Homeostasis

Chapter 12
Homeostasis
Objectives
Students should be able to:
• Define homeostasis as the maintenance of
a constant internal environment
• Explain the basic principles of homeostasis
in terms of stimulus resulting from a change
in the internal environment, a corrective
mechanism and a negative feedback
Objectives continue…
• Identify on a diagram of the skin: hairs,
sweat glands, temperature receptors, blood
vessels and fatty tissue
• Describe the maintenance of a constant
body temperature in humans in terms of
insulation and the role of: temperature
receptors in the skin, sweating, shivering,
blood vessels near the skin surface and the
co-ordinating role of the brain
Introduction
• Textbook Pg 239
• How does animals such as penguins

keep their body temperature at 38 °C
when their surrounding temperature
could be as low as -20 °C?
The need of Homeostasis
• Conditions outside our body are changing
all the time.
• But conditions within our body must be
kept constant e.g pH and body
temperature. Why?
• Why does body temperature have to be
kept constant?
• Ensure that enzymes do not get inactivated or
denatured since enzymes only work within a a
certain temperature range
• Why must tissue fluid be kept at a

constant pH and water potential?
• Change in pH affects enzyme reactions in the
cells
• Change in water potential affects the cells
(cells can be crenated or burst)
What is homeostasis?
• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a
constant internal environment [body fluids
(tissue fluid & blood)]
• Once the internal environment is stable, it

allows an organism to be independent from
changes in the external environment
Homeostasis involves Negative Feedback
• Homeostatic control involves a principle

called negative feedback
• E.g. water potential of blood increases
above normal (norm), it is detected by a
receptor (detector). Your body respond
by returning the water potential back to
the normal condition. If water potential
goes too low, the body responds and the
water potential rises to normal again
• That is, the body always reacts to bring
about an opposite effect to changes
• If the system is disturbed, the disturbance

sets in motion a sequence of events that
tends to restore the system to its original
state  Negative feedback process
• Can you think of other examples where

the body uses the principle of negative
feedback to regulate changes?
Occurrence of homeostatic control
• There must be :
• A stimulus which is a change in the internal
environment
• A receptor which can detect the stimulus
• An automatic or self-regulatory corrective
mechanism, which brings about
• A negative feedback to the stimulus
Fig. 12.2
Examples of Homeostasis in Man
• Regulation of blood glucose
concentration (will be covered again)
• Regulation of blood water potential

(covered in Excretion)
• Temperature Regulation (will study in

details)
Chapter 12 Homeostasis
What Happens When Glucose Concentration Rises?
January 11, 2010
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration rises
above normal levels
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. January 11, 2010 14
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration rises
above normal levels
Receptor
Islets of Langerhans
in pancreas stimulated
pancreas
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration rises
above normal levels
Receptor
liver
Corrective Mechanism
Islets of Langerhans secretes
more insulin, which is
pancreas transported by blood to liver
and muscles
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration rises
above normal levels
Receptor
liver
Islets of Langerhans secretes Permeability of cell
more insulin, which is surface membrane
transported by blood to liver to glucose increases
pancreas
and muscles
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration rises
above normal levels
Receptor Liver and muscles

Islets of Langerhans excess glucose  glycogen convert excess
glucose to glycogen.
in pancreas stimulated Glycogen is stored in
liver and muscles
liver
pancreas
and muscles
Stimulus Blood glucose

Blood glucose concentration
decreases and
concentration rises insulin production
above normal levels falls

liver and muscles
liver
pancreas
and muscles

Blood glucose concentration decreases and
concentration rises returns to insulin production
above normal levels normal falls

liver and muscles
liver
pancreas
and muscles

Blood glucose concentration decreases and
concentration rises returns to insulin production
above normal levels normal falls
Negative feedback

liver and muscles
liver
pancreas
and muscles
What Happens When Glucose Concentration Falls?
January 11, 2010
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration falls
below normal levels
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration falls
below normal levels
Receptor
pancreas
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration falls
below normal levels
Receptor
liver
Islets of Langerhans secretes
more glucagon, which is
transported by blood to liver
pancreas and muscles
Stimulus
Blood glucose
concentration falls
below normal levels
Receptor
glycogen  glucose
liver
Corrective Mechanism Glucagon converts

