Homeostasis Flashcards
Principles of Homeostasis and the systems involved
What is Homeostasis?
The maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body.
What system controls the temperature of the body?
Thermoregulatory system
Where is the thermoregulatory located in the brain?
The hypothalamus
What happens when the body gets too cold?
- Skeletal muscles contract rapidly and we shiver.
- Blood vessels become narrower which slows blood flow through the skin which conserves core body heat.
What happens when the body gets too hot?
- Sweat glands in the skin release more sweat.
- Blood vessels become wider allowing more blood flow through the skin and more heat to be lost to the environment.
What type of signal goes through the nervous system?
Electrical
What type of signal goes through the endocrine system?
Chemical
How are electrical signals from the nervous system transported?
Nerve Cells (neurons)
How are hormones from the endocrine system transported?
Bloodstream
What type of response does the nervous system bring about?
Muscle contraction or secretion
What type of reaction does the endocrine system bring about?
Chemical Change
What is the Pituitary Gland?
The pituitary gland in the brain secretes several hormones into the blood in response to the body’s conditions, such as blood water levels.
What is in the Nervous System?
- The brain
- The spinal cord
- Neurons
Describe the journey of the Nervous system.
- Stimulus (change in environment)
- Receptor (detects stimulus)
- Sensory Neuron (carries signal to the CNS)
- Coordinator (Brain & Spinal Cord)
- Motor Neurone (carries signal from CNS to Effector)
- Effector (muscles and glands)
- Response (reaction)
What is a receptor?
A cell that detects change in the environment.
What is an effector?
Muscles and Glands that produce a specific response to a detected stimulus.
What is a synapse?
Where two neurons meet there is a small gap where electrical signals cannot surpass.
What are the four main areas of the brain?
- The cerebrum
- The cerebellum
- The Medulla
- The Hypothalamus
What are the functions of the cerebrum?
Cerebrum- Intelligence, Personality, conscious thoughts.
What are the functions of the cerebellum?
Balance, Coordination of movement and muscular activity.
What are the functions of the Medulla?
Unconscious activities .e.g. heart rate and breathing.
What are the functions of the hypothalamus?
Temperature, Blood sugar levels and water balance
What are the main structures of the eye?
- Cornea
- Iris
- Lens
- Retina
- Optic Nerve
- Sclera
What is the function of the cornea?
Refracts light and bends it as it enters the eye.
