Question

Explain 5 examples of how increasing or decreasing surface area aids the body to maintain homeostasis or to function. Each example should be from a different organ system. Identify the organ system of each of your examples.

Answer 1

In order to maintain homeostasis or to function, our body increase or decreasing surface area aids ; they are as follows -

1.Vasoconstriction and vasodilation - The vasomotor centres controls contraction and relaxation of the smooth muscle cells in tunica media by increasing or decreasing surface area of muscle.Due to chnages in the diameter of the blood vessels peripheral resistance,blood pressure and flow.

Organ system - Cardiovascular system.

2. Thermoregulation - It occurs by dilation and constriction of blood vessels at the skin surface by sweating and shivering by increasing or decreasing surface area of blood vessels. The breaking down of adipose tissue to produce heat and insulation of adipose tissue.

Organ system - skin dermal system.

3.Osmoregulation -In order to maintain homeostasis, body expels or intake the excess water, salt and urea by acting through the Antidiuretic hormone, angiotensin II and aldosterone on the nephron tubules by increasing or decreasing surface area of the tubule lining.

Organ system - Kidney urinary system.

4.Glucoregulation - It occurs through the stimulation of inhibition of the insulin and glucagon by the pancreas cells into the blood facilitates rising or falling the blood pressure to maintain the homeostasis.

Organ system- Endocrine system.

5. Gastrointestinal regulation- In the process of digestion, small intestine increases the surface area by increasing the villi and microvilli to increase the absorption efficiency of the nutrients and the increasing digestive enzyme on the surface.

Organ system - Digestive system.