HOMEOSTASIS

MS. MIRAH
HOMEOSTASIS
The conditions Body temperature Blood sugar level Water content
inside our body must be
very carefully controlled
• This is controlled to • This is controlled to • This is controlled to
if the body is to function maintain the provide cells with a protect cells by
effectively. Homeostasi temperature at which constant supply stopping too much
s is the maintenance of the of glucose for respira water from entering
body’s enzymes work tion. It is controlled or leaving them. 
a constant internal best, which is usually by the release and
environment. The 37°C. storage of glucose,
which is in turn
nervous system controlled by insulin.
and hormones are
responsible for this.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
• Homeostatic control is achieved
using negative feedback
mechanisms:
• if the level of something rises, control
systems reduce it again
• if the level of something falls, control
systems raise it again
REGULATING BODY TEMPERATURE
When we get too hot:
• Sweat glands in the skin release
more sweat. The sweat evaporates,
removing heat energy from the skin.
•
Blood vessels leading to the skin
capillaries become wider - •
they dilate - allowing more blood to
flow through the skin, and more heat
to be lost.
• When we get too cold:
• Muscles contract rapidly - we shiver.
These contractions need energy
from respiration, and some of this is
released as heat.
Blood vessels leading to the skin
capillaries become narrower - they
constrict - letting less blood flow
through the skin and conserving heat
in the body.
THE SKIN
• The hairs on the skin also help to
control body temperature. They lie
flat when we are warm, and rise when
we are cold. The hairs trap a layer of
air above the skin, which helps
to insulate the skin against heat loss.
Skin hairs lie flat when we are hot and stand upright
when we are cold
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISM
They include the amount of:
• shivering (rapid muscle contractions
release heat)
• sweating (evaporation of water in
sweat causes cooling)
• blood flowing in the skin capillaries
VASOCONSTRICTION AND
VASODILATION

Vasoconstriction – a response to being too cold Vasodilation – a response to being too hot
VASOCONSTRICTION AND
VASODILATION
Too cold Too hot
Process Vasoconstriction Vasodilation
Arterioles Get narrower Get wider
Blood flow in skin Decreases Increases
capillaries
Heat loss from skin Decreases Increases
REGULATING BLOOD GLUCOSE
Glucose is needed by
cells for respiration. Low glucose High glucose
It is important that
the concentration of
glucose in the blood Effect on pancreas Insulin not secreted into Insulin secreted into the
is maintained at a the blood blood
constant
level. Insulin is a Does not convert glucose Converts glucose into
hormone - produced Effect on liver into glycogen glycogen
by the pancreas -
that regulates
glucose levels in the Effect on blood glucose Increases Decreases
blood. level
REGULATING BLOOD GLUCOSE
DIABETES
Diabetes is a condition in which Type 1 diabetes
the blood glucose levels remain too •
high. It can be treated by Type 1 diabetes is caused by a lack of
injecting insulin. The extra insulin insulin. It can be controlled by:
causes the liver to • monitoring the diet
convert glucose into glycogen, which
• injecting insulin
reduces the blood glucose level. There
are two types of diabetes - Type 1 and
Type 2.
DIABETES
Type 2 diabetes is caused by a person’s
body becoming resistant to insulin. It
can be controlled by diet and exercise.
There is a link between rising levels
of obesity and increasing levels of Type
2 diabetes.