ASSIGNMENT 9B
Understand the homeostatic mechanisms
used by the body
P2 – DESCRIBE HOW HOMEOSTATIC
MECHANISMS MAINTAIN NORMAL
FUNCTION
What is homeostasis and it’s significance
Before an explanation of how homeostatic mechanisms maintain normal
functioning of the body can be provided first the concept of homeostasis
should be defined. Homeostasis is the regulation of conditions in the body
such as chemical and physical conditions in order to maintain optimal and
steady functioning by systems in the body. Examples of conditions which
need to be maintained in the human body include body temperature, blood
glucose levels and the balance of fluids in the body. Blood glucose levels in
the body are maintained by homeostasis whenever the levels in the blood are
too high or too low. When blood glucose levels are too high and homeostasis
dysfunctions symptoms such as vomiting and blurred vision can occur in
addition with long term conditions like diabetes. Therefore the conclusion
can be drawn that homeostasis is a significant part of an organism.
The basic role of the endocrine system and nervous system in
homeostasis
The endocrine system plays a role in aiding homeostasis by a series of glands.
The endocrine system is made up of glands that are able to secrete hormones
into the blood stream. These hormones act as chemical messengers to
maintain optimal conditions. However the response via the endocrine system
, is done at a much slower rate and in contrast with a longer period of effect on
the Body. However in opposition the nervous system consists of nerve cells
to transmit information to different systems in the body to maintain optimal
conditions at a much faster rate but a short term effect. The nervous system
consist of feedback mechanisms in order to maintain steady and optimal
conditions in the body such as negative feedback and positive feedback.
Below is an illustrated example of the main difference in components of the
nervous system and endocrine system.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocri
ne-glands-and-their-hormones
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cuny-
csi-ap-1/chapter/basic-structure-and-
function-of-the-nervous-system/
Negative feedback
When a change in the body occurs such as high blood glucose level negative
feedback works to reverse the output/change in order to maintain steady
conditions in the body. However to fully understand negative feedback the
execution of negative feedback should be outlined.
1) A change in the body’s optimal and steady conditions acts as the
stimuli which is detected by receptors. An example of a receptor
includes temperature receptors
2) Communication occurs as messages are sent to the correct system in
the body this could be the nervous system or the endocrine system.
3) The system then makes the necessary change to reverse the stimuli by
sending this information to effectors in the body. The effectors are
either glands for secretion or muscles for contraction
4) The effector either secretes or contracts in order to tackle the stimuli
and bring an organism back to its optimal conditions.
2
Understand the homeostatic mechanisms
used by the body
P2 – DESCRIBE HOW HOMEOSTATIC
MECHANISMS MAINTAIN NORMAL
FUNCTION
What is homeostasis and it’s significance
Before an explanation of how homeostatic mechanisms maintain normal
functioning of the body can be provided first the concept of homeostasis
should be defined. Homeostasis is the regulation of conditions in the body
such as chemical and physical conditions in order to maintain optimal and
steady functioning by systems in the body. Examples of conditions which
need to be maintained in the human body include body temperature, blood
glucose levels and the balance of fluids in the body. Blood glucose levels in
the body are maintained by homeostasis whenever the levels in the blood are
too high or too low. When blood glucose levels are too high and homeostasis
dysfunctions symptoms such as vomiting and blurred vision can occur in
addition with long term conditions like diabetes. Therefore the conclusion
can be drawn that homeostasis is a significant part of an organism.
The basic role of the endocrine system and nervous system in
homeostasis
The endocrine system plays a role in aiding homeostasis by a series of glands.
The endocrine system is made up of glands that are able to secrete hormones
into the blood stream. These hormones act as chemical messengers to
maintain optimal conditions. However the response via the endocrine system
, is done at a much slower rate and in contrast with a longer period of effect on
the Body. However in opposition the nervous system consists of nerve cells
to transmit information to different systems in the body to maintain optimal
conditions at a much faster rate but a short term effect. The nervous system
consist of feedback mechanisms in order to maintain steady and optimal
conditions in the body such as negative feedback and positive feedback.
Below is an illustrated example of the main difference in components of the
nervous system and endocrine system.
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/endocri
ne-glands-and-their-hormones
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/cuny-
csi-ap-1/chapter/basic-structure-and-
function-of-the-nervous-system/
Negative feedback
When a change in the body occurs such as high blood glucose level negative
feedback works to reverse the output/change in order to maintain steady
conditions in the body. However to fully understand negative feedback the
execution of negative feedback should be outlined.
1) A change in the body’s optimal and steady conditions acts as the
stimuli which is detected by receptors. An example of a receptor
includes temperature receptors
2) Communication occurs as messages are sent to the correct system in
the body this could be the nervous system or the endocrine system.
3) The system then makes the necessary change to reverse the stimuli by
sending this information to effectors in the body. The effectors are
either glands for secretion or muscles for contraction
4) The effector either secretes or contracts in order to tackle the stimuli
and bring an organism back to its optimal conditions.
2
