Homeostasis

Question 1

Define homeostasis

Answer 1

the act of keeping the internal environment of a living organism within an acceptable range of conditions – controls temperature, pH, blood volume, oxygen levels, blood sugar levels, etc

Question 2

What is negative feedback?

Answer 2

When chemical signals (hormones) trigger the body to regulate conditions back to an ideal range - usually controlled by the hypothalamus

Question 3

What is positive feedback?

Answer 3

When the chemical signals (hormones) deliberately take the body conditions out of normal range in order to complete something - i.e: oxytocin released to increase contractions to deliver a baby

Question 4

What are the main 2 types of Nervous System?

Answer 4

Peripheral and Central Nervous Systems

Question 5

What is the CNS made up of and what does it do?

Answer 5

Brain and spinal cord

It processes information sent by nerves to the brain

Question 6

What is the peripheral nervous system made up of and what does it do?

Answer 6

Made up of Somatic System and Autonomic System

The Peripheral NS carries sensory messages from stimulus to the CNS and from the CNS to muscles and glands

Question 7

What is the somatic nervous system and what does it do?

Answer 7

It is part of the peripheral NS of sensory receptors in the head and extremities that carry information to the CNS and instructions from the CNS to the skeletal muscles.
It controls voluntary muscle movements

Question 8

What is the autonomic nervous system and what does it do?

Answer 8

Part of the peripheral NS that controls glandular secretions and functioning of the smooth and cardiac muscles. It is split into the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems that are involved in the fight/flight response

Question 9

What do the sympathetic and parasympathetic systems do?

Answer 9

They are part of the autonomic NS that regulates hormone secretion for fight/flight.
Sympathetic = arousal mechanisms
Parasympathetic = calming mechanisms