Receptor Proteins-

A receptor is a protein molecule that receives

chemical signals from outside the cell. When
such chemical signals bind to a receptor, they
cause some form of cellular/tissue response.
LT- Today, we will analyze how feedback
mechanisms (loops) help to maintain
homeostasis by applying our understanding to
how glucose levels are controlled in the body.

What is a feedback mechanism?

What are the two feedback mechanisms?
How do feedback mechanisms work in
controlling homeostasis?
Homeostasis- in the body, is a stable internal environment.

For example, a normal body temperature for a human is

98.6F. This homeostasis.

There is a range just above and just below this temperature

that is safe BUT

95F is too far below homeostasis and this is when

hypothermia sets in. The person can loose limbs or die if the
temperature is not brought back to homeostasis.

103 is too high above homeostasis and this is when the

person’s temperature can cause organs to shut down and
death.
To maintain homeostasis, your body has a diversity of feedback
mechanisms that detect deviations in the body’s internal
environment and make corrective actions.

Feedback Mechanism- mechanisms that regulate changes to

maintain a stable internal environment.
They have three steps

*1st Receptor- (such as a nerve when you are touched or the

cells of the pancreas that monitor glucose level) detects
change in the internal environment.

*2nd Control Center- (such as the brain or an organ), selects a

response to the information from the receptor.

*3rd Effector- (such as a muscle, gland, or an organ) carries

out the response to bring the body back to homeostasis and
this effect is detected by the receptor, and the process starts
again.
The 2 Types of Feedback Mechanisms (Loops)

Negative feedback- a change in one direction of a

feedback mechanism that stops further change in
that direction.

Positive feedback- a feedback mechanism that

continues further change in a direction.
Like the nervous system, the endocrine system
sends messages to the body’s cells. However,
endocrine signals act over a longer period of time
than nerve signals do.
Immediate reaction= nervous system
More long term change= endocrine system.

Endocrine System- the system that creates

hormones that are used in chemical messages to
control metabolism; maintain salt, water, and
nutrient balance in the blood; controls the body’s
responses to stress; and regulates growth,
development, and reproduction.
Test Topics-

• Cellular Respiration
• Systems that work together in Cellular
Respiration
• Biomolecules
• Transport through the cell membrane
• Proteins of the cell membrane (especially
receptor proteins)
• Plant cells vs Animal Cells
• Photosynthesis
• Feedback mechanisms
Glucose ____

Receptor- Pancreas (detects high sugar/glucose)

Control Center- Pancreas releases Insulin (a

hormone that interacts with the liver(the shape fits with
receptor proteins on the liver))

Effector- Liver brings in glucose from the

bloodstream as a reaction to the insulin and stores
it as glycogen in the vacuoles.
Blood sugar goes down towards homeostasis.
Glucose ____

Receptor- Pancreas (detects high sugar/glucose)

Control Center- Pancreas releases Glucagon (a

hormone that interacts with the liver (the shape fits with
receptor proteins on the liver))

Effector- Liver breaks down glycogen into glucose as

a reaction to glucagon and releases glucose into the
bloodstream.
Blood sugar goes up back towards
homeostasis.
Diagram 1 Diagram 2
Regulating Blood Sugar (Glucose) Levels in the Body-
Negative Feedback Mechanism

1. A person eats an apple

Pancreas- the organ that detects high glucose.
Insulin- the hormone released by the pancreas
to bring glucose levels down in the bloodstream.
Liver- the organ that takes in glucose from the
bloodstream in response to insulin.
Glycogen- the carbohydrate that glucose is
stored in in the vacuole until needed later.
2. A person is hungry.
Pancreas- the organ that detects low glucose.
Glucagon- the hormone released by the
pancreas to bring glucose levels up in the
bloodstream.
Liver- the organ that breaks down glycogen in
response to the glucagon.
Glycogen- the carbohydrate that is broken
down into glucose and released into the
bloodstream by the liver.
Blood Glucose Control
Insulin- lowers blood glucose (tells liver to convert glucose into glycogen for
future use)
Glycogen- increases blood glucose (stimulates the liver to break down
glycogen)

Hungry Receptors sense a Control center Effector

change secretes glucagon

Glucose in the Pancreas releases Glucagon signals the

blood is low the hormone liver to breakdown
glycogen and release
glucagon into the the glucose into the
blood blood