4.3-homeostasis

• Homeostasis The ability of an organism to maintain internal stability and balance in response to changes in the external environment.
• Stimulus is any change in the internal or external environment that is detected by a receptor.
• Receptor is cells or organs that detect the stimulus and send signals to the control center.
• effector is cells or organs that respond to the signals from the control center to bring about a change to counteract the initial stimulus.
• Control Center is the brain, spinal cord, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, adrenal medulla, pancreas, kidneys
• Positive feedback loop is where a change in the level of a substance leads to further increase/decrease until equilibrium is reached.
• Negative feedback loop is when there is a change in the level of a substance which causes a reaction to return it back to normal levels.
• Control Center processes the information and determines the appropriate response.
• Temperature Regulation is when body temperature rises, thermoreceptors send signals to the hypothalamus, which triggers sweating to cool the body down.
• Blood Sugar Regulation is where after a meal, blood sugar levels rise. Insulin is released to promote the uptake of glucose, bringing blood sugar levels back to normal.
• Negative Feedback Loops Is Essential for maintaining homeostasis and ensuring the body functions properly. They help prevent large fluctuations in internal conditions and keep the body stable.