Homeostasis

Objective
At the end of the lesson, you should be able to explain how the human body maintains homeostasis.

How does the human body maintain homeostasis?

Learn about it!

Homeostasis
Homeostasis comes from the two Greek words homeo meaning similar and stasis meaning stable. It is the ability of the body to
maintain a constant internal equilibrium. It keeps the body functioning well even when there are changes in the environment.
Examples of homeostasis include the regulation of body temperature, blood sugar level, and blood urea level.

Although homeostasis maintains a constant internal balance, it is not a static state. It is a dynamic state or continuously changing.
Take the body temperature as an example. Humans generate internal body heat and maintain an average temperature of about
37˚C. However, the body temperature still varies all throughout the day. During daytime, especially when doing physical activities,
the body temperature rises. At nighttime, the temperature slightly falls during sleep.

Homeostasis is achieved through automatic mechanisms. These mechanisms have at least three interdependent components.
The components are the receptor, control center, and effector.

 The receptor is a sensing component that monitors changes in the external or internal environment. For example,
peripheral chemoreceptors detect changes in the pH of the blood.
 The control center receives messages from the receptors and initiates the response to maintain homeostasis.
The brain is the control center of the human body. The brain responds by sending signals in the form of nerve impulses to
other organs (effectors) to bring about changes needed to maintain homeostasis. For example, hypothalamus is ta part of
the brain that receives signals when there are changes in the blood pressure and heart rate.
 The effector is an organ or tissue that receives the messages from the control center and brings about changes needed
to maintain homeostasis. For example, the organs of the endocrine system act as effectors that release hormones into the
blood to correct any disruptions.

Learn about it!

Types of Feedback Mechanism
Homeostasis is maintained through feedback mechanisms, which are series of events in which the condition of the body is strictly
and constantly monitored, evaluated, and changed.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

Negative feedback mechanism occurs when the change in the body, caused by stimuli, reverses as a response of a particular
effector. An example is the control of the blood sugar by the hormones insulin and glucagon which are both secreted by the
pancreas. Insulin is secreted when the blood sugar level is high while glucagon is secreted when the blood sugar is low. When
the blood sugar increases, the hypothalamus sends signals to the pancreas to secrete insulin into the bloodstream and lower the
blood sugar level. When the blood sugar level reaches equilibrium, the pancreas stops the release of insulin. On the other hand,
when the blood sugar level is low, the hypothalamus sends signals to the pancreas to secrete glucagon and increase the blood
sugar level.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

Positive feedback mechanism occurs when the changes are strengthened by the response of the effector. It occurs when the
changes enhance the effect of the stimulus. For example, the pituitary gland secretes oxytocin during childbirth as a positive
feedback mechanism. Oxytocin intensifies and speeds up the contraction in the mother’s womb. Increase in contractions hastens
the delivery of the baby. After giving birth, the production of oxytocin stops.

Another example of a positive feedback is lactation, which is the production of milk in the mammary glands. The suckling action
of the baby triggers the pituitary glands to produce prolactin, which stimulates milk production. More suckling leads to an increase
in prolactin, which in turn leads to more lactation.

Explore!
Observe the changes in your skin during a hot, sunny day. Sweating is a natural response of the body to maintain the body
temperature, not lower or higher than normal body temperature which is 37˚C.

If you are in a cold environment, how does your body maintain 37˚C?
Try it!
Try to run four laps. What do you notice? What was your body's response after taking those laps? What is the connection of this
exercise to homeostasis?

What do you think?

What will happen if humans do not have the ability to maintain internal equilibrium or regulate body temperature?

