Homeostasis Is The Technical Term For The Process Of Monitoring A Constant Internal Environment
Homeostasis is the technical term for the process of monitoring a constant internal environment (blood, tissue fluid body cell contents and metabolic processes) despite external changes. Homeostasis is a mixture of two words homeo means ‘body’ and stasis means ‘the same’. Simply put, homeostasis is about keeping the body in balance.
This is important because if the internal conditions were not kept in balance, then the enzymes and other chemicals would not be able to function properly. We have lots of mechanisms to keep your body in balance _some of these are voluntary (you control them) and some of them are autonomic (you have no control over them). E.g. if you are too hot you may remove some of your clothing (a voluntary response) and you may sweat (an autonomic response) to help get your temperature back to normal.
Examples of conditions that are balanced by homeostasis include body temperature, blood sugar, blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water and urea levels.
Body temperature is controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus. It receives input from two sets of thermo receptors: receptors in the hypothalamus itself monitor the temperature of the blood as it passes through the brain (the core temperature), and receptors in the skin (especially on the trunk) monitor the external temperature. Both sets of information are needed so that the body can make appropriate adjustments.
Blood sugar is the blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of a human or animal.
How does homeostasis regulate breathing rate? The respiratory control centre of the brain senses that the levels are incorrect and increases both the heart rate and breathing rate to make up the difference. As you stop the activity, the respiratory control centre slows the heart and breathing rate back down to maintain homeostasis in the bloodstream.
This is important because if the internal conditions were not kept in balance, then the enzymes and other chemicals would not be able to function properly. We have lots of mechanisms to keep your body in balance _some of these are voluntary (you control them) and some of them are autonomic (you have no control over them). E.g. if you are too hot you may remove some of your clothing (a voluntary response) and you may sweat (an autonomic response) to help get your temperature back to normal.
Examples of conditions that are balanced by homeostasis include body temperature, blood sugar, blood oxygen, carbon dioxide, and water and urea levels.
Body temperature is controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus. It receives input from two sets of thermo receptors: receptors in the hypothalamus itself monitor the temperature of the blood as it passes through the brain (the core temperature), and receptors in the skin (especially on the trunk) monitor the external temperature. Both sets of information are needed so that the body can make appropriate adjustments.
Blood sugar is the blood sugar concentration or blood glucose level is the amount of glucose (sugar) present in the blood of a human or animal.
How does homeostasis regulate breathing rate? The respiratory control centre of the brain senses that the levels are incorrect and increases both the heart rate and breathing rate to make up the difference. As you stop the activity, the respiratory control centre slows the heart and breathing rate back down to maintain homeostasis in the bloodstream.