Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment despite changes in the external environment.
• In the human body, Homeostasis controls

  • Body glucose concentration
  • Body temperature
  • Water levels
• Thermoregulation

  • The act of keeping internal body temperature constant (37c)
• Osmoregulation

  • The act of keeping the concentration of blood at a constant level
• If temperatures in the body become too high sweat is produced and released on the epidermis

  Vasodilation - blood flows closer to the surface of the skin (heat gain)
• If temperatures decrease too much sweating stops and shivering begins to generate heat

  Vasoconstriction - blood does not flow so close to the surface (heat loss)
• The hypothalamus has receptors that monitor the temperature of blood and sends impulses to the thermoregulatory centre