HOMEOSTASIS

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a

steady state in the body despite
changes in the external environment
The steady state is the optimum level
for the body functions
2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

A system in homeostasis
needs

Sensors to detect changes in the internal

environment

A comparator which fixes the set point of the system

(e.g. body temperature).
The set point will be the optimum condition under
which the system operates
Effectors which bring the system back to the set
point
Feedback control. Negative feedback stops the
system over compensating (going too far)
A communication system to link the different parts
together

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

A system in homeostasis
needs

Perturbation in
the internal
environment

Sensor

Comparator

Effector

Sensor
Negative
feedback

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Return to
normal
internal
environment

Communication systems
These should
consist of the
following
components

Stimulus
Sensor
Linkage
system
Effector
Reponse

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

In animals there are two

communication systems

The endocrine system based upon

hormones
The nervous system based upon
nerve impulses

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Hormones
Organic substances
Produced in small quantities
Produced in one part of an organism
(an endocrine gland)
Transported by the blood system
To a target organ or tissue where it
has a profound effect

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The endocrine system

The endocrine system produces chemical

signals

Each hormone is different and they travel

relatively quickly through the blood stream all
over the body

Their effects may be very slow (e.g. growth

hormone over years)

Some are very fast (e.g. adrenaline which acts

in seconds)

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Nerve impulses

All nerve impulses look the same

So the nervous system sends signals

along nerves to specific parts of the
body

The nerve impulses travel very quickly

and affect their target tissues in
milliseconds

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The nervous system

The nervous system is composed of

excitable cells called neurones (also
neurons)
Neurones, characteristically, have long thin
extensions which carry electrical nerve
impulses
This electrical signal of the nerve impulse
needs to be converted into a chemical
signal (a neurotransmitter) so that it can
pass from nerve cell to nerve cell

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

The nervous system

organisation

A Central Nervous System (CNS) made of the

brain and spinal cord

and peripheral nerves connecting it to sensors

and effectors
Central Nervous
System
Sensory nerve

Motor nerve

Receptor or Sensor

Effector

eg photoreceptor

eg muscle or gland

Stimulus

Response

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Hormone pathway
Endocrine cell
Hormone
synthesis
Hormone
precursors
Stimulus acts on
receptor site or
directly inside cell

Chemicals stimulating the

release of the hormone

Hormone stored
in vesicles
Hormone secreted
into the blood
stream

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Hormone pathway

Hormone
receptor site

Metabolic effect

2008 Paul Billiet ODWS

Target cell