Regulating homeostasis Flashcards
What is an external environment?
The environment outside an organism
What is an internal environment?
The fluid surrounding the cells (in a multicellular organism). It is also called the extracellular fluid
What are some examples of extracellular fluid?
Tissue fluid, plasma, cerebro-spinal fluid, lymph
What is intracellular fluid?
The fluid inside the cell (cytosol)
What is homeostasis?
The ability of an organism to regulate and maintain a stable internal environment (within tolerable limits) in response to internal or external changes
What is another word for homeostasis?
Dynamic equilibrium
Why is being able to regulate an internal environment important?
Allows the organism to survive a greater range of conditions
What can happen if the internal environment is not adapting?
Cellular damage, death
What is the process of homestasis?
Detection of change from a stimuli by receptors, stimulating a response from effectors
What systems control homeostasis in animals?
Endocrine and nervous system
What systems control homeostasis in plants?
Endocrine system
How is homeostasis maintained?
Feedback loop systems
What is the feedback loop mechanism?
- A stimulus/initial event effects a key variable from a stable state, creating a signal
- The signal is detected by a receptor
- The signal is transferred to the control centre
- The control centre sends a signal to the effector
- The effector works to respond to the signal
What is an osmoconformer?
The solute concentration of internal environment is isotonic to external environment
What is an example of an osmoconformer?
Decorator crab
What is a benefit to being an osmoconformer?
No energy expended
What is a negative to being an osmoconformer?
Less tolerable to external changes
What is an osmoregulator?
Internal solute concentration is able to be controlled
What is the benefit to being an osmoregulator?
Tolerating fluctations in external environment
What is the negative to being an osmoregulator?
Energy expended tolerating changes
How does a negative feedback system work?
They respond to stimuli by reversing the direction of change, to bring back to the original state
What is an example of a negative feedback system?
Producing perspiration that cools the body by evaporative cooling. This assists to reduce the core temperature of the body thus decreasing the original stimuli
What is a positive feedback loop?
Response causes an increase in the original stimulus (not a part of homeostasis)
Are positive feedback loops mechanisms to maintain homeostasis?
No
What is an example of a positive feedback loop?
Pressure on the cervix in childbirth releases the hormone oxytocin, stimulating more contractions and greater pressure on the certix. This is then progressing labour
What is the stimulus-response model?
- Stimuli affecting a key variable from a stable signal, causing a signal
- Detected by a receptor.
- Signal is transferred to the control centre
- Control centre sends a message to an effector
- Effector works to respond to the signal
What are receptors?
Substances that detect stimuli and respond by triggering a response to the release of a hormone or initiating signals in the nervous system
How many receptor types are there?
4
Which receptors are stimulated by chemical change?
Chemoreceptors
Examples of what stimulates a chemoreceptor
Respiratory gases, water, glucose
Where are chemoreceptors located?
Blood (major arteries), taste buds, nose, lungs, brain
What are mechanoreceptors?
a receptor stimulated by mechanical forces or pressure changes. They are stimulated by forces that change the shape of a sensory nerve ending
Examples of what stimulates a mechanoreceptor
Sound, vibration, touch, pressure
Where are mechanoreceptors located?
Skin, ears, blood vessels, lungs, joints
What stimulates a photoreceptor?
Light
Where are photoreceptors located?
Eyes
Where are thermoreceptors located?
Skin, brain
What stimulates thermoreceptors?
Temperature changes
What are hormones?
Signalling molecules that are responsible for communication between organs and tissues
Where are hormones commonly involved in?
The response arm of the negative feedback loop
What are hormones produced by?
Specialised cells. In complex animals, these cells are clumped together in organs called ‘endocrine glands’
How do hormones exert their effect?
Passing directly through the plasma membrane or interacting with the receptor on the outside of the cell
What is the hypothalamus?
The collecting centre, receiving information/stimuli form all parts of the body about inernal condition. It uses this information to control the secretion of homrones by the pituitary glands
What is the exception to a body system not regulated by the hypothalamus?
Blood glucose levels, which is monitored by the pancreas
Why are hormones highly specific?
Only released with a specific simuli from a specific gland
Only certain receptors can react
Where is the pituitary gland located?
Underneath (and connected to) the hypothalamus)
What is the role of the pituitary gland?
To secrete hormones that affect target cells or that regulate secretion from other glands
What does the anterior gland do?
Produce hormones involved in growth and regulation
What does the posterior lobe do?
Stores hormones produced by hypothalamus
What is the mode of action of hormones?
Transported to where they are required by circulatory system (animals) or diffusion (signals)
How do hormones create an effect?
Act by transmitting signals to target cells, which possess a specific receptor for a specific hormone.
How do hormones exert their effect?
By passing through a plasma membrane or interacting with the receptor on the outside of the cell
How much energy do hormones require?
Very little -> they are free of charge