HOMEOSTASIS

HOMEOSTASIS
Definition: i.e. a state of keeping the internal
environment
constant within physiological limits.
What is the internal environment?
- 60% of body is made of body fluids
Internal environment is the;

Components of the body fluids

CAPILLARY EXCHANGE
Homeostasis occurs at capillary level.
Capillaries are the smallest blood vessel ~ one cell thick
Substances (e.g. nutrients, O2,CO2 and cellular wastes) move down
their concentration gradient across capillary.

STRESS AND HOMEOSTASIS

Stress is any stimuli (external and internal) disturbing homeostasis
Examples of internal stresses - blood glucose, and acidity in ECF
Examples of external stresses - heat, cold, lack of oxygen
There are variations of stress from mild stress to extreme stress.
Examples of mild stress - thirst and hunger
Examples of extreme tress - poisoning, severe infection
For mild stress, cells respond quickly to restore imbalance
For extreme stress, cells may restore incompletely the imbalance and can result in
chronic illness or even death.
The body has many homeostatic devices to oppose the stimuli of stress and restore
internal environment

STRESS and HOMEOSTASIS

ALLOSTASIS
A PROCESS WHERE THE
HOMEOSTASIS IS CHANGED & SET UP
INTO THE NEW VALUE LEVEL.
HOMEOSTASIS
HOMEOSTASIS
HOMEOSTASIS

REGULATION OF HOMEOSTASIS
The Nervous system and Endocrine system work together or
independently to regulate homeostasis
1) NERVOUS SYSTEM
- uses nerve impulses to respond to stresses in the body
- response is rapid compare to endocrinal system
E.g. Active muscle contraction produces CO2 and O2 in
blood. Nerve cells detects changes in blood gases sends
impulses to brain brain send impulses to heart to heart
rate brain also sends impulses to respiratory centre in
brain to breathing rate blood gases are quickly
restored back to normal.

REGULATION OF HOMEOSTASIS
2) ENDOCRINAL SYSTEM
Uses hormones to responds to stresses and to maintain
homeostasis
Response is slower than nervous system and also is more fine
tuning.
E.g. Active muscle contraction produces CO2 and O2 in
blood CO2 causes the release of epinephrine into blood
epinephrine causes in heart rate delivery to and
removal of CO2 in lungs .

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOMEOSTASIS

The control mechanism for homeostasis is a feedback system.
- FEEDBACK SYSTEM has 3 parts ;
1) CONTROL CENTER
2) RECEPTOR
3) EFFECTOR

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOMEOSTASIS

1) CONTROL CENTER
- mainly the brain and other parts of the central nervous system
- sets the values at which the controlled condition (E.g. body
temperature) is to be maintained.
2) RECEPTOR
- monitors changes in the controlled condition and sends
information to control center.
(E.g. continuously sends body temperature data to the body
temperature control center in the brain)
3) EFFECTORS
- receives information from controlled center and produces
response to correct stimuli.

CONTROL MECHANISM FOR HOMEOSTASIS

TWO TYPES OF FEEDBACK LOOPS

1) NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP

2) POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOP

TWO TYPES OF FEEDBACK LOOPS

1)NEGATIVE FEEDBACK LOOP
- the response reverses original stimuli by inhibiting it.
- we especially see in conditions that require frequent
monitoring and make adjustment within physiological limits.
Example:
1. Body temperature and blood glucose level is regulated by
negative feedback system.
2. Release of thyroxine (T3 and T4 hormones) from thyroid
gland.

 2) POSITIVE FEEDBACK LOOP

- the response enhances the original stimulus
- we see in conditions that does not require fine-tuning
- usually switched off by mechanisms outside the system
- can be destructive and result in various disorder but some are
normal and beneficial.
Example:
i) Blood clotting. The original signal is amplified until blood
clot forms and bleeding is under control. Then other
substances help turn off the clotting response.
ii) At birth. Positive feedback loop results in strengthening of
labor contractions until the baby is finally delivered.
iii) Immune response. The positive feedback loop causes the
body to amplify the signal and response to contain and
quickly remove the pathogen (disease causing agent) from
the body.

E.g. CLOTTING CASCADE

THERE IS A DUALISM IN THE

BODY
platelets

Anti-platelets

vasodilator

V.Constrictor

Brochodilator

Br.constrictor

Heat product.
Oxidant

Heat-loss
Antioxidant

Antigen

Anti body

Aging

Anti-aging

DISEASE :HOMEOSTASIS and IMBALANCE

Body processes remains within physiological limits

body
cells function well
homeostasis is maintained
body is
healthy.
But when body processes ( 1 or >1) loose their ability to contribute to
homeostasis. The outcomes would result in;
- (if moderate)
diseases results
- (if severe)
death results
LOCAL DISEASES - disease affecting limited part/ region of the body.
SYSTEMIC DISEASE- disease affecting entire body.
SYMPTOMS - Subjective changes (complains) in the body function
that a patient complains about, and is not apparent to an observer.
(e.g. pain complaint by patient)
SIGNS - Objective changes that a clinician can observe and measure.
- SIGNS can be ;
(ANATOMICAL changes) Swelling, rash
(PHYSIOLOGICAL changes) Raised blood pressure and raised
body temperature