Homeostasis & The Kidney

Question 1

What is homeostasis?

Answer 1

Homeostasis is the process by which organisms maintain a stable internal environment.

Question 2

Why is homeostasis important?

Answer 2

It allows the organism to maintain a stable internal environment despite external changes, ensuring proper enzyme function, metabolism, and overall cellular processes.

Question 3

What are the main factors regulated by homeostasis in humans?

Answer 3

Body temperature

Blood glucose concentration

Water and ion balance

Blood pH

Question 4

What is negative feedback?

Answer 4

Negative feedback is a process where a change in a system triggers a response that counteracts that change, bringing the system back to its set point.

Question 5

Can you give an example of negative feedback in homeostasis?

Answer 5

Temperature regulation: If body temperature rises, mechanisms like sweating and vasodilation are activated to cool the body, reducing the temperature to the set point.

Blood glucose regulation: If blood glucose is high, insulin is released to lower glucose levels; if low, glucagon is released to raise glucose levels.

Question 6

What role does the hypothalamus play in homeostasis?

Answer 6

The hypothalamus acts as the control center for temperature regulation and many other homeostatic processes. It receives input from receptors and coordinates responses to maintain a stable internal environment.