Principles of Homeostasis and Negative Feedback Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the process by which organisms maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions.
Why is homeostasis important?
Homeostasis is important because it ensures optimal conditions for enzyme function and cellular processes, helping to maintain health and survival.
What are the components of a homeostatic system?
A homeostatic system includes a receptor (detects changes), an integrator (compares the change to a set point), and an effector (carries out the response to restore balance).
What is the principle of negative feedback?
Negative feedback is a mechanism that reverses a change in a controlled condition, bringing it back to a set point to maintain stability.
What is an example of negative feedback in humans?
An example of negative feedback is the regulation of body temperature, where the body works to increase or decrease temperature as needed to return to the set point.
How does the body regulate blood glucose levels?
The body regulates blood glucose through negative feedback involving insulin and glucagon. When blood glucose is high, insulin is released to lower it; when it’s low, glucagon is released to raise it.
What role do receptors play in homeostasis?
Receptors detect changes in the internal environment and send signals to effectors to initiate the appropriate response to restore balance.
How does the hypothalamus contribute to homeostasis?
The hypothalamus regulates temperature, osmoregulation, and other homeostatic processes by detecting changes and activating appropriate responses.
What is the role of the pancreas in homeostasis?
The pancreas helps regulate blood glucose levels by secreting insulin (to lower glucose) and glucagon (to raise glucose) in response to negative feedback.
What is the difference between positive and negative feedback?
Negative feedback counteracts a change to bring the system back to normal, while positive feedback amplifies a change, driving the system further from equilibrium.
How does the body respond to a rise in body temperature?
The body responds by activating cooling mechanisms like sweating and vasodilation, which helps to lower the temperature back to the set point.
How does the body respond to a drop in body temperature?
The body responds by activating warming mechanisms like shivering and vasoconstriction, which help to raise the temperature back to the set point.
What is the role of the kidneys in homeostasis?
The kidneys regulate water and salt balance in the body through filtration and reabsorption, helping to maintain blood volume and osmolality.
What is osmoregulation?
Osmoregulation is the process of maintaining the balance of water and salts in the body to ensure the proper functioning of cells and organs.
How does the body regulate water balance?
The body regulates water balance through the action of antidiuretic hormone (ADH), which controls the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidneys.
What is the function of ADH in homeostasis?
ADH (antidiuretic hormone) helps to control the amount of water reabsorbed by the kidneys, regulating urine volume and maintaining blood water balance.
What are effectors in homeostasis?
Effectors are organs or cells that carry out a response to a change in the body, such as muscles, glands, or organs like the kidneys.
How does the body detect changes in temperature?
Temperature changes are detected by thermoreceptors in the skin and hypothalamus, which send signals to effectors to maintain optimal body temperature.
What is the role of vasodilation and vasoconstriction in temperature regulation?
Vasodilation increases blood flow to the skin to release heat, while vasoconstriction reduces blood flow to conserve heat when body temperature is too low.
What happens during a positive feedback loop?
During positive feedback, a change in a system is amplified, leading to an even greater deviation from the set point. A common example is childbirth, where contractions stimulate more contractions.
