Topic 4 | Regulation of systems

WORKSHEET 4.2
Name: ............................................................................................................ Class: ................................ Date: ....................................

Maintaining the balance

Homeostasis in humans is maintained by the interaction of many organs and tissues. In a healthy individual,
variables such as body temperature, levels of hormones, heart rate, blood pressure and enzyme levels are
maintained between defined limits. When one part of a homeostatic system malfunctions, an imbalance in the
system may result and, if it is not corrected, the organism may ultimately die.
1. Homeostasis is a vital and important process for our survival.
Explain what homeostasis is.

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2. What is the difference between a tissue, an organ and a system?

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3. Complete the following table, indicating whether each example is an organ or a tissue and to which system it
belongs in the human body. The first one has been done for you.

Example Organ or tissue System

Blood Tissue Circulatory system

Bone

Heart

Muscle

Pancreas

Kidney

Thyroid

Brain

Bone marrow

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 Topic 4 | Regulation of systems

4. Figure 1 shows a generalised feedback system.

FIGURE 1 A generalised feedback system

The following list highlights some responses related to four feedback systems.
● Secretion of sweat onto skin
● Increase in rate of breathing
● Vasodilation
● Decrease in rate of breathing
● Shivering
● Vasoconstriction
● Production of dilute urine
● Release of insulin into the blood
● Production of large volumes of dilute urine
● Reduced secretion of insulin
● Release of glucagon into the blood
● Production of small volumes of concentrated urine

a. Complete the following figures, adding in the labels for ‘Normal level’, ‘Increase’ and ‘Decrease’ as
seen in Figure 1. Then add each of the responses from the list above into the flowcharts. You may wish
to add multiple responses into each box.

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 Topic 4 | Regulation of systems

b. For each of the examples of human behaviours listed in the table below, indicate which feedback
system(s) covered in your diagrams in part a. the behaviour will affect, and whether it would cause an
increase or decrease from the ‘normal level’.

Example of human behaviour Feedback system it will affect Increase or decrease

Drinking two litres of water in

fifteen minutes

Forgetting to take a water flask

on a four-hour hike on a hot
summer’s day

Eating a piece of pavlova and

drinking a chocolate thick shake

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 Topic 4 | Regulation of systems

Participating in the 40 Hour

Famine to raise money

Swimming in the ocean in

winter for an hour without a
wetsuit

Walking up a flight of stairs to

the top of a 40-storey building

c. Complete the following table for the variables shown (feedbacks 1, 2 and 4).

Regulated Receptors and

Normal range Control centre Effectors
variable locations

Temperature

Blood glucose

Water

6. Figure 2 shows the sequence of events that take place from the detection of a stimulus to the emission of a
response. This sequence is described as a stimulus–response mechanism. This type of response makes a
significant contribution to the maintenance of a stable internal environment: homeostasis.

FIGURE 2 Stimulus–response mechanism

a. Give an example of a stimulus–response mechanism involved in maintaining a stable internal

environment.

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 Topic 4 | Regulation of systems

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b. How would the stimulus–response mechanism you named in part a. contribute to homeostasis?

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c. What difference would you see in the method of responding to accidentally turning on the hot, rather
than the cold, tap to wash your hands?

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