BTEC Assignment Brief
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied
Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Applied
Qualification
Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit number and
Unit 9: Human Regulation and Reproduction
title
Learning aim(s) (For B: Understand the homeostatic mechanisms used by the human
NQF only) body
Assignment title Homeostatic control of body systems
Assessor
Issue date
Hand in deadline
You have offered to volunteer for a UK charity who work to raise
awareness and provide patients with support and up-to-date, easy to
understand information about disorders of homeostasis. You have
Vocational Scenario
been assigned to research common homeostatic disorders and
or Context
produce an illustrated report that details normal and abnormal
functioning of the endocrine system and the treatments available to
address disorders.
To maintain homeostasis, several hormones are produced by glands
in the body. Some glands are exocrine, some are endocrine, and
some are both. Using correct scientific terminology, produce a
detailed illustrated report for your charity that includes:
Analyses, explains, and describes how the physiological
mechanisms involved in hormonal homeostatic regulation of
body systems interact to maintain a stable internal
environment allowing normal function of the body.
Your report must also analyse and describe the consequences
to human health that may result from dysfunction of the
Task homeostatic mechanisms.
Details of the potential methods used to correct malfunctions
in the systems must be included in the report.
Illustrate your report with detailed, annotated feedback
diagrams describing and explaining where each hormone is
secreted, how the hormones act on the target organs and the
responses involved.
The report must include the regulation of:
Temperature, the role Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid,
parathyroid and relevant hormones
Blood glucose levels, the role of alpha and beta cells in the
Islets of Langerhans and the liver.
Water balance and osmoregulation, the role of nephrons, Cl-,
Na+, K+ ions, vasodilation and vasoconstriction of arterioles
and their involvement in sweat and shivering.
, Checklist of evidence An illustrated report that includes:
required An analysis of the interrelation of homeostatic mechanisms
and the impact of homeostatic dysfunction in
thermoregulation, water balance and glucose levels.
An explanation and annotated feedback diagrams of the role
of hormones in thermoregulation, water balance and glucose
levels including thorough consideration of the secretion of
different hormones and their mode of action on target organs
and the responses those organs then carry out.
A description of how homeostatic feedback mechanisms
respond to both internal and external factors to maintain the
body’s stable internal environment.
Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
B. D2 Analyse the impact of homeostatic dysfunction on the human body
B. M2 Explain the role of hormones in homeostatic mechanisms
B. P2 Describe how homeostatic mechanisms maintain normal function
Sources of http://www.livescience.com/26496-endocrine-system.html
information to
support you with http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/the-endocrine-
this Assignment system
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/
tdc02.sci.life.reg.bodycontrol/body-control-center/
http://ats.doit.wisc.edu/biology/ap/ho/t1_a1.htm
http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/
homeostasis_kidneys/kidneys6.cfm?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1
Other assessment
materials attached
to this Assignment
Brief
Positive and negative feedback loops
Why does blood glucose need to be controlled and what happens if blood glucose is not
controlled?
It is critical to maintain blood glucose control so that it does not rise or fall too high or too low.
The pancreas is the organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones that control blood
glucose levels. For cell respiration, glucose is required. The level of glucose in the blood must
remain constant and be closely monitored. When blood glucose levels are too high, the
pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which causes glucose to flow from the blood into the
cells. “In the liver and muscle cells, excess glucose is converted to glycogen for storage and
later use.” (“GCSE Biology Topic 5 Revision - Coggle Diagram”)
Feedback loops
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
,Role of the liver in blood sugar levels
In the liver, sugar is both stored and produced. The liver serves as the body's glucose storage
facility, ensuring that blood sugar levels and other body fuels are kept in check. The liver both
stores and generates glucose, depending on the body's needs. The primary hormones that
signal the need to store or release glucose are insulin and glucagon. Throughout a meal, your
liver stores sugar (glucose) as glycogen to be used later when your body needs it. High insulin
and low glucagon levels during a meal encourage glucose storage as glycogen. During
absorption and digestion, carbohydrate in meals is converted to its most basic form, glucose.
Excess glucose is excreted from the bloodstream, with most of it being converted to glycose,
the storage form of glucose, by the liver's hepatic cells in a process called glycogenesis.
How insulin and glucagon help maintain blood glucose
Insulin and glucagon are hormones that help to keep blood glucose levels in check in the body.
