BIOLOGY

14: Coordination and response – HOMEOSTASIS ONLY

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CE14.4.1Describe homeostasis as the maintenance of a constant internal environment

CE14.4.3Explain the concept of homeostatic control by negative feedback with reference to a set point
CE14.4.2State that insulin decreases blood glucose concentration
E14.4.4Describe the control of blood glucose concentration by the liver and the roles of insulin and
glucagon
E14.4.5Outline the treatment of Type 1 diabetes
E14.4.6Identify in diagrams and images of the skin: hairs, hair erector muscles, sweat glands, receptors,
sensory neurons, blood vessels and fatty tissue
E14.4.7Describe the maintenance of a constant internal body temperature in mammals in terms of
insulation, sweating, shivering and the role of the brain
E14.4.8Describe the maintenance of a constant internal body temperature in mammals in terms of
vasodilation and vasoconstriction of arterioles supplying skin surface capillaries

Homeostasis
• Homeostasis is defined as the maintenance of a constant internal environment.
• This means that internal conditions within your body (such as temperature, blood pressure, water
concentration, glucose concentration etc) need to be kept within set limits in order to ensure that
reactions in body cells can function and therefore the organism as a whole can live
• When one of these conditions deviates far away from the normal if not brought back within set limits
the body will not function properly and the eventual consequence without medical intervention will be
death
• This is why diabetics need to control glucose intake (as their body cannot regulate it for them), why an
extremely high and prolonged fever will kill you or why drinking too little or too much water can
damage cells throughout the body – especially the kidneys and brain – and lead to death within days
• Most homeostatic mechanisms in the body are controlled by a process known as negative feedback.

Negative Feedback
• Negative feedback occurs when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to
this set point

It works in the following way:

• if the level of something rises, control systems are switched on to reduce it again
• if the level of something falls, control systems are switched on to raise it again
• Negative feedback mechanisms are usually a continuous cycle of bringing levels down and then
bringing them back up so that overall, they stay within a narrow range of what is considered ‘normal

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Control of Blood Glucose Levels

• Blood glucose levels are controlled by a negative feedback mechanism involving the
production of two hormones – insulin and glucagon
• Both hormones which control blood glucose concentration are made in the pancreas
• Insulin is produced when blood glucose rises and stimulates liver and muscle cells to convert
excess glucose into glycogen to be stored
• Glucagon is produced when blood glucose falls and stimulates liver and muscle cells to
convert stored glycogen into glucose to be released into the blood.

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Left-side: When glucose levels drop below normal, glycogen is broken down to
glucose, which is released into the bloodstream.

glucagon: glycogen ---> glucose

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Right-side: Excess glucose is stored in the liver and muscles as the

polysaccharide glycogen (animal starch).

insulin: glucose ---> glycogen

↑ respiration rates ---> cells consume more glucose

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Diabetes
• Type 1 diabetes is a condition where the blood glucose levels are not able to be regulated as
the insulin-secreting cells in the pancreas are not able to produce insulin
• This means that blood glucose levels are often far too high
• It can be treated by injecting insulin
• The extra insulin causes the liver to convert glucose into glycogen, which reduces the blood
glucose level
• Symptoms of diabetes include extreme thirst, weakness or tiredness, blurred vision, weight
loss and loss of consciousness in extreme cases
• People with Type 1 diabetes have to monitor their blood glucose levels throughout the day as
their levels of physical activity and their diet affect the amount of insulin needed
• They can help to control their blood glucose level by being careful with their diet – eating
foods that will not cause large increases in blood glucose level, and by exercising, which can
lower blood glucose levels due to increased respiration in the muscles

Homeostasis: Temperature Control

The Skin & Homeostasis
• Control of body temperature is a homeostatic mechanism
• Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment
• This means that internal conditions within your body (such as temperature, blood pressure,
water concentration, glucose concentration etc) need to be kept within set limits in order to
ensure that reactions in body cells can function and therefore the organism as a whole can
live
• The human body maintains the temperature at which enzymes work best, around 37°C
• If body temperature increases over this temperature, enzymes will denature and become less
effective at catalysing reactions such a respiration.

The hypothalamus coordinates temperature control

The hypothalamus (part of brain) acts like a thermostat. It detects to of the blood running through it.

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If t > or < 37 C, it sends electrical impulses, along nerves, to parts of the body which function in
regulating body to.

All the time, the hypothalamus is monitoring small changes in the temperature of your blood.

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Structure of the Skin

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Regulating Temperature:
• Regulation is controlled by the brain which contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of
the blood
• The skin also has temperature receptors and sends nervous impulses to the brain via sensory
neurones
• The brain responds to this information by sending nerve impulses to effectors in the skin to
maintain the temperature within a narrow range of the optimum, 37°C
• Fatty tissue under the dermis acts as a layer of insulation to prevent too much body heat
being lost through the skin.

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Homeostatic responses to changes in body temperature

Responses to changes in temperature:

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Vasodilation & Vasoconstriction

• When we are cold blood flow in capillaries slows down because arterioles leading to the skin
capillaries get narrower – this is known as Vasoconstriction
• This reduces the amount of heat lost from blood by radiation as less blood flows through the
surface of the skin

• When we are hot blood flow in capillaries increases because blood vessels to the skin
capillaries get wider – this is known as Vasodilation
• This cools the body as blood (which carries heat around the body) is flowing at a faster rate
through the skin’s surface and so more heat is lost by radiation.

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Common misconceptions
Remember that the process of vasodilatation and vasoconstriction happen only in arterioles – the do
not happen in capillaries or veins. When writing about the process, make sure you refer to
arterioles.

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Responses in the skin when hot

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Responses in the skin when cold

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