Homeostasis Flashcards
Describe homeostasis?
The goal of all the body’s physiological processes or the same or standing still
Homeostasis is concerned with keeping what within narrow limits?
Internal environment
Homeostasis mainly involved the regulation of the what that surrounds cells?
Fluid
What are the two main elements to the fluid that surrounds the cells?
Interstitial fluid / tissue fluids and blood plasma
What is tissue fluid?
Brings O2 and nutrients and gets rid of Co2
What is blood plasma?
The fluid that surrounds blood cells
What factors in the internal environment are regulated within?
Core body temp Blood plasma Blood gases pH Glucose Calcium ions Blood volume Sodium ions
What can affect the internal environment?
Heat gained from outside and from within ( muscle contraction and metabolism )
Cells can survive various challenges because the internal environment is stabilised by?
Homeostatic regulation
Why is it important for the surroundings of cells be within narrow limits?
Otherwise the chemicals within the cells may become subject to altered activity
What mechanisms are in operation in homeostasis?
Self adjusting mechanisms
What is negative feedback?
The response to a change in the internal environment, an automatic response which involved a corrective mechanism which reverses the original change and brings the variable within the internal environment back to normal
Why is it important to have a relatively stable glucose level in the internal environment?
Constant level in blood which allows mitochondria to produce ATP so that cells can carry out their activities
Glucose can be converted into carbs storage molecule called?
Glycogen
Glycogen can be broken down when necessary, releasing glucose into the blood which helps to maintain what?
Relatively stable blood glucose in between meals
