Homeostasis

• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment in order to maintain optimum conditions for enzyme and cellular function
• Examples of conditions maintained by homeostasis in the body:

  • Blood glucose concentration
  • Body temperature
  • Water levels
• Two types of responses used in body control systems are nervous and chemical
• All control systems have three components:

  • Receptors
  • Coordination centres
  • Effectors
• The function of a receptor is to detect changes in the environment (stimuli)
• The function of a coordination centre is to obtain and process information from receptors
• The function of an effector is to bring about responses to stimuli using muscles or glands