Scientific method and Homeostasis

Question 1

Explain the importance of maintaining the consistency of the internal environment

Answer 1

The body needs the ECF to be maintained in a state compatible with the survival of the individual cells.

80% of ECF is ISF
20% is Plasma

Question 2

Describe the principles between negative feedback control systems

Answer 2

Any change in temperature etc is detected by receptors.

Which is then fed to an integrating centre and compared to a reference level.
If there is a difference, a signal is sent to an effector and the change is negated.
The magnitude of the effector signal is proportional to the size of the response and the deviation.

Question 3

Explain what is meant by feedforward control

Answer 3

Feedforward control is a more sophisticated version of negative feedback, where more sensors are involved, and therefore, changes can be anticipated before significant changes occur. E.G Our skin detects minor changes in temperature before our core temperature is affected.

Question 4

Identify the different body fluid compartments

Answer 4

33% of body water goes to ECF

66% of body water goes to ICF