homeostatis Flashcards
what is homeostasis
Homeostasis is the condition of equilibrium (balance) in the body’s internal environment. It is a dynamic process by which we adapt and adjust to changes in our environment to maintain our functional integrity.
what are sensors / receptors
These are specialized cells or structures in the body that detect changes in the internal environment or external conditions. Sensors continually monitor variables like temperature, pressure, and chemical concentrations.
what are set points
Set points represent the ideal or target values for specific physiological variables. These set points act as reference points, indicating the desired conditions that the body aims to maintain.
what are effectors
Effectors are organs, tissues, or cells that carry out responses to deviations from set points. They work to counteract any changes from the set point and restore the variable to its optimal level.
what are feedback loops
Homeostasis often operates through feedback loops, which can be either negative or positive.
what variables are tightly controlled
PP of oxygen in blood
blood pressure
pp of carbon dioxide in blood
acid base balance
what variable’s are loosely controlled
total body water
body weight
blood glucose
internal body temperatures
what do receptors do in feed back loops
Receptors detect changes in conditions in the body and send this afferent information to the brain.
what do brain centers do in feedback loops
Brain ‘centers’ receive this information from the periphery and process and integrate it.
next step in feedback loop
They then send efferent information to effector organs either through nerves or hormones, or both, to negate (negative feedback) or to amplify (positive feedback) the change.
what is allostasis
is a broader concept that encompasses the body’s adaptive responses to changing external and internal conditions. It involves not only maintaining stability but also anticipating and preparing for future challenges.
what is negative feedback
Negative feedback acts to reduce an effect. That is, when a change occurs in a system, negative feedback opposes that change, and restores the controlled variable back to its usual value.
what is positive feedback
Positive feedback acts to increase an effect. That is, when a change occurs in a system, that change becomes amplified. An example of this occurs in ovulation, which results from the spike in estrogen release during the follicular phase of the menstrual cycle.
what is feedforward feedback
Feedforward loops are physiological responses in anticipation of a change in a variable. An example is the increase in heart rate prior to running a race. Heart rate increases even before oxygen demand in the muscles has increased
