Homeostasis

• Defined as maintenance of a relatively

stable internal environment
• Homeostasis is essential for survival and
function of all cells.
 Maintenance of Homeostasis

• Nervous system
• Controls and coordinates bodily activities that require
rapid responses.
• Detects and initiates reactions to changes in external
environment and internal environment.
• Endocrine system
• Secreting glands of endocrine regulate by release of
hormones.
 Control of Homeostasis
• Homeostasis is continually being
disrupted by:

• External stimuli
• heat, cold, lack of oxygen,
pathogens, toxins

• Internal stimuli
• Body temperature
• Blood pressure
• Concentration of water, glucose,
salts, oxygen, etc.
• Physical and psychological
distresses
 Homeostasis Components

• There are three main components

involved when homeostasis is disrupted by
a stimuli.

• The Receptor
• The Control Center
• The Effector
 Receptors

• The receptor is an organ or sensor that

receives the chemical signal and
communicates to the next Component
( the control center).

• In the case of blood sugar the liver is the

main receptor.
 Homeostatic Control Systems
• The control system must be able to:
• Receives signal from the receptor. It also can
sense deviations from the norm its self.
• Integrate this information with other relevant
information.
• Sends a signal to the appropriate organ or
gland to make the necessary adjustment.
The Brain (hypothalamus) is the control center.
But, the pancreas is its own control center for
blood sugar (part of the Digestive System)
 Effector

• The effector is the component that causes

the change. It sends out the chemical to
deal with the stimulus.

• In the case of blood sugar the pancreas

would be the effector because it sends out
the insulin.
 Homeostatic Control Systems
• Feedback - refers to responses made after
change has been detected
• Types of feedback systems
• Negative
• Positive
 Feedback Loops: Types
• Negative feedback loop
• original stimulus reversed (shut off)
• most feedback systems in the body are
negative
• Positive feedback loop
• original stimulus intensified
• seen during normal childbirth
Negative Feedback Loop
 Negative Feedback & Blood Pressure
• Baroreceptors in walls of
blood vessels detect an
increase in BP
• Brain receives input and
signals blood vessels and
heart
• Blood vessels dilate, HR
decreases
• BP decreases
• Examples: Shivering/cold
weather & sweating/hot
weather
 Positive Feed Back

• In this case the stimuli causes an increase

in the original stimulus.
 Positive Feedback during Childbirth
• Stretch receptors in walls of uterus send
signals to the brain
• Brain induces release of hormone
(oxytocin) into bloodstream
• Uterine smooth muscle contracts more
forcefully
• More stretch, more hormone, more
contraction etc.
• Cycle ends with birth of the baby &
decrease in stretch