Homeostasis

• Homeostasis


  An organism's ability to regulate internal conditions even when external conditions change
• Homeostasis is important so that crucial chemical reactions involving enzymes can happen at an Optimum rate
• Our bodies work hard to regulate blood glucose concentration, temperature and water levels
• Nervous system


  Consists of the CNS (central nervous system - brain and spinal cord) and the PNS (peripheral nervous system - nerves that go through the rest of the body)
• Nervous system response


  1. Receptor detects change due to stimulus

  2. Electrical signal travels to spine through sensory and relay neurons

  3. Signal travels across synapse by neurotransmitter

  4. Signal goes to brain

  5. Signal goes back to effector via relay and motor neurons
• Reflex


  Signal bypasses the brain and goes straight through the spine to the effector
• Reflex arc is much faster than a conscious decision
• Glands


  Produce specific chemicals the body needs depending on the situation
• Investigating reaction time


  1. Hold ruler between finger and thumb and drop without warning

  2. Measure distance fallen before caught

  3. Repeat multiple times and take mean average
• Introducing independent variable (stimulant or depressant)


  Decreases or increases reaction time respectively
• Cerebral cortex


  Responsible for higher level functions like memory, speech and problem solving
• Cerebellum


  Responsible for motor skills, movement, balance and coordination
• Medulla oblongata


  Controls unconscious actions like heart and breathing rates, also controls release of adrenaline
• MRI scans


  Safely see activity in the brain
• Eyes


  • Most mind-bogglingly designed cameras ever conceived
  • Ability to change lens shape to focus light from different distances (accommodation)
• Accommodation


  1. For far objects: Ciliary muscles relax, suspensory ligaments tighten, lens becomes thin

  2. For near objects: Ciliary muscles contract, suspensory ligaments slacken, lens becomes fatter
• Pupil


  Hole in the iris that can change size depending on light intensity
• Cornea


  Transparent outer layer where light enters the eye, has a slight lensing effect
• Retina


  Contains rod and cone cells that respond to light
• Rods


  Can only detect light intensity, no color
• Cones


  Three different types that detect green, blue or red wavelengths of light
• Thermoregulation


  Body controlling its internal temperature
• Thermoregulation mechanisms


  1. Sweat glands cause water evaporation to cool body

  2. Blood vessels dilate to increase blood flow to skin and heat loss

  3. Shivering causes muscles to produce more heat
• Endocrine system


  System of glands that produce or secrete hormones that travel to effectors via the blood
• Pituitary gland


  Main or master gland that produces hormones in response to stimuli and travels to other glands
• Pancreas


  Produces insulin to regulate blood glucose levels
• Thyroid


  Controls growth, heart, muscle and digestive function
• Adrenal glands


  Produce adrenaline
• Ovaries/Testes


  Release eggs/sperm
• Type 1 diabetes


  Pancreas can't produce enough insulin, requires insulin injections
• Type 2 diabetes


  Cells don't absorb glucose properly, requires careful diet and management
• Water and nitrogen balance

  Kidneys filter blood, absorb useful substances and regulate water levels
• Antidiuretic hormone (ADH)


  Produced in pituitary gland, travels to kidneys and causes them to reabsorb more water
• Negative feedback


  Body responds to return things to normal
• Dialysis


  Blood is sent through a machine that does the job of the kidneys
• Menstruation


  1. FSH causes egg maturation and estrogen production

  2. LH causes egg release

  3. Progesterone maintains uterus lining
• Contraception options


  • Pills that inhibit FSH
  • Progesterone injections
  • Implants
  • Condoms
  • Diaphragms
  • IUDs
  • Avoiding sex after ovulation
• IVF


  Eggs harvested, fertilized in lab, embryos inserted into uterus
• Adrenaline


  Hormone that increases heart and breathing rate in stressful situations
• Thyroxin


  Hormone secreted by thyroid that controls metabolic rate