Homeostasis & Response Flashcards
What is homeostasis?
Maintaining a constant internal environment.
Why does the body need to maintain optimal conditions?
For optimal enzyme action and cell function.
What is considered internal conditions?
Blood glucose concentration & Blood pH
What is considered external conditions?
The amount of fluids you drink & Room temperature
Homeostasis relies on automatic control systems.
In what order are signals passed along the control system?
Receptor, Co-ordination centres, Effectors
What is the role of a coordination centre?
Interpret changes and organises a response.
Where are the coordination centres located in the body?
Brain & Spinal Cord
Is the nervous system or the endocrine system faster acting?
The nervous system is much faster acting as it relies on electrical impulses that can travel very quickly.
What is negative feedback?
It responds when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to this set point.
How does negative feedback work?
Any change in a system causes an action that reverses the change.
What does the nervous system do?
Sends very fast + precise electrical impulses through the nerves. e.g touching a sharp object.
What does the endocrine system do?
Produces a range of different hormones that travel in the bloodstream.