Key Points

 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain internal equilibrium in response to changes in the environment.
 Examples of homeostasis include:
o the regulation of body temperature;
o the regulation of water balance in the blood;
o the regulation of blood sugar level; and
o the regulation of blood urea level.
 The feedback system is a series of events in which the condition of the body is strictly and constantly monitored,
evaluated and changed.
 Negative feedback mechanism occurs when the change in the body, caused by stimuli, reverses as a response of a
particular effector.
 Positive feedback mechanism occurs when the changes are strengthened by the response of the effector.
 Q1
 Which of the following is the ability of the body to maintain its internal equilibrium as a response to changes in the environ
ment?
 Multiple Choice
 homeostasis
 regulation
 feedback system
 stimulus
 Explanation
 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain internal equilibrium in response to changes in the environment.
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 Q2
 Which of the following are examples of homeostasis?
 Multiple Choice
 body temperature regulation
 blood sugar level control
 blinking of eyes
 knee jerking
 Explanation
 Homeostasis in the body includes the regulation of body temperature and blood sugar level.
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 Q3
 What is the role of the endocrine system in homeostasis?
 Multiple Choice
 Endocrine system secretes hormones into the blood to correct changes in the control condition.
 Endocrine system sends information to the brain.
 Endocrine system receives hormones from the blood to correct itself.
 Endocrine system releases enzymes to speed up the reaction of the stimulus.
 Explanation
 The function of the endocrine system is to secrete hormones directly into the bloodstream to be delivered to a target cell.
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 Q4
 Which of the following is not true about homeostasis?
 Multiple Choice
 Homeostasis is considered as a dynamic state.
 Homeostasis orchestrates the regulation of body temperature and blood urea level.
 Homeostasis maintains the internal condition of the body.
 Homeostasis ensures one's survival in all conditions in the outside environment.
 Explanation
 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a constant internal equilibrium. It can be affected by the external environ
ment.
 Extreme conditions in the environment may cause large disruptions in the human body, and feedback mechanisms may n
ot be able to reverse the change.
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 Q5
 Which of the following are true about the mechanisms of homeostasis?
 Multiple Choice
 The components of the feedback mechanism are the control center, the effectors, and the receptors.
 Internal factors such as blood sugar level is regulated by a specific mechanism.
 Homeostasis is maintained through feedback mechanisms.
 The feedback mechanism is a series of events in which the body is monitored and changed.
 Explanation
 Each internal factor, such as body temperature and blood sugar level, is maintained by a feedback mechanism. The feedb
ack mechanism is a series of events in which the condition of the body is strictly and constantly monitored, evaluated and
changed. The components of the feedback mechanism are the control center, the effectors, and the receptors.
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 Q6
 Oliver has a type II diabetes, a condition where the body either resists the effects of insulin or does not produce e
nough insulin.
 Which of the following most likely occurs in his blood sugar level?
 Multiple Choice
 There are no changes in his normal blood sugar level.
 His blood sugar level decreases because his body resists insulin.
 His blood sugar increases only for a moment and reverts back to its normal level.
 His blood sugar level rises because the body cannot maintain its normal level due to resistance to or lack of insulin.
 Explanation
 Oliver's blood sugar level will rise because of lack of insulin that supposed to be controlling or maintaining it to a normal le
vel.
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 Q7
 Which of the following are examples of a positive feedback mechanism?
 Multiple Choice
 release of prolactin during lactation
 regulation of the body temperature
 release of oxytocin during childbirth
 release of insulin in the blood to maintain sugar level
 Explanation
 Positive feedback mechanism occurs when the changes enhance the effect of the stimulus. Two examples of a positive fe
edback mechanism include the release of oxytocin and prolactin.
 The production of oxytocin during childbirth stimulates and speeds up the contraction of the uterus, which hastens the deli
very of the baby. In the same way, the sucking action of a baby produces prolactin, which enables milk production in moth
ers.
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 Q8
 Nina is preparing dinner for her family. She accidentally cuts her finger, and droplets of blood come out. After a fe
w minutes, the bleeding stops because when her blood vessels are damaged, the platelets adhered to the injured
area. These platelets release chemicals that cause more platelets to adhere to that area until a clot is formed.
 Which of the following best describes this scenario?
 Multiple Choice
 The platelets served as the effector as they adhere to the injured area, forming a clot.
 The platelets served as the stimuli as they adhere to the injured area, forming a clot.
 Blood clotting depicts a positive feedback mechanism.
 Blood clotting depicts a negative feedback mechanism.
 Explanation
 Positive feedback mechanism occurs when the changes are strengthened by the response of the effector. This mechanis
m enhances the effect of the stimuli. In this case, the platelets served as the effectors to stop the cut finger from bleeding
by adhering to the injured area. The release of chemicals hastened the process by adhering more platelets to the injured
area until a clot is formed. Thus, blood clotting through the action of the platelets is an example of a positive feedback me
chanism.
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 Q9
 Why is the nervous system important in homeostasis?
 Multiple Choice
 The nervous system receives messages from numerous sensors that monitor the different controlled conditions.
 The nervous system sends messages from numerous sensors that monitor the different controlled conditions.
 The nervous system responds in the form of nerve impulses to other organs involved in the changes.
 The nervous system does not have any connection with homeostasis.
 Explanation
 The nervous system, particularly the brain, receives messages from numerous sensors that monitor the different controlle
d conditions. It also responds in the form of nerve impulses to other organs involved in the changes.
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 Q10
 What is the importance of homeostasis in the body?
 Multiple Choice
 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain internal condition’s equilibrium in response to changes in the
environment. Without this ability, no human being will be able to adapt to changing environment.
 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to adapt to certain changes in the environment. And this adaptation makes us
capable of acclimating to certain places with different types of climate.
 Homeostasis is the ability to adapt not only to changes in the outside environment but also inside our bodies. Without this,
the body would not be able to function well.
 Homeostasis makes us perfectly ready for any change inside our bodies even in the outside environment.
 Explanation
 Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain internal condition’s equilibrium in response to changes in the environme
nt. Without this ability, no human being will be able to adapt to changing environment. Also, this adaptation makes us cap
able of acclimating to certain places with different types of climate. Finally, this ability helps us to adapt not only to change
s in the outside environment but also inside our bodies. Without this, our bodies would not be able to function well.
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