HOMEOSTASIS

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal

environment

•This means that internal conditions within your body need to be kept
within set limits in order to ensure that reactions in body cells can function
and therefore the organism as a whole can live.
[ Temperature, blood pressure, water concentration, glucose concentration
etc.]

•The human body maintains the temperature at which enzymes work best,
around 37°C

•If body temperature increases over this temperature, enzymes will

denature and become less effective at catalyzing reactions such a respiration
.
Temperature regulation:
The human body is designed to function most efficiently at
37ºC. If you become too hot or too cold, there are ways in
which your body temperature can be controlled.

•Insulation
•Provided by fatty tissue retains heat.
•Hairs become erect to trap warm air by contracting erector
muscles and vice versa.
•Vasodilation
When it is hot, arterioles, which supply blood to the skin
surface capillaries, dilate (become wider) to allow more blood
near to skin surface to increase heat loss (face redder)

•Vasoconstriction
When it is cold, arterioles, which supply blood to the skin-
surface capillaries, constrict (become smaller) to allow less
blood near to skin surface to decrease heat loss.
•Sweating
The water evaporates giving a cooling effect.

•Skin receptors: sense heat and sensory neurons send

impulses to the hypothalamus.

•Shivering: muscular activity generates heat.

•Thermoregulatory center: in the hypothalamus, it controls the

use of corrective mechanisms e.g. sweating and shivering
THE SKIN
• It is the organ through which we may both gain or lose heat.
• This is important in the homeostatic process of temperature
regulation.
EPIDERMIS
• The outer water proof
layer of skin is the
epidermis.
• Protects body from
microbial infection,
mechanical and thermal
damage.
• Contains melanin to
protect from UV
radiation.
DERMIS
• BLOOD VESSELS : For temperature regulation
• SEBACEOUS GLAND : Secretes sebum which act as a
lubricant and antibacterial
• SWEAT GLANDS: Produces sweat ,which is an excretory
product as well as cooling agent.
• HAIR : Involved in heat control
• HAIR ERECTOR MUSCLES : Contract and relaxes to
control position of hair.

• RECEPTOR : Detects change in temperature heat and

pressure. Changes in temperature are detected by the
hypothalamus in brain.

• Adipose tissues : For insulation.

COLD
HOT
RESPONSE OF SKIN TO HEAT AND COLD
RESPONSE TO HEAT ABOVE 370C
• Hair is lowered as erector muscle
relax.
• Does not trap air, reducing
insulation.
• Vaso dilation
• Sweat is secreted by sweat glands.
• Evaporation of sweat causes
cooling
RESPONSE TO HEAT ( Below 37 0C
• Hair is raised as erector muscle
contract.
• Air around hair forms a thick
layer of insulation.
• Vaso constriction
• Sweat production stops, thus
heat loss by evaporation reduced
• Shivering.
Negative Feedback
• It tends to neutralize any deviation from an equilibrium (balance)
and promotes stability bringing the system back to equilibrium.
Regulation of blood-glucose concentration:
Eating foods that contain carbohydrates increases the glucose
levels in the blood.
INSULIN
● If the glucose levels are too high, the pancreas produces the
hormone ​insulin
● Insulin binds to cell in target organs (muscles and liver)
causing:
1) Glucose to move from the blood into muscle cells for
respiration
2) Excess glucose to be converted into ​glycogen​which is stored
in the liver
● The blood glucose concentration is reduced.
Glucagon
Rigorous activity, e.g. exercise, uses glucose for
respiration and therefore there is less in the blood.
● If glucose levels decrease, the pancreas produces the
hormone ​glucagon

● Glucagon binds to to the liver cells causing glycogen to

be broken down into glucose

● Glucose is released into the blood, increasing the blood

glucose concentration.
 Your blood glucose concentration is kept constant through using these
two hormones. They work in a ​negative feedback loop​.
NEGATIVE FEED BACK MECHANISM
● When blood glucose levels increase/decrease, a hormone
is secreted to oppose the change.

● The action of this hormone cannot occur continually

because when the blood arrives at a certain glucose
concentration the other hormone is produced, resulting in
the opposite effect.
 Follow the link given below and answer the
questions.
https://www.abpischools.org.uk/topic/skin-structure-and-function/2

• Explain the concept of control by negative feedback

• Describe the control of the glucose content of the blood by the

liver, and by insulin and glucagon from the pancreas.