Keeping In Balance

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What is Homeostasis?

Homeostatis is to maintain a constant internal environment.

It is important because it is ensures that other processes aren't effected by changes in the surroundings and so your body can function as normal.

The body keeps its temperature, water, ions and blood sugar levels constant using homeostatis.

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Blood Sugar

It is important to maintain a constant blood sugar level as the right amount of sugar is needed in order for cells to carry out respiration and create energy for everyday living.

Blood sugar levels are monitored and controlled by the pancreas.

If your blood sugar lvels are too high, insulin is released to covert the glucose into glycogen which is stored int the liver.

If your blood sugar levels are too low, glucagon (for when the glucose is gone) breaks up the glycogen stored in the liver to form glucose and releases it back into the bloodstream.

If you have type 1 diabetes then your body doesn't make insulin. You have to monitor your blood sugar levels and control them with insulin injections, your diet and exercise.

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Water and Ions

Ions and water are lost from the body in the form of sweat and urine. Water is also lost when you breathe out but ions are not.

If your body has too little water in it then it makes you thirsty so that you drink more water and replenish it.

The amounts of water and ions lost through urination is controlled by the kidneys.

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Thermoregulation

It is important to maintain a constant body temperature so enzymes needed for chemical reactions in the body can work at their optimum temperature. if they get too hot then they denaturise and cannot be used.

  • high temperatures can cause dehydration, heat stroke and death if untreated
  • low temperatures can cause hypothermia and death if untreated

Blood vessels supplying blood to the skin can swell or dilate - vasodilation. This causes more heat to be carried by the blood to the skin, where it can be lost to the air. Blood vessels can shrink down again - vasoconstriction. This reduces heat loss through the skin once the body’s temperature has returned to normal.

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Negative Feedback

1. Receptors are like the body's security cameras. if their is a change in the surrounding they alert the brain.

2. The brain is like the guy manning the screen with the security cameras on. If a change is detected then it processes it and sends a message via electrical impulses to the apporpriate glands or muscles.

3. The glands or muscles are like the security guards who respond to the brains message by fixing the problem.

Glands secrete hormones and hormones are the chemical messengers that affect how other organs work.

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