Homeostasis

• functional equilibrium and the ability to resist change within the internal environment of our body

• Homeostatic control can happen

  • neutrally

  • hormonally

  • chemically

Feedback loops

• receptors monitor changes to the controlled condition and feed information into the control centre

• control centre determines if the change acceptable, should be stopped, or enhanced and engages the effectors

• negative feedback loops stop or reduced the original stimulus

• positive feedback loop enhances or amplifies the original stimulus until completion

Homeostasis and body fluids

• fluids in the body are either insides of cells in the intercellular compartment (known as intracellular fluid)

• separating the two components helps the cell to regulate the intracellular environment

• the survival of a cell is dependant on its ability to regulate the chemical composition of the extracellular fluid surrounding the cell

Homeostatic imbalance

• the inability of the body to maintain or retore functional stable internal environment

• can result from internal or external disruptions

• can lead to cellular deficiency or cellular toxicity

  • can result in disease, illness, or death