Homeostasis

define homeostasis

process in the body function to maintain a stable internal environment

positive and negative feedback

Negative feedback: too much of a stimulus causes a reduction/dampening of stimulus

example: increased body temp results in sweating

Positive Feedback: stimulus amplifies production of more stimulus

example: contractions during childbirth

compare conformers vs. regulators

Conformer: internal conditions change with external changes

Example: reptiles

Regulator: uses internal mechanisms to control internal conditions in the face of external fluctuations

Example: humans

why is temperature regulation is important physiologically and metabolically?

it maintains homeostasis, the stable internal environment necessary for all biological processes to function correctly

Endotherms vs. Ectotherms

Ectotherm: body temp reflects surrounding temperature

Endotherm: uses metabolism to maintain body temperature

explain how vasodilation and vasoconstriction affect body temperature

vasodilation: widen superficial blood vessels near skin surface which increases blood flow

vasoconstriction: decrease in diameter of blood vessels reduce blood vessels to reduce blood flow to body surface

Contrast torpor, estivation, and hibernation

Torpor: physiological state of decreased activity and metabolism

Example: bats feed at night and go into torpor during the day

Estivation: summer torpor

Example: fennec fox

Hibernation: long-term winter torpor

Example: bears