Homeostasis

• What is homeostasis?

  Process of maintaining a stable internal environment
• Why do cells need specific conditions to function?

  To ensure proper metabolic activities occur
• What are some conditions cells need to maintain?

  Temperature, acidity, glucose, and water levels
• How does the body regulate internal conditions?

  By keeping levels around the right ranges
• What does homeostasis respond to?

  Changes in internal and external conditions
• What is the optimal body temperature for cells?

  37°C
• What are the three main components of automatic control systems?

  Receptors, coordination centers, and effectors
• What do receptors do in the control system?

  Detect changes in conditions
• What role do coordination centers play?

  Interpret changes and decide on actions
• What are effectors in the control system?

  Muscles or glands that carry out changes
• How do the nervous and endocrine systems communicate?

  Nervous system uses electrical impulses; endocrine uses hormones
• How does the speed of the nervous system compare to the endocrine system?

  Nervous system is faster and more precise
• What is negative feedback?

  Process that reverses changes to maintain stability
• What happens when glucose levels rise too high?

  Negative feedback decreases glucose levels
• What occurs if body temperature drops too low?

  Receptors detect cold and signal for shivering
• What happens if body temperature rises too high?

  Receptors detect heat and signal for sweating
• What is the overall process of homeostasis?

  • Maintaining a stable internal environment
  • Involves automatic control systems
  • Uses negative feedback to regulate conditions
• Describe the loop of negative feedback in homeostasis.

  1. Detect change (too high or too low)
  2. Signal sent to coordination centers
  3. Effectors carry out response
  4. Levels return to normal
• What are the differences between the nervous and endocrine systems?

  • Nervous system:
  • Fast and precise
  • Uses electrical impulses
  • Endocrine system:
  • Slower and longer-lasting
  • Uses hormones
• How does the body respond to cold temperatures?

  • Receptors detect low temperature
  • Nervous system sends signals to coordination centers
  • Effectors (muscles) initiate shivering
  • Body temperature increases to normal
• How does the body respond to high temperatures?

  • Receptors detect high temperature
  • Nervous system sends signals to coordination centers
  • Effectors (sweat glands) initiate sweating
  • Body temperature decreases to normal