Human Physiology, An Integrated Approach

Eighth Edition

Chapter 6
Communication,
Integration, and
Homeostasis

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About This Chapter
6.1 Cell-to-Cell Communication
6.2 Signal Pathways
6.3 Novel Signal Molecules
6.4 Modulation of Signal Pathways
6.5 Homeostatic Reflex Pathways

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6.5 Homeostatic Reflex Pathways
• Cannon’s Postulates describe regulated variables and
control systems
1. Nervous regulation of internal environment
– Conditions that are compatible with normal function
▪ Regulates parameters (body temp, ion con, fluid volume)

2. Tonic control
3. Antagonistic control
4. One chemical signal can have different effects in different
tissues - Epinephrine and norepinephrine
If im being chased by a bear I don’t need to send blood to my digestion organs
like the stomach or intestine, so those are gonna contract and shunt blood
away from that and the vessels that go to my muscles and my lungs and heart
which are very useful for running away from bear will dilate

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 Figure 6.15(a) Tonic and antagonistic
control patterns
(a) Tonic control
Low intensity

Blood vessel are innervated by one nerve

source

High intensity
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Figure 6.15(b) Tonic and antagonistic
control patterns
(b) Antagonistic control

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 Long Distance Pathways Maintain Homeostasis

Response loops
• Input
– Stimulus – running low on o2 in our quadro
– Sensor or receptor - muscle
▪ Threshold
– Input signal or afferent pathway
• Integration
– Integrating center compares with setpoint
▪ In endocrine pathways, also the sensor
• Output
– Output signal or efferent pathway
– Target or effector
– Response

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Figure 6.17 Multiple Meanings of the Word
Receptor

Molecular protein
receptor that are on
or in a cell

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Control Systems Vary in
Their Speed and
Specificity

• Simple reflexes
are mediated by
the nervous
system,
endocrine
system, not both
• Complex
mediated by both
and go through
several
integrating
systems
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• Specificity - neural more specific than endocrine
• Nature of the Signal
– Neural is electrical and chemical (neurotransmitter)
– Endocrine is only chemical (hormone)
– Neuroendocrine is electrical and chemical (neurohormone)

• Speed – neural faster than endocrine

• Duration of action – neural shorter than endocrine
• Coding for stimulus intensity
– Neural increases frequency
– Endocrine increases hormone amount

Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © 2019, 2016, 2013 Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved