
What is glucoregulation?
regulation of glucose
What is glycogenesis?
the conversion of glucose to glycogen
What is glycogenolysis?
the conversion of glycogen to glucose
What is the hypothalamus?
the region of the brain involved in homeostasis
What is insulin?
a hormone which decreases blood glucose levels
What is negative feedback?
a series of changes that results in a substance being restored to it’s normal/optimum level
What is osmoregulation?
regulation of water
What is the pancreas?
organ, location of islet of langerhans
What is positive feedback?
a process where the level of a substance becomes further away from the normal/optimum level