Contents Overview
Introduction
Homeostasis is a dynamic process that is continually adjusting in response to changes in the internal or external environment. It aims to ensure that the internal and external physiological conditions of the organism are maintained within an acceptable and tolerable range that allows for the function of essential biological processes.
Homeostasis processes are found both in plants and animals. In the human body, the internal environment consists of the interstitial fluid that surrounds cells and tissues, as well as the plasma in the blood. |
This section will explore feedback loops as the primary mechanism to maintain homeostasis, the key conditions of the body in which conditions are tightly controlled including thermoregulation and pH balance, and finally a brief overview of the kidney and its functions.
![Picture](/uploads/6/0/8/4/60840857/477761.jpg?355)
Analogy: Car Engine
Imagine the body's conditions as a car engine that cannot be turned off. The engine will require the following to continue to run properly:
The car engine also has several built-in diagnostic tools that will alert the driver when something isn't going right. When these issues are addressed, proper operation is maintained.
Similarly, the human body also has key parts, fluids, conditions that must be maintained for the proper operation of itself. Some examples include:
Tolerable range refers to the amount of variation the body can tolerate without harmful consequences
Narrow tolerable range: Internal temperature, blood pH level
Broad tolerable range: Blood flow, glucose levels, hormone levels
Imagine the body's conditions as a car engine that cannot be turned off. The engine will require the following to continue to run properly:
- constantly fuelled
- coolants added
- oil topped up
- batteries recharged
The car engine also has several built-in diagnostic tools that will alert the driver when something isn't going right. When these issues are addressed, proper operation is maintained.
Similarly, the human body also has key parts, fluids, conditions that must be maintained for the proper operation of itself. Some examples include:
- internal temperature
- hormone levels
- Blood conditions: pressure, pH, flow, concentration of solutes
Tolerable range refers to the amount of variation the body can tolerate without harmful consequences
Narrow tolerable range: Internal temperature, blood pH level
Broad tolerable range: Blood flow, glucose levels, hormone levels
Organ systems involved in homeostasis
This image shows some of the organ systems in the maintenance of homeostasis in the human body.