Homeostatic Control of Body Systems
To ensure the continued existence of an organism, a mechanism is harnessed to
regulate and control the internal conditions, to conserve an idyllic environment for bodily
functions. This is done in retaliation to any changes that may be external, as well as internal.
This extensive process can be identified as Homeostasis.
The Endocrine System
Comprised from glands that synthesize and secrete hormones, the Endocrine System
has an essential part in the growth, development, and progressive activities of the human
body, as they correspond with bodily organs to cofunction. The Hypothalamus links and
connects the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Endocrine System together.
Conferring on the CNS, it is noted that they rely heavily on neurotransmitters; secreted
by nerve synapses; to carry signals from one cell to another, while the endocrine system
depends on hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers, that transmit information from
one cell to another, via the blood, to control and coordinate processes that transpire in the
body.
Comparatively, the endocrine system generates a slower result, ensuing from the fact
that the concentration of chemicals in an individual’s body has to reach a particular level for
the response to prevail. Conclusively, the effect will be long-lasting, until the concentration
decreases again. In conjunction, it takes some days for the breakdown of hormones to be fully
executed, and removed from the body through excretion.
The effect of the nervous system is extremely fast; however, it is brief in its effect.
Main Glands in the Endocrine System
“Unit 9. ClassNotes. Homeostasis. Human Regulation and Reproduction. Date Taken:
13/11/2019”
1. The Pituitary Gland
Located in the brain, above the Hypothalamus, this gland, scientifically cited as the
Hypophysis, is specified as a Master Gland, due to the fact that it acts on other glands,
resulting in other hormones being released.
In additions, it is involved in the fabrication of Vasopressin, otherwise referred to as
the Antidiuretic Hormone (AHD); the formulation of the Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH) that stimulates the thyroid, and a growth hormone, that promotes bone and
muscle augmentation.
2. The Pancreas
This gland predominantly aids in the production the peptide hormone insulin. It
controls the conversion of blood glucose into indissoluble glycogen, which is later
allocated and conserved in the liver.
It is also involved in the production of glucoregulatory peptide hormone, known
as glucagon, which permits the transfiguration of indissoluble glycogen into a hexose
monosaccharide, identifies as glucose.
3. Thyroid Gland
Lying just below the Adams Apple, this gland partakes in the formulation of the
hormone, thyroxine. Furthermore, it assists in the regulation of metabolism.
1|Page
, 4 The Parathyroid Gland
Established as four small glands, at the rear of the thyroid, within the neck; the
parathyroid gland secretes parahormone or parathyrin to monitor and regulate
blood calcium levels.
5 Adrenal Gland
Located on top of each kidney, this gland is associated with the establishment
of the hormone, adrenaline, which can initiate an acute stress response, also
known as ‘flight or fight’.
Changes in the body ensue, such as increased heart and breathing rate;
increased respiration resulting in the rise of sugar in one’s bloodstream; and the
diversion of blood into the muscles.
Adrenaline stimulates the release of the hormone, glucagon.
6 The Ovaries
Positioned on each side of one’s pelvis, the ovaries produce the hormone
oestrogen. It controls the development of secondary sexual characteristics. For
instance, the enlargement of the larynx, resulting in the deepening of an
individual’s voice, the softening of the skin, the widening of the hips, and the
enlargement of the breasts and nipples.
Correspondingly oestrogen aids in the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
The ovaries produce a hormone referred to as progesterone, that thickens the
endometrium, and prohibits the flexing of the uterine lining ‘til the foetus has been
delivered.
7 The Testes
Recognized in the scrotum, in front the anus, and behind the penis, the testes
produce the hormone, testosterone, that promotes the development of male’s
secondary sexual characteristics. This includes growth of body and facial hair,
development of muscle tissue, and increased stature or height.
(1)https://twitter.com/247medichq/status/553891955059732481.
(2))https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=endocrine-system-practice-quiz-anatomy .
The Feedback Mechanism
2|Page
, This system (the feedback loop) plays a primary role in the sustainment of
homoeostasis, as it is exploited, to manage and control conditions pertaining to the interior of
the human body. Feedback can be categorised into two types:
a. Negative Feedback
This is a reaction can diminish or inhibit an occurring process. Through
the medium of negative feedback, homoeostasis is attained.
b. Positive Feedback
This reaction promotes the intensification of an effect, deriving from a
change in internal or external factors.
