Homeostasis
What is Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the control of internal conditions, be it temperature, specific blood
conditions or other variables within living organisms. Homeostasis is the conditions inside
our body must be controlled within a certain limits. These conditions include water content,
ion content, and body temperature and blood glucose concentration. The thermoregulatory
centre is the part of the brain that monitors and controls body temperature. The pancreas
meanwhile monitors and controls blood glucose concentration. It produces a hormone
called insulin that reduces blood glucose levels. Diabetes is a disease which can be caused
by insufficient insulin.
Negative feedback
Negative feedback is an important type of control that is found in homeostasis. A negative
feedback control system react when conditions change from the ideal or set point and puts
the conditions to the original set point. Negative feedback ensures that, in any control
system, changes are reversed and put back to the original set level. Negative feedback
keeps our body temperature at a constant 37°c. If we get too hot, blood vessels in our skin
become larger and we lose heat and cool down. If we get too cold blood vessels in our skin
become smaller, we lose less heat and our body warms up, this is called negative feedback.
Examples of things controlled by homeostasis…
Maintaining a constant internal environment is called homeostasis. The nervous system and
hormones are responsible for this. Here are some of the other things inside our body that
are controlled:
Blood sugar level
This is controlled to give cells a constant supply of energy. The blood sugar level is
controlled by the release and storage of glucose, which is then controlled by a hormone
called insulin.
Body temperature
This is controlled to balance the temperature at which enzymes work best, which is 37°C.
Our body temperature is controlled by:
Controlling blood flow to the skin
Sweating
Shivering
What is Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the control of internal conditions, be it temperature, specific blood
conditions or other variables within living organisms. Homeostasis is the conditions inside
our body must be controlled within a certain limits. These conditions include water content,
ion content, and body temperature and blood glucose concentration. The thermoregulatory
centre is the part of the brain that monitors and controls body temperature. The pancreas
meanwhile monitors and controls blood glucose concentration. It produces a hormone
called insulin that reduces blood glucose levels. Diabetes is a disease which can be caused
by insufficient insulin.
Negative feedback
Negative feedback is an important type of control that is found in homeostasis. A negative
feedback control system react when conditions change from the ideal or set point and puts
the conditions to the original set point. Negative feedback ensures that, in any control
system, changes are reversed and put back to the original set level. Negative feedback
keeps our body temperature at a constant 37°c. If we get too hot, blood vessels in our skin
become larger and we lose heat and cool down. If we get too cold blood vessels in our skin
become smaller, we lose less heat and our body warms up, this is called negative feedback.
Examples of things controlled by homeostasis…
Maintaining a constant internal environment is called homeostasis. The nervous system and
hormones are responsible for this. Here are some of the other things inside our body that
are controlled:
Blood sugar level
This is controlled to give cells a constant supply of energy. The blood sugar level is
controlled by the release and storage of glucose, which is then controlled by a hormone
called insulin.
Body temperature
This is controlled to balance the temperature at which enzymes work best, which is 37°C.
Our body temperature is controlled by:
Controlling blood flow to the skin
Sweating
Shivering
