12/01/2018

Define homeostasis and describe the

importance of homeostasis
Dr Amy Larsen

Homeostasis:

• A condition of equilibrium (balance) in the body’s internal environment

• NOTE! Internal environment = extracellular fluid, surrounds all body's cells!

• Important: proper functioning of cells depends on precise regulation of the composition of
the environment surrounding them e.g. temperature, glucose concentration

• A dynamic condition in which internal conditions are maintained within relatively

narrow limits

Mediated by:
• Nerves (nervous system) – rapid response, detects changes and sends nerve
impulses to counteract changes
• Hormones (endocrine system) – slower response, secretion of hormones into blood

3 key components:

• The body can regulate its internal environment through many feedback
systems
• Feedback system or feedback loop = cycle of events in which the status of a body
condition is monitored, evaluated, changed, re-monitored, re-evaluated and so on…

1. Receptor – monitors changes from set point/controlled condition

2. Control centre - determines the initial set point range, analyses information from
receptors and determines response

3. Effector- Produces response (with aim to maintain homeostasis)

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Operation of a feedback system:

2 Feedback Pathways:

• Negative feedback – reverses a change in a controlled condition

• Positive feedback – strengthens a change in a controlled condition

• Together these feedback pathways help to maintain homeostasis

throughout the bodies systems

Negative Feedback:

Most common:

• Net effect is that the output of the system shuts off the original
stimulus or reduces its intensity
• Returns body back towards its set point
• Maintains homeostasis

MANY EXAMPLES:

 Blood pressure regulation

 Temperature regulation
 Blood glucose regulation

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Positive Feedback:

• Feedback that tends to cause the level of a variable to

change in the SAME DIRECTION as the original change

• AMPLIFIES the stimulus

• Only a few examples in the body

 Childbirth
 Blood clotting

You should now be able to:

• Define homeostasis.

• Describe the importance of homeostasis.

• Differentiate between positive and negative feedback.