Question

Compare and contrast the changing of a thermostat to your body’s ability to maintain homeostasis.

Answer 1

The ability of human body to maintain a stable internal environment despite a changing environment is called homeostasis. It doesn't protect against temperature changes. Other aspects of your internal environment also stay stable. For example, your body closely regulates your fluid balance. You may have noticed that if you are slightly dehydrated, your urine is darker. That's because the urine is more concentrated and less water is mixed in with it.

Examples of homeostasis in humans include the regulation of blood sugar via insulin, the regulation of body temperature by the hypothalamus, the constant surveillance and functioning of the immune system, regulation of blood pressure via sensors in the walls of arteries, the pH balance maintained by the lungs etc.

To maintain homeostasis human body will react to environmental changeschanges :

A system when it varies from a set value when it is on or off. For example, body has an internal thermostat. When body temperature rises, receptors in the skin and the brain sense the temperature change. The temperature change triggers a command from the brain.

Some external factors can disrupt homeostasis, including disease, toxins and pathogens. Some diseases have external causes like a toxin or pathogen invading the body. Toxins are products of plants, animals, fungi, or bacteria that hurt cells in some way.

Some functions which monitor homeostasis in body are below:

• Temperature : The body must maintain a relatively constant temperature.
• Glucose : The body must regulate glucose levels to stay healthy.
• Toxins : Toxins in the blood can disrupt the body's homeostasis.
• Blood Pressure : The body must maintain healthy levels of blood pressure.

pH.

An example of negative feedback has to do with blood glucose levels. When glucose (sugar) levels in the blood are too high, the pancreas secretes insulin to stimulate the absorption of glucose and the conversion of glucose into glycogen, which is stored in the liver. As blood glucose levels decrease, less insulin is produced. When glucose levels are too low, another hormone called glucagon is produced, which causes the liver to convert glycogen back to glucose.