Principles of Homeostasis and Negative Feedback

Question 1

what is homeostasis?

Answer 1

involves the physiological control systems that maintain the internal environment within restricted limits

Question 2

why is homeostasis important?

Answer 2

• in maintaining a stable core temperature, stable blood pH and stable blood glucose concentration

Question 3

why is it important to have a stable core temperature?

Answer 3

• rate of metabolic reactions increases when temperature increases
• when temperature is too high, temperature causes the hydrogen bonds in proteins to break, active site of enzyme changes and the the enzyme denatures

Question 4

why is it important to have a stable blood pH?

Answer 4

• blood pH is too high or too low = enzymes denature
• ionic bonds and hydrogen bonds holding them together are broken

Question 5

why is it important to have a stable blood glucose concentration?

Answer 5

• blood glucose concentration is too high = water potential of blood is reduced, so water molecules would diffuse out of the cells into blood by osmosis = cells shrivel and die
• blood glucose contrition is too low = cells unable to carry out their usual reactions, such as aerobic respiration

Question 6

what does negative feedback do?

Answer 6

• restores systems to their original levels