Chapter Fourteen

Homeostasis
 coordination and response:

14.1 Maintaining internal environment page179

14.2 Control of body temperature page179
14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.
page184
14.3 Control of blood
glucose conc.
 14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.

Introduction:

The body needs glucose to make ATP (via cell respiration), however the amount
required will fluctuate according to demand.

High levels of glucose in the blood can damage cells (creates hypertonicity) and
hence glucose levels must be regulated.

Two antagonistic hormones are responsible for regulating blood glucose

concentrations – insulin and glucagon.

These hormones are released from pancreatic pits (called the islets of
Langerhans) and act principally on the liver.
 14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.

When blood glucose levels are high (e.g. after feeding):

Insulin is released from beta (β) cells of

the pancreas and cause a decrease in
blood glucose concentration.

This may involve stimulating glycogen

synthesis in the liver (glycogenesis),
promoting glucose uptake by the liver and
adipose tissue.

or increasing the rate of glucose

breakdown (by increasing cell respiration
rates).
 14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.

When blood glucose levels are low (e.g. after exercise):

Glucagon is released from alpha (α) cells

of the pancreas and cause an increase in
blood glucose concentration.

This may involve stimulating glycogen

breakdown in the liver (glycogenolysis),
promoting glucose release by the liver and
adipose tissue.

or decreasing the rate of glucose

breakdown (by reducing cell respiration
rates)
 14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.

Diabetes
Diabetes is a metabolic disorder that results from a high blood glucose concentration over
a prolonged period

It is caused by the body either not producing insulin (Type I) or failing to respond to
insulin production (Type II).

It is treated with either insulin injections (Type I only) or by carefully monitoring and
controlling dietary intake (Type II).

Type I
Insulin dependent Diabetes
Usually occurs during childhood (early onset)
Body does not produce sufficient insulin
Caused by the destruction of B cells
(autoimmune)
Requires insulin injections to regulate blood
glucose
Type II
Non Insulin dependent Diabetes
Usually occurs during adulthood (late onset)
Body does not respond to insulin production
Caused by the down regulation of insulin
receptors
Controlled by managing diet and lifestyle
 14.3 Control of blood glucose conc.

Type I and Type II Diabetes

Insulin binds to insulin Insulin is not produced Prolonged overproduction of

receptors and triggers by beta cells in the insulin leads to desensitization
the opening of glucose pancreas and hence of the insulin receptors and
transporters in fat and glucose is not removed hence glucose is not removed
muscle cells, allowing from the bloodstream, from the bloodstream,
glucose removal from causing diabetes. causing diabetes
bloodstream
 Control of body water

The role of the kidneys in homeostasis

Our kidneys regulate the water concentration in our blood and excrete toxic waste.
When they fail to work properly, dialysis treatment or a transplant is required.

Anti-diuretic hormone (ADH)

The water content of the blood is controlled by a hormone called anti-diuretic hormone
(ADH). Different amounts of ADH are released into the bloodstream by a gland in the
brain according to the concentration of the blood plasma.

The concentration of the blood can be altered by:

1. excess drinking (increases water content)

2. excess sweating (decreases water content)

3. consumption of salty foods (decreases water content)

 Control of body water

The role of the kidneys in homeostasis

These diagrams show what happens when there is either too little or too much water in
the blood.

Plasma Problem ADH release Effect of ADH Effect on urine

High concentration Too little water Increases More water reabsorbed More concentrated
by nephrons
Low concentration Too much water Decreases Less water reabsorbed by More dilute