Michelle Thao

Ryan Lester
CIS Anatomy
23 September 2017
Homeostasis Within the Human Body

Homeostasis is a way of life and happens more frequently than expected. Homeostasis is

the mechanism that involves maintaining a stable state within the body. To illustrate how

homeostasis works, four labs were performed: a liver lab, oxygen and CO2 lab, and a

temperature lab. Starting these labs, a question was kept in mind: how does the body respond to

external stimuli? After recording data from which lab, the answer to the question is: the body’s

reaction will either speed up or slow down the external stimuli, while trying to preserve its

internal environment within a constant range or setpoint.

pH Levels in Water Base (Controlled Data)

 pH Levels in Liver (Experimental Data)

The first graph illustrates how an acidic base (vinegar), would affect the pH level of a

neutral base (water). As every two drops of vinegar is added to the water, the water’s pH level

slowly drops at a constant rate. The second graph is more chaotic as it starts to raise at a constant

rate until the 12th drop of vinegar was added. From drops 2-10, the vinegar wasn’t stirred or

mixed into the liver solution, therefore, causing a huge gap between the 10th drop and 12th drop

of vinegar. Another gap that can be seen in the graph is between the 20th drop and the 31st drop.

To make up for time that was running out, 11 drops of vinegar was added each time instead of

two. By adding 11 drops of vinegar, we can depict that the liver pH level started to decreased.

The following evidence shows how the liver (along with all the other organs) work to

maintain homeostasis. The liver’s job within a human’s body is to filter blood throughout the

body, detoxifies chemicals, and metabolize drugs within the body (Hoffman, 2014). Whenever

the body consumes and breaks down substances (in this case: vinegar), the liver will release a

toxic matter called ammonia. “The liver cells convert ammonia to a much less toxic substance

called urea, which is released into the blood. Urea is then transported to the kidneys and passes

out of the body in urine” (“How does the liver work,” 2016). This process of the liver keeps the

pH level in the body constant and also gets rid of any toxic waste that can harm the body.

Without this process, the body wouldn’t be able to maintain health and would slowly break apart.
 Average Temperature of Hand (Controlled Data)

Hand’s Temperature in Iced Water (Experimental Data)

The graphs show how the temperature of the body reacted to different climates. Before

the hand was placed into the iced water, it raised at a steady pace. As soon as the hand was

placed into the iced water, the hand’s temperature significantly dropped, but slowed down to a

constant temperature. The evidence shown in the temperature data shows how the integumentary

system and body are working together to maintain balance. When the external state is losing

heat, signals are sent throughout the body, which causes shivering. Shivering will slowly create

more heat as the body is moving. This can also be seen when the body is overheating because the

body will produce sweat. Sweating cools the skin down and will slowly drop the temperature

before the body overheats too much and causes hyperthermia or cardiac arrest. How the body

reacts to different temperatures illustrates homeostasis as the body tries to the regulate itself
within a constant range of temperature.

Throughout all the experiments that were carried out, many students were able to learn

how the body maintains homeostasis. Both labs were able to show that as an external stimuli

affects the body, it will respond by trying to sustain its internal environment within a constant

range or setpoint. This can be seen as the body attempted to keep its temperature at 98.6 degrees

Fahrenheit in freezing/humid temperatures by sweating or shivering. Another example is how the

liver can help detoxify chemicals to keep the body at an unchanging pH level. Both responses

also seen as a negative feedback as the body regulates itself to a stable state.

References

How does the liver work? (2016, August 22). National Center for Biotechnology

Information. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0072577/
 Hoffman, M. Picture of the Liver. (2014). WebMD. Retrieved September 27, 2017, from

http://www.webmd.com/digestive-disorders/picture-of-the-liver#1