ABDUL WALI KHAN UNIVERSITY

MARDAN

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. http://www.awkum.edu.pk/

Human Physiology; Concept of Homeostasis
Dr. Asifullah Khan
Associate Professor;
Department of Biochemistry, Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Concept of Homeostasis

Cells having basic survival skills.

Single cellular organism, e.g. amoeba directly obtain O2 and
food external environment.
How muscle cell in multicellualr make vital exchange with
environment.
Watery internal environment.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Body internal environment

Intracellular fluid (ICF), inside cell fluid.

Extracellular fluid (ECF), outside cell fluid.
ECF constitute internal environment inside body.
ECF composed of Plasma (fluid portion of body) and interstitial fluid (surround and
bah cells)
The body cell takes in essential nutrients from its watery surroundings
and eliminates wastes into these same surroundings, just as an amoeba
does. The main difference is that each body cell must help maintain the
composition of the internal environment so that this fluid continuously
remains suitable to support the existence of all the body cells. In
contrast, an amoeba does nothing to regulate its surroundings.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Body systems maintain homeostasis, a dynamic
steady state in the internal environment

ECF compatibility is require for cell functioning.

Proper intake of nutrients + O2 and proper removal of Co2 is
necessary.
The functions performed by each body system contribute to
homeostasis, thereby maintaining within the body the environment
required for the survival and function of all the cells. Cells, in turn,
make up body systems.
Homeostasis is essential for the survival of each cell, and each cell,
through its specialized activities, contributes as part of a body system
to the maintenance of the internal environment shared by all cells
The term dynamic refers to the fact that each homeostatically
regulated factor is marked by continuous change, whereas steady
state implies that these changes do not deviate far from a constant,
or steady level.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

Interdependent relationship between cells, body
systems and homeostasis

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Factors Homeostatically Regulated

Concentration of nutrients
Concentration of O2 and CO2.
Concentration of waste products
Changes in the pH
Concentration of water, salt, and other electrolytes., ECF
ismolarity (NaCl) influence cell survival (Cell swollen or
shrunken).
Volume and pressure (plasma volume and blood pressure)
Temperature (body cells function best at narrow
temperature)

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Contributions of the Body Systems
To Homeostasis

circulatory system (heart, blood vessels, and blood)

digestive system (mouth, esophagus, stomach, intestines, and related
organs)
The respiratory system (lungs and major airways)
The urinary system (kidneys and associated “plumbing”)
skeletal system (bones, joints)
muscular system (skeletal muscles)
integumentary system (skin and related structures)
immune system (white blood cells, lymphoid organs)
nervous system (brain, spinal cord, nerves, and sense organs)
endocrine system (all hormone-secreting glands)
Reproductive system (male and female gonads and related organs)

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Homeostatic Control system

Homeostatic control system is a functionally interconnected

network of body components that maintain the internal
environment relatively constant around an optimal level.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Homeostatic control systems may operate
locally or body wide

Intrinsic, or local, controls are built into or are inherent in an

organ
extrinsic, or systemic controls mechanisms initiated outside
an organ to alter the organ’s activity. Nervous and endocrine
systems are the two major regulatory systems participate in
extrinsic control.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Mechanism of homeostasis

A. Positive feedback
The term feedback refers to responses made after a change
has been detected; the term positive feedback OR feed forward
is used for responses made in anticipation of a change.
B. Negative feedback
Negative feedback opposes an initial change and is widely used
to maintain homeostasis.
Negative feedback restore the factor to normal by moving the
factor in the opposite direction of its initial change.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Negative feedback mechanisms in body
temperature regulation

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk

 Positive feedback amplify an initial change

Oxytocin production during baby birth.

Oxytocin involve in uterine contraction.
Enhance Oxytocin production during baby birth by cervix stretching.

Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan Pakistan. www.awkum.edu.pk