Homeostasis (Edexcel IGCSE Biology)
Revision Note
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the control or regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism
Some examples of these internal conditions include:
water content (of an individual cell or of the body fluids of an organism)
temperature
pH
blood pressure
blood glucose concentration
It is important for an organism to keep these internal conditions within set limits to ensure they stay healthy and to maintain optimum conditions to allow the organism to function in response to internal and external changes
If these limits are exceeded, the organism may die
Homeostasis maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action and all cell functions
This ensures that reactions in body cells can function and therefore the organism as a whole can live
Two examples of homeostasis in humans include the control of body temperature and the control of body water content
Control of body temperature in humans
The core body temperature of humans is kept close to 37 °C
This is very tightly controlled as a change in core body temperature of more than 2 °C can be fatal
One reason for this is that such a temperature change would stop essential enzymes from functioning optimally
For this reason, the human body must be able to make a coordinated response to any rise or fall in body temperature
Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory centre in the base of the brain as blood passes through it
The thermoregulatory centre contains receptors that are sensitive to the temperature of the blood
The skin also contains temperature receptors and sends nervous impulses to the thermoregulatory centre
The brain then coordinates a cooling or heating response, depending on what is required
Control of body water content in humans
Water loss via the lungs (during breathing) or skin (during sweating) cannot be controlled, but the volume of water lost in the production of urine can be controlled by the kidneys
The nephrons of the kidneys contain structures called tubules, through which filtrate passes on its way to the bladder
Water can be reabsorbed from this filtrate as it passes along these tubules (known as collecting ducts)
If the water content of the blood is too high then less water is reabsorbed, if it is too low then more water is reabsorbed
This causes either a large amount of dilute urine to be produced, or a small amount of concentrated urine
A hormone called ADH controls this process
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