homeostasis Flashcards
what is homeostasis?
- maintainance of a constant internal environment
- ensures that the internal conditions of an organism are kept constant all the time
- ensures the organism is independent of changes in external environment
what are the internal conditions that should be kept constant?
- temperature
- pH level
- water potential
- blood glucose concentration
- carbon dioxide concentration
describe temperature as a condition?
- enzymes in body can only work within a certain range of temperatures
- change in temperature: inactive or denatured
describe pH level as a condition?
- affects enzyme activity and rate of cellular reactions
describe water potential of a condition?
- composition of tissue fluid has to be maintained to ensure w.p. of cells is kept constant
- changes in w.p of blood plasma affects body cells
- body cells may shrink and crenate or burst in solutions with w.p. different from cytoplasm
describe blood glucose concentration as a condition?
- glucose in food is required for tissue respiration which releases energy for cells to carry out activities
- glucose levels increase after meals and decrease after physical exertion
- if blood glucose concentration changes, it can be dangerous
what are the homeostasis terms?
Stimulus : change in internal environment
Receptor: organ that detects the stimulus and sends signals to control centre
Corrective mechanism: brings about the reverse effect of stimulus
Negative feedback: a set of corrective mechanism triggered due to a change in the internal environment detected by receptor to bring about reverse effect of stimulus
to restore normal conditions
Norm: set point to be maintained
what happens when the condition is above normal?
- normal
- stimulus (rises)
- receptor (detects)
- control centre
- corrective mechanism
- condition decreases
- normal
feedback is sent from condition to receptor
what happens when condition is below normal?
- normal
- stimulus (decreases)
- receptor (detects)
- control centre
- corrective mechanism
- condition rises
feedback is sent from condition to receptor as condition rises/decreases
what happens when blood glucose concentration is above normal level?
stimulus: blood glucose conc rises above normal
↓
receptor : islets of Langerhans in pancreas is stimulated
↓
corrective mechanism: islets of Langerhans secrete insulin into bloodstream. Blood transports insulin to the liver and muscles. Insulin to permeability of cell surface membrane to glucose. Glucose is absorbed more quickly by cells. Insulin causes liver and muscles to convert excess glucose to glycogen, which is stored in liver and muscles
↓
blood glucose concentration decreases. This provides feedback to receptor to reduce insulin production
↓
Decrease back to normal
when happens when blood glucose concentration is below normal level?
stimulus: blood glucose conc. falls below normal
↓
receptor : islets of Langerhans in pancreas stimulated
↓
corrective mechanism: islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon into the bloodstream. Blood transports glucagon to liver and muscles. Glucagon causes the conversion of stored glycogen back to glucose. From liver, glucose enters bloodstream
↓
Blood glucose concentration increases. This provides a feedback to receptor to decrease glucagon production
↓
Increases back to normal
when happens when blood w.p. is above normal level/below normal level?
stimulus: w.p of blood increases/dec
↓
receptor: hypothalamus stimulated
↓
corrective mechanism: less ADH is released by the pituitary gland into the bloodstream. Less ADH transported to kidneys. Cells in walls of collecting ducts become less permeable to water. Less water reabsorbed into the bloodstream. More water excreted. Urine is more diluted. More urine produced
↓
feedback sent as w.p of blood decreases
↓
w.p. decreases back to normal
what is the structure of the human skin?
- epidermis (outermost layer)
- dermis
- hair
- sweat gland
- sensory receptors
- subcutaneous fat
what is the function of the epidermis?
- cornified layer, forms outermost surface of skin, consists of dead dry cells called keratin deposits. Dead cells are continuously shed
- granular layer, middle layer of epidermis. consists of living cells that move upwards. cells eventually die and form cornified layer
- malpighian layer, innermost layer. Consists of actively dividing cells that contain melanin
what is the function of the dermis?
- below Malpighian layer
- upper part thrown into ridges or
pupillae(folds) - has numerous blood capillaries supplying blood to skin
- when arterioles dilate, more blood flows to skin surface blood capillaries (vasodilation)
- when arterioles constrict, less blood flows to skin surface blood capillaries (vasoconstriction)
- vasodilation and vasoconstriction play a role in body temperature regulation