HURDCO

International School

Grade- VII
Subject- Biology
Topic: Homeostasis (4.11)
 Homeostasis
• Definition: Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal
environment in the body of a living organism.
• Internal environment: By the internal environment we mean the
body fluid i.e; the tissue fluid and the blood. Any change in the
blood will inevitably affect the tissue fluid which will in turn, affect
the tissue cells.
 Homeostasis
• Constant environment: By constant environment we mean the following:
 Constant temperature
 Constant glucose level
 Constant water level
• Negative feedback: Homeostatic control involves an important principle
called negative feedback. The body always brings about an opposite
effect to the change ( tries to bring the changed condition back to
normal level). This is the negative feedback process.
• Stimulus: Any change from the normal condition is called the stimulus.
  Regulation of blood glucose concentration
• When blood glucose level is higher than normal:
 Stimulus: An increase in the blood glucose concentration.
 Receptor: The pancreas is stimulated.
 Corrective mechanism: The pancreas secretes more insulin to the blood
stream. Insulin is transported to the liver where it causes the liver to the
excess glucose to glycogen. Glycogen is stored in the liver.
 Negative feedback: The glucose in the blood decreases to the normal level
before it leaves the liver and enters the general blood circulation.
  Regulation of blood glucose concentration
• When blood glucose level is lower than normal:
 Stimulus: An decrease in the blood glucose concentration may occur during
vigorous muscular contraction or starvation.
 Receptor: The pancreas.
 Corrective mechanism: The pancreas is stimulated to secretes a hormone
called glucagon into the blood stream. Glucagon is transported to the liver
which converts the stored glycogen back to glucose. Glucose enters the
blood stream
 Negative feedback: The glucose concentration increases to the normal
level.
Osmoregulation
• The water potential of the blood has to be kept
relatively constant. Drastic changes of water
potential can cause serious problems.
• For example, if the blood plasma becomes too
dilute, the blood cells will swell and burst.
• If the blood plasma becomes too concentrated,
osmosis will cause the blood cells and tissue cells to
become dehydrated and shrink.
• Water potential of the blood depends on the
amount of water and salts in the plasma. The
water content of the blood is controlled by
antidiuretic hormone( ADH). It increases the water
reabsorption by kidney.
Skin and temperature regulation
Regulation of Body temperature
• The heat regulating center in the
brain monitors the temperature of
the blood that passes through it.
• It has two parts – the heat loss
center and the heat gain center.
• It also receives information about
temperature changes in the external
environment from temperature
receptor in the skin.
When body temperature begins to rise
• The blood vessels in the skin dilate (vasodilation) to allow more
blood to flow through the skin. The skin receives more heat which
is lost by radiation, conduction and convection.
• Activity of sweat glands increased so more sweat evaporates
from the skin.
• Rapid breathing occurs, helping to remove heat.
• The metabolic rate of the body slows down.
Regulation of Body temperature
 What happens on a cold day
• A reflex constriction of the skin blood vessels (vasoconstriction)
occurs. Less blood flows through the skin less heat is lost by
radiation, conduction and convection.
• Sweat glands becomes less active. so less sweat is lost from the
body.
• The metabolic rate of the body increases and more heat is
produced within.
 Questions
1. What is meant by the term homeostasis?
2. Name structures which are involved in regulation of temperature, glucose
and water level.
3. Define the following terms:
a) internal environment
b) Negative feedback
c) Stimulus
4. What are the two enzymes involved in glucose regulation?
5. What happens when the temperature begins to rise?
Class work : Fill in the blanks
Answer