Thermoregulation
“Unit 9. Class Notes. Homeostasis and Regulation. Thermoregulation. Date Taken:
13/11/2019.”
The standard temperature for the human body has been identified as 36.5°C (+/- 0.5).
This homeostatic mechanism (thermoregulation) aids in keeping the body temperature within
its rightful boundaries.
For instance, if an individual’s body temperature where to rise, it will be detected by
peripheral thermoreceptors in the skin. The thermoreceptors send information to the
Hypothalamus, in the form of electrical impulses, via the sensory neurons.
Located in the brainstem, on top of the Hypophysis, the Hypothalamus has a vital
contribution in processes, such as the release of hormones, regulation of body temperature,
thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic processes. It correlates with the automatic system, and
the pituitary glands activities.
The hypothalamus processes the information from the thermoreceptors, and dispatches
the information to the muscle or glands, via the motor neurons. This gives rise to a series of
reactions based on the circumstance, such as:
a. The Increased Production of Sweat
The sweat glands secrete sweat onto the layer of the skin. It then
evaporates, taking energy from the body, which in return, cools the body.
b. Vasodilation
In vasodilation, the muscles in the arteriole walls relax, causing the
arteriole to dilate (get wider). Consequently, this allows the blood flow in
the skin capillaries to become maximized. As an over-all result, heat loss
from the skin will increase.
c. Arrector Pili Muscles Slacken
This results in hairs on the skin lying flat, averting heat from being
trapped by the layer of still hair found in-between the hair, enhancing the
promptness of heat being lost.
When there is a rise in the surrounding temperature, it is also detected by
thermoreceptors in the skin. These receptors send impulses to the sensory neurones, which
transmit the impulses to the hypothalamus. However, the hypothalamus will process this
information and send it to the thyroid glands via the motor neurones.
Subsequently, the thyroid glands produce less thyroxine, to decrease the metabolic
rate, which in turn reduces the body temperature.
This response is an example of negative feedback control.
3|Page
To ensure the continued existence of an organism, a mechanism is harnessed to
regulate and control the internal conditions, to conserve an idyllic environment for bodily
functions. This is done in retaliation to any changes that may be external, as well as internal.
This extensive process can be identified as Homeostasis.
The Endocrine System
Comprised from glands that synthesize and secrete hormones, the Endocrine System
has an essential part in the growth, development, and progressive activities of the human
body, as they correspond with bodily organs to cofunction. The Hypothalamus links and
connects the Central Nervous System (CNS) and the Endocrine System together.
Conferring on the CNS, it is noted that they rely heavily on neurotransmitters; secreted
by nerve synapses; to carry signals from one cell to another, while the endocrine system
depends on hormones. Hormones are chemical messengers, that transmit information from
one cell to another, via the blood, to control and coordinate processes that transpire in the
body.
Comparatively, the endocrine system generates a slower result, ensuing from the fact
that the concentration of chemicals in an individual’s body has to reach a particular level for
the response to prevail. Conclusively, the effect will be long-lasting, until the concentration
decreases again. In conjunction, it takes some days for the breakdown of hormones to be fully
executed, and removed from the body through excretion.
The effect of the nervous system is extremely fast; however, it is brief in its effect.
Main Glands in the Endocrine System
“Unit 9. ClassNotes. Homeostasis. Human Regulation and Reproduction. Date Taken:
13/11/2019”
1. The Pituitary Gland
Located in the brain, above the Hypothalamus, this gland, scientifically cited as the
Hypophysis, is specified as a Master Gland, due to the fact that it acts on other glands,
resulting in other hormones being released.
In additions, it is involved in the fabrication of Vasopressin, otherwise referred to as
the Antidiuretic Hormone (AHD); the formulation of the Adrenocorticotropic hormone
(ACTH) that stimulates the thyroid, and a growth hormone, that promotes bone and
muscle augmentation.
2. The Pancreas
This gland predominantly aids in the production the peptide hormone insulin. It
controls the conversion of blood glucose into indissoluble glycogen, which is later
allocated and conserved in the liver.
It is also involved in the production of glucoregulatory peptide hormone, known
as glucagon, which permits the transfiguration of indissoluble glycogen into a hexose
monosaccharide, identifies as glucose.
