01. Homeostasis and Negative Feedback

What is homeostasis?

Maintenance of constant internal environment by negative feedback.

What does homeostasis prevent?

Wild fluctuations beyond the optimal range, allowing cells and metabolism to function effectively

What does homeostasis do because it maintains constant internal environments?

Protect cells from changes in external environments and ensures reactions occur at a constant rate

What things fluctuate in the body? Why?

Temperature, pH and water potential because of changes in activity / external environment

What is dynamic equilibrium?

Constant changes occur but this brings the internal environmental conditions back towards a set point

How is negative feedback triggered?

A receptor detects a deviation from the set point in the internal environment, and sends instructions to a  co ordinator

What does the co ordinator do after receiving instructions?

Communicates with effectors which makes corrective responses to return the factor to the set point