Homeostasis Flashcards
What is meant by ‘homeostasis’? Describe it.
Homeostasis means ‘similar condition’. Basically keeping conditions optimal in the body.
What are our bodies constantly doing?
monitoring their internal state, responding to disruptions in a constant effort to maintain optimum ‘similar conditions’
Define tissue
a group of cells that share the same characteristics or specialisation ie work together to carry out a particular function.
Define system
group of organs working together to perform a specific function
Define organ
Collections of tissues that are usually of different types that synchronise to perform a specific function.
Define reflex
An action or movement that is not controlled by conscious thought (doesn’t go through conscious brain)
Homeostasis mechanisms are represented by reflexes .
What is the equation of life? and describe it
nutrients + O2 = energy (ATP) + CO2 + waste
02 breaks down nutrients like fats/lipids
supply and demand is important. If the demand for O2 goes up then the supply of substrates to produce energy also goes up to meet demand.
what is N.F.C? What are characteristics of it?
Negative feedback control (most common type)
Aim: to restore internal environment to optimal conditions.
Characteristics: 1. Oscillation around the set point- a range where variation of set point is okay. 2. Cannot prevent variable from causing disturbance but once it has happened it can restore regulated variable.
Process: Receptors detect disturbance in regulated variable and feed info into to integrating centre in the brain. Info is compared with reference level. Any difference between actual and reference level generates another signal which is fed to effector mechanism. Produces a response to correct original change.
Define an insensible loss
Water loss. Not aware but it’s happening all the time i.e skin and breath ie evapouration etc
What is P.F.C
Positive feedback control. This moves a system further away from target of equilibrium. When the product of a reaction leads to an incease in that reaction occuring. Initial disturbance sets off a train of events that lead to even greater disturbance.
What are feed forward systems
With these you can to some extent predict and prevent the change from happening. Additional receptors permit system to anticipate change and activate cahange earlier. (forward- think looking into future- predicting it)
Why is water balance crucial?
Crucial as if it is messed up, every other homeostatic process is messed up. Have to lose however much water we put into our bodies to keep a balance.
Discuss plasma. Composition?
Plasma is the fluid component of blood. It’s capillary walls are thin enough to allow movement of nutrients into I.S.F. Plasma proteins are too large to cross the capillary wall so the I.S.F is devoid of plasma protein.
Composition- 95% water, 5% is ions, nurients, plasma proteins etc
What happens if homeostasis doesn’t work effectively?
May not allow for normal functioning of the body. K+ conc increases outwith the normal range outside of the cell then there is a loss of concentration gradient between the E.C.F and I.C.F and this disrupts nerve and muscle function.
glucose and homeostasis
When muscle and liver cells cannot take up Glucose from the blood, the body fools itself into thinking it is starving. The liver releases glucose ino the blood stream from its stores. Which further increases b.g.c. This leads to uncontrolled hyperglycaemia which can ultimately cause death.
Where is water in our body?
Water in our body is split into 3 compartments. Intracellular fluid, interstitial fluid and plasma. Water can move freely between the 3 compartments and osmosis determines where the water will go.
What is the ratio of E.C.F to I.C.F (total water conc.) in the body?
1/3 E.C.F 2/3 I.C.F
What does the kidney determine?
urinary losses and regulates output of water
