HOMEOSTASIS

Cells work best when they are surrounded by the right conditions. These are water, temperature, glucose and
concentrations of salts. Keeping these entire constant is called homeostasis.

Defn: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body.

Internal environment is made up of tissue fluid that surrounds the cells. The composition of the
environment must be kept constant such as; temperature, glucose concentration and water content.

Regulation uses NEGATIVE FEEDBACK mechanism

The corrective action by the body to normalize the internal environment is known as negative feedback.
The feedback system has sensors or regulatory centre that detects any changes in the internal
environment. It then sends messages (in the form of hormones or electric impulses) to the effectors which
will normalize the situation. The hypothalamus is usually the sensor that detects changes in body
temperature, blood water concentration e.t.c.

Various organs in the body take part in keeping the body’s internal environment constant. These are:

ORGAN INTERNAL ENVIRONMENT REGULATED

Skin body temperature

Kidneys concentration of water and salts in blood
Liver blood sugar / glucose level

A constant internal environment is important so that:

- The cells cannot lose or gain water unnecessarily by osmosis.
- Proper functioning of enzymes, because enzyme activity is affected by changes in temperature.

THE SKIN
Functions;’
1. Protection – the skin is tough and flexible providing protection to the underlying tissues. It protects them
from damage by the harmful ultra-violet rays from the sun, bacteria and it is also waterproof.
2. Sensitivity - It is also a sense organ that can detect changes in the surroundings. It has nerve endings
sensitive to touch, pain and temperature.
3. Temperature regulation – It helps to keep body temperature constant by adjusting the flow of
blood near the skin surface.

Skin structure
Drawing From student text book

MAINTENANCE OF A CONSTANT TEMPERATURE IN MAN

An internal constant temperature of 37C has to be maintained at all times despite fluctuations in the
environmental temperature. This constant body temperature is necessary because it is the optimum
temperature for the action of enzymes, upon which the functioning of cells depends.
- If the temperature rises above 40C, the enzymes are denatured and their activity stops
- If the temperature goes down this would have an effect of slowing down metabolic reactions and
impairing brain function.
- Change in temperature is detected by the hypothalamus in the brain. The hypothalamus constantly
monitor the temperature of the blood and sends messages along nerve fibres to the skin and muscles. The
hypothalamus can be described as the thermo-regulatory centre

REACTION TO OVERHEATING

1
1. VASODILATION
The arterioles that supply the skin with blood are dilated (widen), so that more blood flows near the surface.
Because the blood distributes heat, this heat is lost to the surroundings through convection and radiation. This
reduces body temperature.
Drawing

2. INCREASED SWEATING
Sweat glands are stimulated to absorb more fluid from the capillaries that surround them. This fluid will be
conducted up the sweat duct and lost as sweat. As the sweat evaporates from the skin, the body is cooled.
3. METABOLIC RATE DECREASES
So that less heat is generated by the body.
4. HAIR ERECTOR MUSCLE RELAX, allowing hair to lie flat. More heat is then lost to the surroundings
as there is free circulation of air.

REACTIONS TO OVERCOOLING

1. VASOCONSTRICTION
The arterioles that supply the skin with blood constrict so that less blood flows near the surface. This reduces
loss of heat from the body to the surrounding atmosphere.
Drawing

2. REDUCED SWEATING
Sweat glands absorb less fluid from the capillaries that surround them ie they are less active to conserve heat
3. METABOLIC RATE INCREASES
This generates extra heat which increases the body temperature.
4. HAIR ERECTOR MUSCLE CONTRACT, raising hair. This creates an insulator layer of air which traps
heat. Less heat is then lost to the surroundings

5. SHIVERING
This is a rhythmical involuntary contraction of the skeletal muscle. Heat is actively generated and body
temperature increases.

The temperature is controlled by a feed back mechanism. i.e if the temperature of the blood is slightly higher
than it should be, the hypothalamus detects this and sets into motion processes that collectively encourage
heat loss. If the temperature falls below optimum level, the hypothalamus initiates processes that produce
and conserve heat.

BEHAVIOURAL CONTROL OF BODY TEMPERATURE IN MAN

- when it is too hot: - reduce layer of clothing or move to a shade
- When it is too cold:- put on extra clothes, move to warmer areas or exercise to keep warm.