Question

Explain Homeostasis as it applies to the Nervous System and how it acts to protects us and keeps us safe especially the Reflex Arc.

Answer 1

Explain Homeostasis as it applies to the Nervous System and how it acts to protects us and keeps us safe especially the Reflex Arc.

The body system maintains the process at the set point anything which fall apart this range are fluctuations from thr normal that is monitored thoroughly via sensory neurons and transmitted via nerve fibers to the control systems of the brain to produce the effector functins. Thereby, the nervous system is the major control system of homeostasis.

Lets see an example of how it works in case of temperature:

The core temperature is thoroughly monitored even a little fluctuation is sensed via the heat receptors which transmits information via the afferent nerve fiber to the brain. Effector function is triggered that during warm temperature vasodilation is promoted to dessipate the heat and the sweat glands that cools the skin. When there is a drop in core temperature, muscle contractions are triggered to shiver that generate heat to warm the body.

Similarly, homeostasis is maintained in pH, electrolyte balance and various hormones, enzymes and ions. ANS plays vitaal role in maintaining homeostasis by activating the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems. SNS innervates the heart and increases heart rate along with its force of contractions. It also promote vasoconstriction, dialtion of branchioles. PNS found to employ opposite effects onthe heart and lungs.

Reflex arcs are autonomic involuntary actions in response to stimuli or percieved threat. Reflexes are natural and happens in a fraction of second. They help to protects the muscle from over extension and protect the muscles during withdrawal reflexes. For an example, when you pick up something very hot, the reflex action triggered to remove the hand from the heat source before the brain recieves the information that it is hot. It is primarily mediated by the interneurons that connected to the motor neurons which cause rapid muscle contraction and subsequent action. Soemtimes, sensory neurons also can trigger the action directly via motor neurons.