Chapter 5 – Homeostasis

Homeostasis – maintenance of a constant internal environ., despite fluctuations in external

environ.

Body must regulate:

- Core body temperature (Thermoregulation)
- pH conc of dissolved substances in body fluids
- glucose conc. in blood
- Oxygen and Carbon Dioxide conc. in body fluids and blood
- Blood pressure
- Metabolic waste conc

Feedback system – circular situation which body responds to a stimulus (change in env),
with a response that alters original stimulus, thus providing feedback.

Negative feedback system/Steady state control system

– response created causes stimulus effect to change in opposite direction of original change

Stimulus-Response Model
Model – A simplified representation of something fairly complex.

To explain how homeostatic mechanisms work

Stimulus: Change in external/internal environment that triggers a response

Receptor: Cell/organ which detects change to environment
Modulator (Coordinating centre): Processes info from receptors and initiates response to
effectors:
Effector: Structure/organ which causes response (counteracting/enhancing effect of
stimulus)
Response: Action taken in response to stimulus
Feedback: A response that changes in regards to original stimulus

What are homeostatic mechanisms controlled by?

Endocrine and Nervous system
Detect a change to body environment
Initiates nerve impulses to appropriate organ/glands secrete hormones into blood
Counteract change

Dynamic equilibrium – fluctuation where conditions such as blood glucose or body

temperature, change constantly around a stable, balanced level. Forward and reverse rate
changes are equal

Set point – point at which conditions fluctuate

Tolerance limits – upper and lower limits to range of factors (eg. ph conc) b/w which the
levels fluctuate. Optimum range for most individuals.
*rise above or fall below limit = tolerance limits exceeded = dysfunction of cell
functions/metabolic activity

Regulation of Blood Glucose

- Sugar in blood = glucose
- Glucose comes from food we eat
- Absorbed through small intestine walls (into blood)
- Glucose required in cellular respiration for release of energy (ATP)

Glucose + Oxygen -> Carbon Dioxide + Water + Energy

- After a meal, glucose con. Increases

- Excess glucose in blood must be removed and stored for use b/w meals
- Stored in form GLYCOGEN in liver and muscle cells
(Glycogen = long chains of glucose molecules. Can be converted back into glucose)

Glucose [High conc in blood] Glycogen [Low conc in blood] Glucose

After meal During exercise

Role of Liver
- Largest gland in the body
- In Upper abdominal cavity below diaphragm
- Converts glucose  glycogen for storage
- Converts glycogen  glucose for release into blood

- Liver’s blood supply mostly comes through hepatic portal vein

Hepatic portal vein: Brings blood from small+large intestine, stomach, pancreas, spleen

Small intestine -> blood capillaries in villi -> blood

Thus liver = first organ to absorb nutrients from digested food

What happens TO GLUCOSE in the liver?

1. May be removed from blood BY LIVER to provide energy for liver functioning
2. May be removed from blood BY LIVER and/or MUSCLES and converted to glycogen
for storage
3. May continue to CIRCULATE in the blood to be absorbed by cells for energy
4. Excess glucose may be CONVERTED TO FAT for long-term storage in liver + fat
storage cells (to maintain normal blood glucose conc & tissue glycogen levels)

Glucose stored as glycogen. The body is able to store about 500g of glycogen. ~100g in liver
+ ~400g in skeletal muscles
Glucose Metabolism
Glycogenesis – process where glucose  glycogen. Stimulated by insulin which is produced
by beta cells in islets of Langerhans in pancreas. Occurs in liver and muscle cells.
Glycogenolysis – process where glycogen  glucose. Stimulated by glucagon which is
produced by alpha cells in islets of Langerhans in pancreas. Occurs in liver and muscle cells.
Gluconeogenesis – process where fats/proteins  glucose. Stimulated by glucagon which is
produced by alpha cells in islets of Langerhans in pancreas. Occurs in liver.

Lipogenesis – process where glucose  fats in adipose tissue/fat storage tissue and liver
Lipolysis – process where fats  fatty acids and glycerol  glucose
In fat storage tissue In liver

Glycogen stored in the liver is a short-term energy supply. Can provide energy for ~ 6 hours
if no other supplies available. If more energy required, body uses energy reserves stored in
fat.

Role of Pancreas

Beta Cells – secrete insulin. Decrease blood glucose concentration by:

1. Accelerate transport of glucose from blood into cells
2. Accelerate glycogenesis (glucose  glycogen) in liver and muscle cells
3. Stimulate conversion of lipogenesis (glucose  fat) in adipose tissue
4. Promote protein synthesis in some cells

Alpha cells – secrete glucagon. Increase blood glucose concentration by:

1. Stimulate glycogenolysis in liver
(conversion of glycogen  glucose)
2. Promote gluconeogenesis in pancreas, involving lipolysis
(conversion of fats/proteins  glucose)
3. Mild stimulating effect on protein breakdown

Regulation of secretion of glucagon and insulin determined by glucose conc. In blood

Controlled by negative feedback system
Chemoreceptors in alpha/beta cells detect change
(Involved in regulation of blood glucose conc)
Glucocorticoids – secreted by adrenal cortex
Epinephrine and Norepinephrine – secreted by adrenal medulla

Adrenal Cortex is stimulated by ACTH (adrenocorticotropic hormone) secreted by Anterior

Lobe
Adrenal cortex then secretes glucocorticoids -> cortisol = best known

Glucocorticoids regulate carbohydrate metabolism by ensuring that enough energy is

provided to cells.
1. Glycogenolysis: Regulate conversion of glycogen to glucose in liver
2. Gluconeogenesis (from a/a):
Stimulate protein breakdown to a/a in muscles

THERMOREGULATION
@36.8°C, optimum 37°C for cellular reactions + normal cell functioning
Heat gain = heat loss

Preventing body temperature from falling