Homeostasis maintenance of constant internal conditions

All living organisms regulate their internal environment and show homeostasis to some extent. Even a simple organism like an amoeba has a contractile vacuole that regulates the amount of water in cytoplasm. Mammals, however, have a very extensive range of homeostatic mechanisms. These maintain the levels of features such as temperature, pH, water potential and blood glucose concentrations. Many of these mechanisms rely on negative feedback. This is the process in which departure from a set level is detected by receptors. These convey information to effectors which bring about a return to the original value. Glossary 1. contractile vacuole an organelle found in cytoplasm of single cells microorganism. 2. cytoplasm the contents of a cell outside its nucleus 3. Water potential a measure of the ability of water molecules to move. 4. Effectors when stimulated by nerve impulse, an effectors brings about a response or a change. In animals, muscles and glands are effectors.

Homeostasis is important to living organisms because: biochemical reactions in living organisms are controlled by enzymes. Fluctuations in pH and temperature affect the rate of enzymes-controlled reactions. In extreme cases, they lead to denaturing of enzymes and other proteins. most biochemical reactions are reversible and an equilibrium is maintained between the various substances in a cell. If there were major fluctuations in the concentrations of these substances, it would not be possible to maintain equilibrium.

the external environment in which many organisms live show wide fluctuations in abiotic factors such as temperature. A constant internal environment allows independence from these fluctuations and lets organisms such as mammals live in areas ranging from the arctic to the tropics.
water moves into or out of cells by osmosis. By maintaining a constant water potential in the surrounding tissues fluids, osmotic problems are avoided. Bibliography: A-Z handbook 4th edition Bill Indge.