3. Thyroid Gland
Lying just below the Adams Apple, this gland partakes in the formulation of the
hormone, thyroxine. Furthermore, it assists in the regulation of metabolism.
1|Page
, 4 The Parathyroid Gland
Established as four small glands, at the rear of the thyroid, within the neck; the
parathyroid gland secretes parahormone or parathyrin to monitor and regulate
blood calcium levels.
5 Adrenal Gland
Located on top of each kidney, this gland is associated with the establishment
of the hormone, adrenaline, which can initiate an acute stress response, also
known as ‘flight or fight’.
Changes in the body ensue, such as increased heart and breathing rate;
increased respiration resulting in the rise of sugar in one’s bloodstream; and the
diversion of blood into the muscles.
Adrenaline stimulates the release of the hormone, glucagon.
6 The Ovaries
Positioned on each side of one’s pelvis, the ovaries produce the hormone
oestrogen. It controls the development of secondary sexual characteristics. For
instance, the enlargement of the larynx, resulting in the deepening of an
individual’s voice, the softening of the skin, the widening of the hips, and the
enlargement of the breasts and nipples.
Correspondingly oestrogen aids in the regulation of the menstrual cycle.
The ovaries produce a hormone referred to as progesterone, that thickens the
endometrium, and prohibits the flexing of the uterine lining ‘til the foetus has been
delivered.
7 The Testes
Recognized in the scrotum, in front the anus, and behind the penis, the testes
produce the hormone, testosterone, that promotes the development of male’s
secondary sexual characteristics. This includes growth of body and facial hair,
development of muscle tissue, and increased stature or height.
(1)https://twitter.com/247medichq/status/553891955059732481.
(2))https://www.proprofs.com/quiz-school/story.php?title=endocrine-system-practice-quiz-anatomy .
The Feedback Mechanism
2|Page
, This system (the feedback loop) plays a primary role in the sustainment of
homoeostasis, as it is exploited, to manage and control conditions pertaining to the interior of
the human body. Feedback can be categorised into two types:
a. Negative Feedback
This is a reaction can diminish or inhibit an occurring process. Through
the medium of negative feedback, homoeostasis is attained.
b. Positive Feedback
This reaction promotes the intensification of an effect, deriving from a
change in internal or external factors.
Thermoregulation
“Unit 9. Class Notes. Homeostasis and Regulation. Thermoregulation. Date Taken:
13/11/2019.”
The standard temperature for the human body has been identified as 36.5°C (+/- 0.5).
This homeostatic mechanism (thermoregulation) aids in keeping the body temperature within
its rightful boundaries.
For instance, if an individual’s body temperature where to rise, it will be detected by
peripheral thermoreceptors in the skin. The thermoreceptors send information to the
Hypothalamus, in the form of electrical impulses, via the sensory neurons.
Located in the brainstem, on top of the Hypophysis, the Hypothalamus has a vital
contribution in processes, such as the release of hormones, regulation of body temperature,
thirst, hunger, and other homeostatic processes. It correlates with the automatic system, and
the pituitary glands activities.
The hypothalamus processes the information from the thermoreceptors, and dispatches
the information to the muscle or glands, via the motor neurons. This gives rise to a series of
reactions based on the circumstance, such as:
a. The Increased Production of Sweat
The sweat glands secrete sweat onto the layer of the skin. It then
evaporates, taking energy from the body, which in return, cools the body.
b. Vasodilation
In vasodilation, the muscles in the arteriole walls relax, causing the
arteriole to dilate (get wider). Consequently, this allows the blood flow in
the skin capillaries to become maximized. As an over-all result, heat loss
from the skin will increase.
c. Arrector Pili Muscles Slacken
This results in hairs on the skin lying flat, averting heat from being
trapped by the layer of still hair found in-between the hair, enhancing the
promptness of heat being lost.
When there is a rise in the surrounding temperature, it is also detected by
thermoreceptors in the skin. These receptors send impulses to the sensory neurones, which
transmit the impulses to the hypothalamus. However, the hypothalamus will process this
information and send it to the thyroid glands via the motor neurones.
Subsequently, the thyroid glands produce less thyroxine, to decrease the metabolic
rate, which in turn reduces the body temperature.
This response is an example of negative feedback control.
3|Page
