Homeostasis

Talkie time and Recap

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Competencies:

1. explain how some organisms maintain steady internal

conditions that possess various structures and
processes (STEM_BIO11/12-IVi-2)

2. describe examples of homeostasis (e.g., temperature

regulation, osmotic balance and glucose levels) and the
major features of feedback loops that produce such
homeostasis (STEM_BIO11/12-IVi-3)
(15 mins) Film Viewing
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-aRut2kyksQ

Buzz Session
1. What is Homeostasis?
2. How does our body maintain balance?
3. Re-Explain the example in the video about
homeostasis?
4. Can you give or think of another example?
 Physiology
 Science of body functions
 Teleological vs Mechanistic views
 Teleological – the why, explains purpose of a
physiological process
 Mechanistic – the how, explained in terms of cause
and effect of physiological process
 Example: shivering
 Teleological - shivering elevates a low body temperature
 Mechanistic - when body temperature drops below
normal, a reflex pathway causes involuntary oscillating
skeletal muscle contractions which produce heat
 Levels of Organization
 Chemical
 Cellular
 Tissue
 Organs
 System Level
 Organismic Level
Levels of Structural Organization
 Chemical Level - atomic and molecular level
 Cellular level - smallest living unit of the body
 Tissue level
 Group of cells and the materials surrounding them that work
together on one task
 4 basic tissue types: epithelium, muscle, connective tissue,
and nerve
 Levels of Structural Organization
 Organ level - consists of two or more types of primary tissues
that function together to perform a particular function or
functions
 Example: Stomach
 Inside of stomach lined with epithelial tissue
 Wall of stomach contains smooth muscle
 Nervous tissue in stomach controls muscle contraction and gland secretion
 Connective tissue binds all the above tissues together
 System - collection of related organs with a common function,
sometimes an organ is part of more than one system
 Organismic level - one living individual
 Body Systems
 Groups of organs that perform related functions
and interact to accomplish a common activity
essential to survival of the whole body
 Do not act in isolation from one another
 Human body has 11 systems
Body Systems
Body Systems
 Homeostasis
 Defined as maintenance of a relatively stable
internal environment
 Does not mean that composition, temperature, and
other characteristics are absolutely unchanging
 Homeostasis is essential for survival and
function of all cells
 Each cell contributes to maintenance of a
relatively stable internal environment
 Basic Cell Functions
 Sensing and responding to changes in surrounding
environment
 Control exchange of materials between cell and its
surrounding environment
 Obtain nutrients and oxygen from surrounding environment
 Eliminate carbon dioxide and other wastes to surrounding
environment
 Perform chemical reactions that provide energy for the
cell
 Synthesize needed cellular components
 Homeostasis
 Body cells are in contained in
watery internal environment
through which life-sustaining
exchanges are made
 Extracellular fluid (ECF) - Fluid
environment in which the cells
live (fluid outside the cells)
 Two components:
 Plasma
 Interstitial fluid
 Intracellular fluid (ICF) - Fluid
contained within all body cells
Homeostasis
 Balancing the Internal and External Environment
Cells, the fundamental units of life, exchange nutrients
and wastes with their surroundings:

The intracellular fluid is “conditioned by”…

the interstitial fluid, which is “conditioned by” …

the plasma, which is “conditioned by” …

the organ systems it passes through.

ICF ISF plasma organs

external
environment
internal environment
 Homeostasis
 Homeostasis involves dynamic mechanisms that
detect and respond to deviations in physiological
variables from their “set point” values by
initiating effector responses that restore the
variables to the optimal physiological range.
 Two systems that maintain homeostasis are:
Nervous system & Endocrine system
 Maintenance of Homeostasis

 Nervous system
 Controls and coordinates bodily activities that require rapid
responses
 Detects and initiates reactions to changes in external
environment
 Endocrine system
 Secreting glands of endocrine regulate activities that require
duration rather than speed
 Controls concentration of nutrients and, by adjusting kidney
function, controls internal environment’s volume and
electrolyte composition
 Homeostasis
Factors homeostatically regulated include
 Concentration of nutrient molecules

