Homeostasis

Question 1

What are the three components of any homeostatic mechanism?

Answer 1

Receptors, A Control Centre and Effectors

Question 2

What do receptors respond to?

Answer 2

Stimuli bringing change to a controlled condition within the body

Question 3

Where do receptors send information to in a homeostatic mechanism?

Answer 3

A Control Centre

Question 4

Homeostasis aims to do what?

Answer 4

Maintain a relatively stable internal environment

Question 5

Internal environment typically refers to what?

Answer 5

The composition of the interstitial fluid (from textbook)

Question 6

What are the controlled conditions that homeostasis regulates?

Answer 6

Body temperature, water balance, electrolyte balance, blood pH (acidity), blood glucose level and blood pressure

Question 7

What are the two types of Homeostatic feedback loops?

Answer 7

Negative and Positive feedback loops

Question 8

Baroreceptors respond to what?

Answer 8

Changes in blood pressure

Question 9

Where can baroreceptors be found?

Answer 9

The aortic arch and carotid sinus

Question 10

Chemoreceptors respond to what?

Answer 10

Changes in chemical stimuli including Oxygen, Carbon Dioxide, and Glucose

Question 11

What are chemoreceptors that specifically respond to blood glucose concentration? Where can they be found?

Answer 11

Glucoreceptors, found in the pancreas and hypothalamus

Question 12

Osmoreceptors respond to what?

Answer 12

Changes in fluid balance and blood osmolarity

Question 13

Where can osmoreceptors be found?

Answer 13

The Hypothalamus

Question 14

Thermoreceptors respond to what?

Answer 14

Changes in temperature

Question 15

Where can thermoreceptors be found?

Answer 15

On the skin and mucous membranes (Peripheral) and deeper in the body (Central)

Question 16

Where do homeostatic control centres get their input from?

Answer 16

Receptors sending information about changes in controlled conditions

Question 17

What do homeostatic control centres do after receiving information (input) from receptors?

Answer 17

Analyse the input and determine an appropriate response to carry out via effectors (output)

Question 18

What are effectors?

Answer 18

Means by which the body’s control centres can affect and change controlled conditions.

Question 19

Typically, effectors in the body are either ___ or ___

Answer 19

Typically, effectors in the body are either Glands or Muscles

Question 20

What do homeostatic negative feedback mechanisms aim to achieve in relation to a change in a controlled condition?

Answer 20

Homeostatic negative feedback mechanisms aim to reverse the change in the controlled condition

e.g. Decrease body temperature if the body is overheating

Question 21

What do homeostatic positive feedback mechanisms aim to achieve in relation to a change in a controlled condition?

Answer 21

Homeostatic positive feedback mechanisms aim to increase or intensify the change in the controlled condition until the end result is reached and the loop is terminated.

e.g. The loop of the baby exerting pressure on the cervix causing uterine contractions, pushing the baby towards the cervix during labor