Glucose, which comes from the foods you eat, circulates in your bloodstream, and gives your
body energy. Insulin and glucagon work in tandem to keep blood sugar levels in check and
within the ranges that your body requires. In a negative feedback loop, insulin, and glucagon
work together. To keep your blood sugar levels in check, one event leads to another, which
leads to another, and so on. Insulin and glucagon are hormones made by islet cells in the
pancreas. They both produce hormones in response to blood sugar levels, but in opposite
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, directions! Insulin is produced primarily by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose
absorption in the cells, lowering blood sugar and providing energy. “When blood sugar levels
are too low, the pancreas releases glucagon.” (“Answer in Human Anatomy and Physiology for
laura #89966”) The hormone glucagon causes the liver to release glucose that has been
stored, raising blood sugar levels.
Role of islets of Langerhans
The pancreas' endocrine function is controlled by the Langerhans islets. Beta, alpha, and delta
cells are found in each islet and are responsible for the secretion of pancreatic hormones.
Insulin, a well-known hormone, is secreted by beta cells and plays an important role in glucose
metabolism regulation. The Langerhans islets are essential for maintaining nutritional
homeostasis in humans. Despite large fluctuations in the availability of these nutrients in the
diet, they work to keep the concentration of specific nutrients in the blood at a level that is
appropriate for the variable and competing needs of the body's tissues. Changing the rate at
which islet cell hormones are secreted into the bloodstream is the most common way to
achieve this. These hormones are released because of changes in the concentration of
metabolites and other hormones in the circulation, as well as the activity of the sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous systems. The rate at which insulin and glucagon are secreted,
which determines their relative amounts in the circulation. This is an important factor in
controlling the rate at which metabolites enter and exit organs like the liver, muscle, and
adipose tissue.
4
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Certificate in Applied
Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Foundation Diploma in Applied
Qualification
Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Diploma in Applied Science
Pearson BTEC Level 3 National Extended Diploma in Applied Science
Unit number and
Unit 9: Human Regulation and Reproduction
title
Learning aim(s) (For B: Understand the homeostatic mechanisms used by the human
NQF only) body
Assignment title Homeostatic control of body systems
Assessor
Issue date
Hand in deadline
You have offered to volunteer for a UK charity who work to raise
awareness and provide patients with support and up-to-date, easy to
understand information about disorders of homeostasis. You have
Vocational Scenario
been assigned to research common homeostatic disorders and
or Context
produce an illustrated report that details normal and abnormal
functioning of the endocrine system and the treatments available to
address disorders.
To maintain homeostasis, several hormones are produced by glands
in the body. Some glands are exocrine, some are endocrine, and
some are both. Using correct scientific terminology, produce a
detailed illustrated report for your charity that includes:
Analyses, explains, and describes how the physiological
mechanisms involved in hormonal homeostatic regulation of
body systems interact to maintain a stable internal
environment allowing normal function of the body.
Your report must also analyse and describe the consequences
to human health that may result from dysfunction of the
Task homeostatic mechanisms.
Details of the potential methods used to correct malfunctions
in the systems must be included in the report.
Illustrate your report with detailed, annotated feedback
diagrams describing and explaining where each hormone is
secreted, how the hormones act on the target organs and the
responses involved.
The report must include the regulation of:
Temperature, the role Hypothalamus, pituitary gland, thyroid,
parathyroid and relevant hormones
Blood glucose levels, the role of alpha and beta cells in the
Islets of Langerhans and the liver.
Water balance and osmoregulation, the role of nephrons, Cl-,
Na+, K+ ions, vasodilation and vasoconstriction of arterioles
and their involvement in sweat and shivering.
, Checklist of evidence An illustrated report that includes:
required An analysis of the interrelation of homeostatic mechanisms
and the impact of homeostatic dysfunction in
thermoregulation, water balance and glucose levels.
An explanation and annotated feedback diagrams of the role
of hormones in thermoregulation, water balance and glucose
levels including thorough consideration of the secretion of
different hormones and their mode of action on target organs
and the responses those organs then carry out.
A description of how homeostatic feedback mechanisms
respond to both internal and external factors to maintain the
body’s stable internal environment.