 Concentration of water, salt, and other electrolytes

 Concentration of waste products

 Concentration of O2 = 100mmHg and CO2 = 40

mmHg
 pH = 7.35

 Blood volume 4-6 L and pressure 120/80

 Temperature = 37o C
 Control of Homeostasis
 Homeostasis is continually being
disrupted by
 External stimuli
 heat, cold, lack of oxygen, pathogens,
toxins
 Internal stimuli
 Body temperature
 Blood pressure
 Concentration of water, glucose, salts,
oxygen, etc.
 Physical and psychological distresses
 Disruptions can be mild to severe
 If homeostasis is not maintained, death
may result
Control of Homeostasis
 Homeostatic Control Systems
 In order to maintain homeostasis, control
system must be able to
 Detect deviations from normal in the internal
environment that need to be held within narrow
limits
 Integrate this information with other relevant
information
 Make appropriate adjustments in order to restore
factor to its desired value
 Homeostatic Control Systems
 Control systems are grouped into two classes
 Intrinsic controls
 Local controls that are inherent in an organ
 Extrinsic controls
 Regulatory mechanisms initiated outside an organ
 Accomplished by nervous and endocrine systems
 Homeostatic Control Systems
 Feedforward - term used for responses made in
anticipation of a change
 Feedback - refers to responses made after
change has been detected
 Types of feedback systems
 Negative
 Positive
 Feedback Loops: Types
 Negative feedback loop
 original stimulus reversed
 most feedback systems in the body are negative

 used for conditions that need frequent adjustment

 Positive feedback loop

 original stimulus intensified
 seen during normal childbirth
 Negative Feedback Loop
 Negative feed back loop consists of:
 Receptor - structures that monitor a controlled condition and detect changes

 Control center - determines next action

 Effector
 receives directions from the control center
 produces a response that restores the controlled condition
Negative Feedback Loop
Negative Feedback Loop
 Homeostasis – Negative Feedback Loop
 Blood glucose concentrations rise after a sugary meal (the stimulus), the
hormone insulin is released and it speeds up the transport of glucose out of
the blood and into selected tissues (the response), so blood glucose
concentrations decrease (thus decreasing the original stimulus).
 Homeostasis of Blood Pressure
 Baroreceptors in walls of
blood vessels detect an
increase in BP
 Brain receives input and
signals blood vessels and
heart
 Blood vessels dilate, HR
decreases
 BP decreases
 Positive Feedback during Childbirth
 Stretch receptors in walls of uterus send signals
to the brain
 Brain induces release of hormone (oxytocin)
into bloodstream
 Uterine smooth muscle contracts more
forcefully
 More stretch, more hormone, more contraction
etc.
 Cycle ends with birth of the baby & decrease in
stretch
Role of Body Systems in
Homeostasis
 Glossary
 Maintain – keep up.
 Constant – the same.
 Internal – inside the body.
 Environment – surroundings of the body.
 Feedback - a cycle in which the output of a
system “feeds back” to modify or reinforce the
actions of the system in order to maintain
homeostasis.
 Glossary
 Negative feedback - a change causes system 1 to send a
message to system 2 to restore homeostasis. When
system 1 detects that system 2 has acted, it stops
signaling for action and system 2 stops (turned off).

 Positive feedback - the original stimulus is promoted

rather than stopped. Positive feedback is rarely used to
maintain homeostasis. An example of positive
feedback is childbirth.
 What is Homeostasis?
 Body cells work best if they have the correct
 Temperature
 Water levels

 Glucose concentration

 Your body has mechanisms to keep the cells in a

constant environment.
 What is Homeostasis?

The maintenance of a
constant environment
in the body is called
Homeostasis
 Controlling body temperature
 All mammals maintain a constant body
temperature.
 Human beings have a body temperature of
about 37ºC.
 E.g. If your body is in a hot environment your body
temperature is 37ºC
 If your body is in a cold environment your body
temperature is still 37ºC
 Controlling body temperature
 Animals with a large surface area compared to
their volume will lose heat faster than animals
with a small surface area.

Volume = _______ Volume = _______

Surface area = ______ Surface area = ______

Volume : Surface area Volume : Surface area

ratio = ___________ ratio = ___________
 Controlling body temperature

Volume : Surface Volume : Surface

area ratio = 1:6 area ratio = 1:5

For every 1 unit For every 1 unit

of heat made, of heat made,
heat is lost out heat is lost out
of 6 sides of 5 sides
 Controlling body temperature

Volume : Surface Volume : Surface

area ratio = 1:6 area ratio = 1:5

The bigger the

Volume : Surface Area ratio
is, the faster heat will be lost.
Penguins huddling to keep warm
 What mechanisms are there to cool
the body down?

1. Sweating
 When your body is hot, sweat glands are
stimulated to release sweat.
 The liquid sweat turns into a gas (it evaporates)
 To do this, it needs heat.
 It gets that heat from your skin.
 As your skin loses heat, it cools down.
Sweating

The
skin
 What mechanisms are there to cool
the body down?
2. Vasodilation
 Your blood carries most of the heat energy
around your body.
 There are capillaries underneath your skin that
can be filled with blood if you get too hot.
 This brings the blood closer to the surface of
the skin so more heat can be lost.
 This is why you look red when you are hot!
 This means more heat is lost from the surface of the skin

If the temperature
rises, the blood
vessel dilates (gets
bigger).
 What mechanisms are there to warm the
body up?

