Homeostasis Flashcards
Describe what is meant by homeostasis and give examples. Describe the key features of automatic control systems in the body.
What is meant by the term “Homeostasis”?
Homeostasis is the regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes.
(honestly, homeostasis is all about keeping internal conditions as constant as possible so enzymes can function)
What does homeostasis have to make sure the internal conditions of a cell have optimum conditions for function in response to changes inside and outside the cell?
Homeostasis consists of automatic control systems making sure that the internal conditions of the body stay as constant as possible.
What do the bodies automatic control systems typically involve?
The automatic control systems in the body can typically involve the nervous system or hormones.
What is the bodies automatic control system?
Basically a system used by the body to regulate its internal conditions in response to internal or external changes so enzymes can function.
Example:
It cant be too hot.
It cant be too cold.
It cant be too acidic.
It cant be too alkaline.
And it will need a good supply of things like water and glucose.
What do enzymes require for them to work?
How does our bodies help them for this?
Enzymes require stable conditions in order to work.
They cannot work if the conditions around them change to much. So our bodies have automatic control systems in place to keep its internal conditions optimum for cells to function.
Scientists call this homeostasis.
What are the five main components of the bodies automatic control systems?
The five main components of the bodies automatic control systems are:
1. receptor cells
2. co-ordination centre
3. effector
4. stimulus
5. response
What are receptor cells?
/
What are the functions of the receptor cells?
Examples?
Receptor cells are cells which detect a change in the environment.
Environment could mean the bodies internal conditions such as the glucose concentration. However it could also mean the bodies external conditions such as temperature of the skin.
What do scientists call a change to the environment?
Scientists call a change to the environment a stimulus.
What are examples of co-ordination centres in the body?
Some examples of co-ordination centres in the body are: brain, spinal cord or pancreas.
What is the job / function of the bodies co-ordination centres?
Job of the co-ordination centres are to receive and process the information from the receptor cells and to then send instructions to the effector.
What is an effector? and what are its functions?
An effector is the muscle or a gland. The job of the effector is to carry out the response. (in other words restore the optimum level.)
What is the response in the automatic control system?
Its just the action the body takes to respond to the stimulus, the response is carried out by the effector.
For example:
Cold weather may act as a stimulus to your skin and the response may be your shivering and get goosebumps.
