Homeostasis - Topic 1 Flashcards
What is Homeostasis?
The ability to maintain a constant internal environment (within tolerable limits) despite changes to the internal and external environment
What is a stimulus?
Is any factor, external or internal, that stimulates a response in a body to return to its normal state
Examples of internal stimulus?
chemical - oxygen, carbon dioxide, ions, wastes and water
physical - temperature, blood, pressure and balance
Examples of external stimulus?
chemical - food, oxygen, carbon dioxide, water and specific chemicals
physical - light, temperature, gravity, sound and day length
What are receptors?
Receptors are specialized structures capable of responding to specific stimuli by initiating signals int eh nervous system or triggering the release of a hormone
What are exteroceptors?
Found in the external parts of the body
What are interoreceptors?
Found in the internal parts of the body
What do chemoreceptors detect?
Oxygen, carbon dioxide, pH, ions, complex organic compounds
What do mechanoreceptors detect?
Sound, sonar, touch, pressure, gravity
What do photoreceptors detect?
light, infrared radiation
What do thermoreceptors?
Heat and cold
What do electroreceptors detect?
electric fields, electric currents
What is the control centre?
Usually in the brain or central nervous system
In the control center information from sensory receptors is received and compared with a set point and a response is initiated
What are effectors?
Effectors are the cell, tissue, gland and organ that response to signals from the control center
They provide response to the stimulus in order to maintain homeostasis
