Homepstatis- Paper 2 Flashcards
Define homeostasis
The maintenance of a stable/constant internal environment
The ability to respond to changes and maintain organisms’s cells, tissues and organ systems in a balanced equilibrium around an optimum point of
What is the benefit of maintaining a constant internal environment and why is this important
Enzyme controlled biological reactions can take place at a constant optimum rate
Organism that control this are more independent as they have a greater geographical range so can colonise more habitats and ecosystems
Also have a greater chance of finding food, shelter and mates
Control mechanisms pathway
Receptors—> sensory neurones—> CNS—> motor neurones—> effectors
Negative feedback definition
Negative feedback means that there is an increase/ decrease from the set point, the opposite effect is instigated- produces a response that returns the value to the norm
Positive feedback definition
Occurs when a deviation from an optimum causes even greater deviation from the normal
What are endotherms
Maintain body temperature by both physiological and behavioural means
What are ectotherms
Maintain body temperatures by behavioural means only- exposing themselves to the sun, taking shelter and gaining warmth from the ground.
The temperature control system in endotherms - hot and cold
Monitored by receptor in the hypothalamus
Hot:
- a rise in blood temperature is detected by thermo receptors in the heat loss centre
- the heat loss centre sends nerve impulses to the sphincter muscles in the skin arterioles and to the sweat glands. Vasodilation and increased sweating result. The blood is cooled and the core temperature falls.
Cold:
- a fall in blood temperature is detected by thermoreceptors in the heat gain centre
- the heat gain centre stimulates vasoconstriction and shivering. The hairs on the skin are pulled upright.
- thermoreceptors are also found in the skin which will detect a change in skin temperature and send nerve impulses via the autonomic nervous system to the hypothalamus.
Describe how a hormone works
- produced by pancreas glands, which secrete directly into the blood
- carried in the blood plasma to target cells
- receptors are complementary shape to the hormone
- hormones bind to specific receptors only on the target cells which have the complementary receptor
-they are effective in small quantities but often widespread and have long lasting effects
Describe the pathway of blood glucose regulation
Islets of langerhans- beta cells- capillaries into which hormones are secreted- pancreas has glucose receptor cells which control glucose concentration
What is the range for blood glucose concentration
80-100mg 100cm-3
Name the classifications of high and low blood glucose concentration
Hypoglycaemia- very low levels
Hyperglycaemia- very high levels of
What are the endocrine cells of the pancreas called and what do they secrete specifically - what is their relationship
Islets of langerhans
Alpha cells secrete glucagon
Beta cells secrete insulin
They are antagonistic
Describe the process behind insulin secretin
Insulin is a peptide hormone and is synthesised and secreted by beta cells in the pancreas
Insulin reduces blood glucose levels to a normal range
- Insulin binds to complementary receptors on the cell surface membrane of target cells
- This controls the uptake of glucose by regulating the inclusion of glucose carrier proteins in the surface membranes of target cells (striated muscle cells and adipose tissue)
- Insulin also activates enzymes hat stimulate the conversion of glucose to glycogen (glycogenesis). this therefore decreases blood glucose
Off spec: GLUT1 channel proteins are found on all cell membranes
Describe the process behind glucagon secretion
Synthesised and secreted by alpha cells in the pancreas- aim is to increase blood glucose levels to a normal range
- Glucagon binds to receptors on the cell surface membrane of target cells
- Activate enzymes involved in the hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose (Glucogenolysis)
- Activates enzymes involved in the conversion of glycerol and amino acids into glucose (gluconeogenesis)
Explain the action of glucagon
- works by activating enzymes
- hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose (Glycogenolysis)
- gluconeogenesis
Describe the role of glycogen formation and its role in lowering blood glucose levels
- glucose concentration in the cell/liver falls
-below that in blood - creates glucose concentration diffusion gradient
- glucose enters cell by facilitated diffusion via carrier proteins
Describe how blood glucose levels can be increased using hormones
- release of glucagon from alpha cells
- leads to the formation of glucose in liver cells
- from non-carbohydrates
Describe what happens after a meal
- glucose is absorbed from the ilium into the hepatic portal vein
- blood glucose concentration increases, which is detected by the pancreas
- pancreas secretes insulin from its beta cells
- insulin causes glucose to be taken up by the liver and converted into glycogen
- this reduces blood glucose, which is detected by the pancreas which stops secreting insulin
- if the glucose level falls too far this is detected by the pancreas
- pancreas now secretes glucagon from its alpha cells
- glucagon causes the liver to hydrolyse some of its glycogen store to glucose, which diffuses into the blood via facilitated diffusion
- this increases blood blood glucose and pancreas stops secreting glucagon
Describe the second messenger model of hormone action
Adrenaline is a hormone released by adrenal glands which also increases blood glucose levels
- Adrenaline and glucagon both bind to specific transmembrane protein receptor on the surface of the target cell membrane- they are called the first messenger
- A hormone- receptor complex is formed (causing the receptors protein to change tertiary structure)
- The hormone receptor complex activates adenylate cyclase (an enzyme inside the cell that results in the conversion of ATP into cyclic AMP that acts as second messenger)
- The second messenger causes a series of chemical changes that produce the required rapid response
- The CAMP is the second messenger and activates protein kinase enzymes which produce a cascade of chain reactions that catalyse the conversion of glycogen to glucose
Glucagon definition
Hormone that causes hydrolysis of glycogen to glucose
Glycogen definition
Energy storage carbohydrate found in liver and muscles
Glycogenolysis definition
Glycogen hydrolysed to glucose
Glycogenesis definition
Glucose to glycogen