Metabolism and Homeostasis

Vocabulary flashcards reviewing key concepts of metabolism, metabolic factors, homeostasis parameters, thermal regulation types, and feedback mechanisms.

Metabolism

The sum of all chemical reactions occurring in the body, associated with obtaining energy and determining the body's efficiency level.

Catabolic reactions

Breakdown reactions that release energy.

Anabolic reaction

Build up reactions that require energy.

Factors determining metabolic rate

The key influences on metabolic rate, specified as Regular Exercise, Genetics, AGE, Sleep, and Diet.

Homeostasis

The process of maintaining a stable internal environment, involving factors such as temperature, breathing rate, hydration (urine color), and blood pH.

Human Body Temperature

A standard homeostatic condition in humans maintained at $98.6\,F$.

Blood PH

A homeostatic metric in humans with a baseline target range of $7.35 - 7.45$ (mean base).

Endothermic

Warm-blooded organisms such as mammals and birds that use energy to maintain homeostasis; characterized by high energy requirements but the ability to adapt to various environments.

Ectothermic

Cold-blooded organisms such as reptiles (cold blouse) that use their environment to maintain homeostasis; characterized by low energy demands but lack of adaptability to extreme environments.

Negative feedback mechanism

The mechanism driving homeostasis that brings conditions back to normal to create stable conditions, such as shivering, sweating, blood pressure, and blood sugar regulation via insulin.

Positive feedback mechanism

A mechanism that moves conditions further away from normal to create temporary, unstable conditions, such as oxytocin during childbirth, platelets in blood clotting, and shock from trauma.