Homeostasis

What is homeostasis and how is it important for us?

1. HOMEOSTASIS SARAH HAMID M.Sc BIOTECHNOLOGY PGY-1

2. WHAT IS HOMEOSTASIS ? Homeostasis is the ability to maintain internal stability in an organism in response to the environmental changes. It’s a self regulating process that controls internal variables necessary to sustain life. The endocrine system and the nervous system are essential in maintaining the homeostasis of the body.

3. FUNCTION OF HOMEOSTASIS The most important function of homeostasis is to maintain a balance within the body regarding different factors like temperature, salt concentration, blood sugar level, pH levels, etc.

4. COMPONENTS OF HOMEOSTASIS RECEPTOR THE CONTROL CENTRE EFFECTOR

5. HOW DOES HOMEOSTASIS WORKS?

6. HOMEOSTASIS BREAKDOWN When the cells in our body do not work correctly, homeostatic balance is disrupted. Homeostatic imbalance may lead to a state of disease or death. Factors that affect homeostasis- Genetics Physical conditions Diet and nutrition Side effects of medicines Toxins

7. FEEDBACK MECHANISMS NEGATIVE FEEDBACK Negative feedback loops are used to maintain homeostasis and achieve a set point within a system. These can either suppress or enhance the stimulus.

8. POSITIVE FEEDBACK These have the ability to maintain the direction of a stimulus and can even accelerate its effect.

9. EXAMPLES OF NEGATIVE AND POSITIVE FEEDBACK BLOOD GLUCOSE LEVEL BODY TEMPERATURE UTERINE CONTRACTIONS DURING CHILDBIRTH VOLUME OF BODY WATER BLOOD OXYGEN CONTENT

10. WHY IS HOMEOSTASIS NECESSARY? Homeostasis is very important because in the wrong body conditions certain processes and proteins/enzymes will not function properly. All the metabolic reactions within our body which are important for our survival are carried out by certain enzymes which function only under optimal conditions, which are maintained through the process of homeostasis.

11. CONCLUSION Homeostasis is a healthy state that is maintained by the constant adjustment of biochemical and physiological pathways. Homeostasis is essential for the normal functioning of the human body. Failure in maintaining the homeostatic conditions leads to disease and may also cause death. Homeostasis has 3 main components-receptor, the control center and effector. Homeostasis is maintained mainly by the negative feedback mechanism but positive feedback is also used to maintain homeostasis.