HOMEOSTASIS AND OSMOREGULATION

Homeostasis
This is the maintenance of a constant internal environment. The conditions in the internal
environment which need to be kept constant include temperature, blood sugar and PH. It is
important to regulate the internal environment since all chemical reactions are catalyzed by
enzymes which function at narrow ranges of temperature and PH.
ROLE OF ORGANS INVOLVED IN HOMOESTASIS
The organs involved in homeostasis are
 Kidneys
 Skin
 Liver
(A)Role of the kidney in maintaining the balance of water and salt ions
The kidneys play a role in regulating the levels of water and ions in body fluids that is
osmoregulation.
(i)Balancing water
When the osmotic pressure of the body fluids rises due to low amounts of water caused by
dehydration and reduced water intake, the pituitary gland is stimulated by the hypothalamus to
secrete anti diuretic hormone (ADH) or vasopressin. Anti diuretic hormone causes the
kidney tubules in the nephron to be more permeable to water. Thus, more water is reabsorbed
into the bloodstream, restoring osmotic pressure of body fluids.
(ii) Balancing salt ion levels
When the amount of sodium ions in the blood is low, the adrenal glands secrete aldosterone
hormone which causes the distal convoluted tubule to reabsorb more sodium ions into the
blood stream.
When the concentration of sodium ions in the blood stream is adequate, adrenal glands are less
stimulated, hence less sodium ions are reabsorbed.

(B)Role of the skin in Osmoregulation and thermoregulation

(i) Role of the skin in osmoregulation
The skin plays a role in maintenance of a constant internal environment and osmotic properties
of body fluids. This is done by excretion of salts and the nitrogenous waste through sweat. The
water and salt in sweat contribute to osmotic changes in body fluids.
(ii) Mechanism of thermoregulation by the skin
Human beings are homoiothermic; hence they are able to maintain their body temperature
within a narrow limit. Thermoregulation is the maintenance of a constant body temperature.
The regulation of body temperature is mainly carried out by the skin under the control of
the hypothalamus, which is found in the fore brain.
(1) In Cold Temperatures
The skin reduces loss of heat in the following ways:
 Erector muscles contract, causing the hairs on the surface of the skin to erect or

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 stand upright. Air is trapped between the hair. Air is a bad conductor of heat hence
preventing heat loss from the body.
 Vasoconstriction occurs. The lumen of blood vessels supporting the skin become
narrower, thus less blood flows near the surface of the skin preventing excessive heat
loss from the body.
 Sweat glands become less active or inactive to minimize loss of heat which might
occur through sweating.
 Shivering occurs. Rapid muscular contraction of skeletal muscles in the limbs. Heat
is released due to respiration that takes place in the muscles. Body temperature is
hence brought back to normal.
(2) In Hot Temperatures
The skin promotes loss of heat in the following ways:
 Erector muscles relax, causing the hair to lie flat on the skin surface. As a result ,
heat is lost from the body by conduction
 Vasodilation (widening of l u m e n o f skin arterioles) occurs, increasing the
amount of blood passing through the skin. This allows more heat to be lost from
the blood .
 Sweat glands become more active and produce more sweat. The water in sweat
absorbs heat from the body in order to evaporate, thereby cooling the body.
(C)Role of the liver in the regulation of Blood Sugar and temperature

(i) Role of the liver in the regulation of Blood Sugar

The term blood sugar refers to glucose. The maintenance of constant glucose levels in blood
is carried out by the pancreas. It has cells known as the Islets of Langerhans which produce
hormones involved in blood sugar regulation. These cells are of two types, namely alpha cells
(α-cells) and beta cells (β-cells). Alpha cells secrete a hormone called glucagon. Beta cells
secrete a hormone called insulin.

When glucose levels are too high in blood, the pancreas secretes insulin which lowers
the levels of glucose in the following ways.
 It stimulates the cells of the liver (hepatocytes) to convert excess glucose to glycogen
which is stored in the liver and muscles.
 It causes the cells of the adipose tissue to convert excess glucose to fats. The fats
are stored under the skin and around delicate body organs such as the heart, liver,
kidneys, intestines and brain.
 It enables body cells to absorb and use glucose from the blood.
Lack or insufficient production of insulin leads to the disease called diabetes mellitus whose
signs and symptoms include the following:
 High levels of glucose in blood (hyperglycaemia)

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  Glucose in urine (glucosuria)
 Persistent thirst leading to excessive intake of water
 Drastic loss of weight
 Loss of sensation in some body parts.
When glucose levels are too low in blood, the pancreas secretes glucagon which increases
glucose levels in blood in the following ways:
 It stimulates the cells of the liver (hepatocytes) to convert glycogen to glucose.
 It causes fat and amino acids to be changed into glucose for energy production.

(ii) Role of the liver in the regulation of Body temperature

The liver is involved in temperature regulation. The liver produces and distributes heat because
of the many metabolic reactions that take place in it and the network of blood vessels.

In summary, homeostasis involves the regulation of body temperature (thermoregulation),

regulation of PH, regulation of the amount of water in body fluids (osmoregulation), regulation
of blood sugar and removal of toxic metabolic wastes (excretion).