homeostasis, feedback loops, gradients,

Homeostasis

Body working to maintain a stable internal balance

set point

ideal range for body that it always strives for (temp 89.7 degrees)

normal range

range thats still healthy for body, over/under ideal

negtive feedback loop

The response that does the opposite / reverses the stimulus to go back set point or normal range

positive feedback loop

The response increases and reinforces the change, rather than going back to normal/homeostasis (pregnancy

Regulated variable

A variable the body actively tries to keep within a normal range around a set point.

Ex: body temp, blood glucose levels, blood pressure, blood ph, fluid and electrolyte balance, blood gas levels, nutrient and waste levels.

Controlled variable

A factor the body changes to help regulate another variable.

Feedback loops

A control mechanism that detects a change in regulated variable produces effects—> makes a change to combat that

Stimulus

A change in the internal or external environment that causes a variable to change from normal range

control center

gets told what changed, compares it to normal/set point and tells body to react

Afferent pathway

Pathway used to carry stimulus information to the control center

Efferent pathway

Pathway that carries comands from the control center to an effector

sensor / receptor

detects the change and sends info to the control center

effector

doer: the muscle / gland doing the change to regulate body + gain homeostasis

Gradients

Exists when there’s more of something in one area than another

Concentration gradient

A difference in amount of substances between two connected regions / areas

Pressure gradient

A different in pressure between two connected areas

Electrical gradient

A difference in electrical charge between two connected areas

Cell-cell communication

The way cells communicate w each other to maintain homeostasis

Hormone and neurotransmitter chemicals

Chemicals used for communication between cells