Islets of Langerhans secretes stored glycogen
more glucagon, which is back to glucose.
transported by blood to liver From liver, glucose
pancreas and muscles enters bloodstream
Stimulus
Blood glucose
Blood glucose concentration rises
concentration falls and glucagon
below normal levels production decreases
Receptor
liver

Stimulus
Blood glucose Blood glucose
Blood glucose concentration concentration rises
concentration falls returns to normal and glucagon
Receptor
liver

Stimulus
Blood glucose Blood glucose
Blood glucose concentration concentration rises
concentration falls returns to normal and glucagon
Negative feedback
Receptor
liver

The Mammalian Skin
• Functions:
1. Protective covering
2. Excretory organ
3. Regulator of body temperature
• Any change in the temperature of the
surroundings can be detected by the
skin
Figure 12.4 A section of the human skin
Functions of the different parts of skin
• Blood vessels – to bring oxygen to the
cells in the skin. The arterioles can dilate
or constrict to regulate the amount of
blood flowing through the skin. This helps
to regulate body temperature
• sweat gland – produces sweat which can
help to cool down the body temperature
• Hair - can help to trap air to insulate the
body
• Nerve endings (temperature receptors) –
detect changes in temperature of the
external environment
• Fatty/adipose tissue – stores fat and

serves as an insulating layer, preventing
heat loss
Heat Production and Heat Loss
• Heat is produced in the body:
• Due to metabolic activities (e.g. tissue
respiration). Esp in liver and muscles
whereby lots of heat are produced in these
organs
• Extra heat in Man is gained by eating hot
food, from the sun, warm air, by exercising
• Heat is lost:
• Through the skin by convection, radiation
and conduction
• By evaporation of sweat from skin
• In the faeces and urine
• In the exhaled air coming from lungs
Regulating Body Temperature
• Hypothalamus in the brain
• monitors and regulates the body
temperature
• receives information about the heat
changes in the external environment from
the temperature receptors in the skin
• Monitors the temperature of blood that
passes through it
Regulating Body Temperature - on a Hot Day
January 11, 2010
Stimulus
Blood and skin
temperatures rise
Stimulus
Blood and skin
temperatures rise
Receptor
Temperature receptors
detect changes and send
nerve impulses to the brain
hair follicle
hair
arteriole
blood capillaries
Stimulus
Blood and skin erector muscle
temperatures rise
Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Temperature receptors is stimulated and sends
detect changes and send nerve impulses to
nerve impulses to the brain relevant body parts
4
Greater heat loss
Stimulus skin surface capillaries

Blood and skin 1
temperatures rise Arterioles in
3
skin dilate
Shunt vessels constrict
arteriole
Receptor 2
Hypothalamus of brain
Temperature receptors More blood flows to is stimulated and sends
detect changes and send capillaries in skin nerve impulses to
7 More latent heat lost as sweat evaporates
sweat pore
Stimulus sweat duct
Blood and skin
temperatures rise 6 5 Sweat glands
Sweat
production more active
increases

Temperature receptors sweat gland is stimulated and sends
hair follicle
hair
arteriole
blood capillaries
8
Hair erector
muscles in
Stimulus skin relax
Blood and skin erector muscle
temperatures rise

Stimulus Corrective Mechanism

Blood and skin Increase in heat loss and
temperatures rise decrease in heat
production

Decreased
metabolic rate
reduces heat
production

production

Decreased
metabolic rate
Blood temperature
reduces heat
returns to normal levels
production

production

Decreased
metabolic rate
Blood temperature
reduces heat
returns to normal levels
production

production
Negative
feedback

Regulating Body Temperature - on a Cold Day
January 11, 2010
Stimulus
Blood and skin
temperatures fall
Stimulus
Blood and skin
temperatures fall
Receptor
Temperature receptors
detect changes and send
nerve impulses to the
brain
hair hair follicle

arteriole
blood capillaries
Stimulus
Blood and skin
temperatures fall
erector muscles
Receptor
Temperature receptors Hypothalamus of brain
detect changes and send is stimulated and sends
nerve impulses to the nerve impulses to
brain relevant body parts
4
Less heat loss
Stimulus
Blood and skin capillaries
skin surface
temperatures fall
1 3
Arterioles in Shunt vessels dilate
skin constrict
arteriole
Receptor 2
Temperature receptors Less blood flows to Hypothalamus of brain
detect changes and send capillaries in skin is stimulated and sends
7 Less latent heat lost
Stimulus
Blood and skin sweat pore
temperatures fall sweat duct
6 5 Sweat glands
Sweat
production less active
decreases
Receptor
detect changes and send sweat gland is stimulated and sends
hair hair follicle

