Homeostasis - B1a

Question 1

What is homeostasis?

Answer 1

The way in which all the functions in our body try to maintain a constant internal environment.

Question 2

What does your body need to keep constant and why?

Answer 2

To ensure cells work properly everything must be kept at the right level.
THIS INCLUDES;
Ion content
Water content,
Sugar content 
Temperature

Question 3

How is Ion content regulated?

Answer 3

Ions are taken from food we eat then are absorbed into the blood.
If the food has too much ions they must be removed.
Can be lost through sweat, or the kidneys remove it from the blood and pass them through urine.

Question 4

How is water content regulated?

Answer 4

Water is taken in through food and drink and is lost through;
the skin and sweat
the lungs and breath
the kidneys and urine

(on a cold day when your not exercising and don’t sweat, you produce more diluted urine. On a hot day when your sweating and exercising you produce little, concentrated urine.)

Question 5

How is temperature regulated?

Answer 5

Body temperature is controlled by the brain. enzymes need to work at 37oC so the body tries to maintain this. The brain is a personal thermostat and receives messages from the skin to alter your temperature.

Question 6

How is sugar content regulated?

Answer 6

Eating food with carbohydrates puts glucose into the blood from the gut. The normal metabolism of cells removes glucose from the blood and lots of exercise means lots of glucose is removed.
The hormone insulin helps maintain the right level of glucose in blood so your cells have a constant supply of energy.