5.1 Homeostasis

These flashcards cover specification point 4.5.1 Homeostasis.

What is homeostasis?

The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function in response to internal and external changes.

What does homeostasis maintain?

Optimal conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions.

What does homeostasis control in the human body? (3)

• Blood glucose concentration

• Body temperature

• Water levels

Automatic control systems may involve ___________ responses or ___________ responses.

• nervous

• chemical

What do all control systems include? (3)

• Receptors

• Coordination centres

• Effectors

What do receptors do?

They detect stimuli.

What are stimuli?

Changes in the environment.

What do coordination centres do?

They receive and process information from receptors.

What are 3 examples of coordination centres?

• Brain

• Spinal cord

• Pancreas

What do effectors do?

They bring about responses which restore optimum levels.

What can effectors be? (2)

• Muscles

• Glands