Body Balance Flashcards
(21 cards)
What is Homeostasis?
Maintaining a constant internal environment despite changes in the external environment
Homeostasis is crucial for optimal body function and preventing illness.
What are three examples of balance maintained in the body?
- Glucose balance
- Heat balance (Thermoregulation)
- Water balance (Osmoregulation)
These balances are essential for homeostasis.
What is the role of glucose in the body?
Needed to produce energy for daily processes through cellular respiration
High levels of glucose can be toxic.
Which hormones regulate glucose levels in the blood?
- Insulin
- Glucagon
Both hormones are produced in the pancreas.
What does Insulin do?
Tells the liver to take more glucose out of the blood
Insulin is crucial for lowering blood glucose levels.
What does Glucagon do?
Tells the liver to make more glucose available
Glucagon raises blood glucose levels.
What is Thermoregulation?
The process by which animals maintain their body temperature within a normal range
Endotherms generate most heat through internal metabolism.
What happens to enzymes if body temperature rises too much?
They denature and can no longer function
Enzyme activity is affected by temperature.
What is a Negative Feedback System?
A system where the response acts as a stimulus to oppose the change caused by the original stimulus
This is key in maintaining homeostasis.
How is body temperature regulated when it increases?
Skin and sweat glands are activated to reduce body temperature
This is part of the negative feedback response.
How is heat gained in the body?
- Heat from respiration in cells
- Absorption from the sun
- Shivering
These processes contribute to maintaining body temperature.
How is heat lost from the body?
- Heat lost when breathing out
- Evaporation of sweat
- Dilation of blood vessels
These mechanisms help cool the body.
What percentage of body mass is water?
Just over 70%
Water is essential for various bodily functions.
What are the main functions of the kidneys in osmoregulation?
- Removal of nitrogenous wastes
- Regulation of water concentration in blood
- Maintaining ion levels in the blood
Kidneys are crucial for water balance.
What is Osmoregulation?
Maintenance of an internal balance between water and dissolved materials regardless of environmental conditions
This process is vital for homeostasis.
What is the total water output and input in the body?
Total output: 2600 ml, Total input: 2600 ml
This balance is essential for hydration.
What is transpiration in plants?
The evaporation of excess water from the stomata present in leaves
Transpiration helps in temperature regulation and water movement.
What hormone regulates stomatal movement in plants?
Abscisic acid (ABA)
ABA helps conserve water during stress conditions.
What stimuli can plants respond to?
- Light (phototropism)
- Gravity (geotropism)
- Temperature (thermotropism)
- Moisture (hydrotropism)
- Touch (thigmotropism)
Plants rely on hormones for these responses.
What are auxins?
A group of hormones responsible for controlling the growth of stems and roots
Auxins help in plant growth towards light.
Fill in the blank: The ________ is responsible for the ripening of fruit.
[plant hormone]
Plant hormones control various growth processes.
