Homeostasis

• Homeostasis


  The regulation of conditions inside the body to maintain a stable internal environment in response to changes in both internal and external conditions
• Cells in the body

  • Need certain conditions to function properly (not too hot/cold, not too acidic/alkaline, good supply of glucose and water)
• How the body regulates conditions

  1. Recognizes when there's a change from optimal conditions

  2. Sends a signal to reverse that change

  3. Levels go back to normal
• Automatic control systems


  • Have 3 main components: receptors, coordination centers, effectors
• Receptors


  Detect a change (e.g. rise in temperature)
• Coordination centers


  Interpret the change and decide what needs to be done
• Effectors


  Carry out the change (e.g. muscles contracting, glands releasing hormones)
• Nervous system


  Sends fast, precise electrical impulses through nerves
• Endocrine system


  Relies on hormones released into the bloodstream, slower and more generalized than nervous system
• Negative feedback mechanism


  1. If levels get too high, it decreases them to return to normal

  2. If levels get too low, it increases them to return to normal
• Homeostasis is the overall process of maintaining a stable internal environment