Homeostatis Flashcards
What does homeostasis mean?
Maintaining a constant internal environment
What bodily levels need to be controlled?
Ion content
Water content
Sugar content
Temperature
How is water lost from the body?
Skin as sweat
Lungs in breath
Kidneys as urine
What happens when the body detects a high level of glucose in the blood?
Pancreas - detects high glucose in blood
Pancreas releases insulin
Insulin converts into glycogen
Glycogen stored in liver and muscles
What happens when a low concentration of glucose is detected in the blood?
Pancreas detects low levels of glucose in blood
Pancreas releases glucagon
Glucagon converts glycogen back into glucose
What is the normal body temperature?
37 - 37.5 degrees celcius
Where is the thermoregulatory centre?
In the brain
How do we regulate our temperature when we’re hot?
Sweat
Vasodialation at skin surface
Hairs on skins surface lay flat
Don’t shiver
How does sweat regulate our body temperature?
When we sweat it evaporates having a cooling effect
How do vasodialation regulate body temperature?
More blood at skin surface allowing heat to escape
What is vasodialation?
Widening of the blood vessels
How do hairs on our skins surface keep us cool?
Hairs lie flat
No layer of air at skin
No insulation
Why don’t we shiver when we’re hot?
Reduces respiration
Less heat produced
How do we regulate our body temperature when we’re cold?
Stop swearing
Vasoconstriction
Hairs stand on end
Shiver
Why do we stop sweating when we’re cold?
Stop evaporation reducing the cooling effect