arteriole
blood capillaries
Stimulus 8
Hair erector
Blood and skin muscles in
temperatures fall skin contract
erector muscles
Receptor
Shivering occurs when

insufficient heat is produced
Stimulus
Blood and skin Corrective Mechanism
temperatures fall
Decrease in heat loss
and increase in heat
production
Receptor
detect changes and send is
nerve impulses to the stimulated and sends
brain nerve impulses to
Copyright © 2006-2011 Marshall Cavendish International (Singapore) Pte. Ltd. relevant body parts 55
January 11, 2010
Increased
metabolic rate
increases heat
production
Stimulus
temperatures fall
production
Receptor
Increased
Blood temperature metabolic rate
returns to normal levels increases heat
production
Stimulus
temperatures fall
production
Receptor
Increased
Blood temperature metabolic rate
returns to normal levels increases heat
production
Stimulus
temperatures fall
Negative production
feedback
Receptor
What happens when body temperature drops?
• Heat lost by body  activates the
temperature receptors in the skin  nerve
impulses sent to heat gain centre of the
hypothalamus. Following mechanisms take
place:
1. Vasoconstriction
2. Sweat glands become less active
3. Metabolic rate increases
4. Contraction of hair erector muscle
5. Shivering (if the above reactions are not
sufficient)
When body temperature begins to rise….
• Vigorous muscular activities  heat
produced  rise in blood temperature 
heat loss centre in hypothalamus activated
 nerve impulses sent to different body
parts  following mechanisms take place :
Vasodilation  sweat glands increases activity 
rapid breathing  metabolic rate slows down
• Hence body temperature remains constant

as extra heat is removed
Homeostasis (Concept Map)
January 11, 2010
HOMEOSTASIS
The maintenance of a constant internal environment
HOMEOSTASIS
Principles of Homeostasis
HOMEOSTASIS
Stimulus
Change in
internal
environment
HOMEOSTASIS
Stimulus Receptors
Change in Detect the

internal change
environment
HOMEOSTASIS
Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism
Change in Detect the To rectify the

internal change change
environment
HOMEOSTASIS

environment
Examples
Regulation of
blood glucose
concentration
HOMEOSTASIS

environment
Examples
Regulation of Regulation of
blood glucose blood water
concentration potential
HOMEOSTASIS

environment
Examples
Regulation of Regulation of Regulation of

blood glucose blood water body temperature
HOMEOSTASIS
Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism Negative Feedback
Change in Detect the To rectify the The reverse

internal change change effect of the
environment change
Examples
Regulation of Regulation of Regulation of

blood glucose blood water body temperature
Workbook
MCQ
Q1 – 5
Structured Questions
1, 2, 3

Homeostasis

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Chapter 12

• How does animals such as penguins

• Why must tissue fluid be kept at a

• Once the internal environment is stable, it

• Homeostatic control involves a principle

• If the system is disturbed, the disturbance

• Can you think of other examples where

• Regulation of blood water potential

• Temperature Regulation (will study in

Receptor Liver and muscles

Stimulus Blood glucose

Receptor Liver and muscles

Stimulus Blood glucose

Receptor Liver and muscles

Stimulus Blood glucose

Receptor Liver and muscles

Corrective Mechanism Glucagon converts

Corrective Mechanism Glucagon converts

Corrective Mechanism Glucagon converts

Corrective Mechanism Glucagon converts

• Fatty/adipose tissue – stores fat and

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Stimulus skin surface capillaries

7 More latent heat lost as sweat evaporates

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Stimulus Corrective Mechanism

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Stimulus Corrective Mechanism

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Stimulus Corrective Mechanism

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

Stimulus Corrective Mechanism

Receptor Hypothalamus of brain

hair hair follicle

7 Less latent heat lost

hair hair follicle

Shivering occurs when

• Hence body temperature remains constant

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Change in Detect the

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism

Change in Detect the To rectify the

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism

Change in Detect the To rectify the

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism

Change in Detect the To rectify the

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism

Change in Detect the To rectify the

Regulation of Regulation of Regulation of

The maintenance of a constant internal environment

Stimulus Receptors Self-corrective Mechanism Negative Feedback

Change in Detect the To rectify the The reverse

Regulation of Regulation of Regulation of

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