Criteria covered by this task:
Unit/Criteria
To achieve the criteria, you must show that you are able to:
reference
B. D2 Analyse the impact of homeostatic dysfunction on the human body
B. M2 Explain the role of hormones in homeostatic mechanisms
B. P2 Describe how homeostatic mechanisms maintain normal function
Sources of http://www.livescience.com/26496-endocrine-system.html
information to
support you with http://www.hormone.org/hormones-and-health/the-endocrine-
this Assignment system
http://www.pbslearningmedia.org/resource/
tdc02.sci.life.reg.bodycontrol/body-control-center/
http://ats.doit.wisc.edu/biology/ap/ho/t1_a1.htm
http://www.abpischools.org.uk/page/modules/
homeostasis_kidneys/kidneys6.cfm?coSiteNavigation_allTopic=1
Other assessment
materials attached
to this Assignment
Brief
Positive and negative feedback loops
Why does blood glucose need to be controlled and what happens if blood glucose is not
controlled?
It is critical to maintain blood glucose control so that it does not rise or fall too high or too low.
The pancreas is the organ that produces digestive enzymes and hormones that control blood
glucose levels. For cell respiration, glucose is required. The level of glucose in the blood must
remain constant and be closely monitored. When blood glucose levels are too high, the
pancreas produces the hormone insulin, which causes glucose to flow from the blood into the
cells. “In the liver and muscle cells, excess glucose is converted to glycogen for storage and
later use.” (“GCSE Biology Topic 5 Revision - Coggle Diagram”)
Feedback loops
2
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
,Role of the liver in blood sugar levels
In the liver, sugar is both stored and produced. The liver serves as the body's glucose storage
facility, ensuring that blood sugar levels and other body fuels are kept in check. The liver both
stores and generates glucose, depending on the body's needs. The primary hormones that
signal the need to store or release glucose are insulin and glucagon. Throughout a meal, your
liver stores sugar (glucose) as glycogen to be used later when your body needs it. High insulin
and low glucagon levels during a meal encourage glucose storage as glycogen. During
absorption and digestion, carbohydrate in meals is converted to its most basic form, glucose.
Excess glucose is excreted from the bloodstream, with most of it being converted to glycose,
the storage form of glucose, by the liver's hepatic cells in a process called glycogenesis.
How insulin and glucagon help maintain blood glucose
Insulin and glucagon are hormones that help to keep blood glucose levels in check in the body.
Glucose, which comes from the foods you eat, circulates in your bloodstream, and gives your
body energy. Insulin and glucagon work in tandem to keep blood sugar levels in check and
within the ranges that your body requires. In a negative feedback loop, insulin, and glucagon
work together. To keep your blood sugar levels in check, one event leads to another, which
leads to another, and so on. Insulin and glucagon are hormones made by islet cells in the
pancreas. They both produce hormones in response to blood sugar levels, but in opposite
3
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
, directions! Insulin is produced primarily by beta cells in the pancreas. Insulin helps glucose
absorption in the cells, lowering blood sugar and providing energy. “When blood sugar levels
are too low, the pancreas releases glucagon.” (“Answer in Human Anatomy and Physiology for
laura #89966”) The hormone glucagon causes the liver to release glucose that has been
stored, raising blood sugar levels.
Role of islets of Langerhans
The pancreas' endocrine function is controlled by the Langerhans islets. Beta, alpha, and delta
cells are found in each islet and are responsible for the secretion of pancreatic hormones.
Insulin, a well-known hormone, is secreted by beta cells and plays an important role in glucose
metabolism regulation. The Langerhans islets are essential for maintaining nutritional
homeostasis in humans. Despite large fluctuations in the availability of these nutrients in the
diet, they work to keep the concentration of specific nutrients in the blood at a level that is
appropriate for the variable and competing needs of the body's tissues. Changing the rate at
which islet cell hormones are secreted into the bloodstream is the most common way to
achieve this. These hormones are released because of changes in the concentration of
metabolites and other hormones in the circulation, as well as the activity of the sympathetic
and parasympathetic nervous systems. The rate at which insulin and glucagon are secreted,
which determines their relative amounts in the circulation. This is an important factor in
controlling the rate at which metabolites enter and exit organs like the liver, muscle, and
adipose tissue.
4
BTEC Assignment Brief v1.0
BTEC Internal Assessment QDAM January 2015