1. Vasoconstriction
 This is the opposite of vasodilation
 The capillaries underneath your skin get
constricted (shut off).
 This takes the blood away from the surface of
the skin so less heat can be lost.
 This means less heat is lost from the surface of the skin

If the temperature
falls, the blood
vessel constricts
(gets shut off).
 What mechanisms are there to warm the
body up?

2. Piloerection
 This is when the hairs on your skin “stand
up” .
 It is sometimes called “goose bumps” or
“chicken skin”!
 The hairs trap a layer of air next to the skin
which is then warmed by the body heat
 The air becomes an insulating layer.
 Controlling Glucose levels
 Your cells also need an exact level of glucose in the
blood.
 Glucose moves into the cells for cellular respiration
 Excess glucose gets turned into glycogen in the liver
 This is regulated by 2 hormones (chemicals) from the
pancreas called:

Insulin
Glucagon
Glycogen If there is too
much glucose in
the blood,
Insulin converts
some of it to
glycogen the rest
moves into the
cells for use in
cellular
respiration.

Glucose in the blood

Glycogen
If there is not
enough glucose
in the blood,
Glucagon
converts some
glycogen into
glucose.

Glucose in the blood

 Diabetes
 Some people do not produce enough insulin.
 When they eat food, the glucose levels in their
blood cannot be reduced.
 This condition is known as DIABETES.
 Diabetics sometimes have to inject insulin into
their blood. They have to be careful of their
diet.
 Glucose levels rise
after a meal. Insulin is produced
Glucose
Concentration and glucose levels
fall to normal
again.

Normal

Time
Meal eaten
 Glucose levels rise
Glucose after a meal.
Concentration Diabetic

Insulin is not
produced so
glucose levels stay
high

Time
Meal eaten
Glycogen
The glucose
But there in the
is no
Glucose
blood
insulinincreases.
to convert
concentration rises
it into glycogen.
to dangerous
levels.

Glucose in the blood

 Blood Glucose Feedback Mechanism

Pancreas produces Insulin

Glucose into cells

Out of blood

Blood glucose increases Homeostasis Blood glucose decreases

( High ) (Low)

Glucose out of cells

Into blood

Pancreas produces Glucagon

 Controlling water levels
 The control of water levels is carried out by the
KIDNEYS.
 It is closely linked to the excretion of urea.
 Urea is a waste product that is made when the
LIVER breaks down proteins that are not
needed by the body.
 Urea contains the element Nitrogen.
 The kidneys
The kidneys “clean” the blood of
waste products and control how much
water is kept in the body. The waste
products and water make up urine
which is excreted via the ureter.

“Dirty” blood enters the kidney

through the renal artery. Then,
several things happen to clean the
blood...
1. Filtration

Blood enters the tubule area in

a capillary.
The capillary forms a small
“knot” near the kidney tubule.

The blood is filtered so all the

small particles go into the
tubule.

The capillary then carries on

to run next to the tubule.
The kidney tubule now contains
lots of blood components
including:

Glucose:
Ions:
Water:
Urea:
2. Reabsorb sugar

The body needs to have sugar

in the blood for cells to use in
respiration. So all the sugar is
reabsorbed back into the
capillary.
2. Reabsorb sugar

The body needs to have sugar

in the blood for cells to use in
respiration. So all the sugar is
reabsorbed back into the
capillary.
3. Reabsorb water

Water and ions are the next to

be absorbed. It depends on
how much is needed by the
body.
3. Reabsorb water

Water and ions are the next to

be absorbed. It depends on
how much is needed by the
body.
 Reabsorbing water

If you have too If you have too

little water in your much water in your
blood, you will blood, you will
produce very produce very dilute
concentrated urine. urine.

(very little water in (lots of water in it)

it)
 5. Excrete the waste

Everything that is left in the

kidney tubule is waste:

•All the urea

•Excess water

This waste is called urine. It is

excreted via the ureter and is
stored in the bladder.
Renal vein
The “clean” blood leaves the
kidney in the renal vein.
Ureter
 Summary of urine production
 Urea is a waste product made in the LIVER
 Water content of the body is controlled in the
KIDNEYS
 Urea, water and other waste makes up URINE.
 Urine travels down the URETER and is stored
in the BLADDER
 Urine is excreted through the URETHRA.
 Temperature regulation, glucose level control
and water level control are all examples of
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK MECHANISMS.
 Application

Explain the Diagram