Homeostasis Definition
“Homeostasis is the state of steady internal chemical and physical conditions maintained by living systems.”
Table of Contents
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- Meaning
- Explanation
- Breakdown
- Body System
- Examples
The theory of homeostasis was first introduced by Claude Bernard, a French Physiologist in the year 1865, and the term was first used in 1926 by Walter Bradford Cannon. Bradford derived Homeostasis from the ancient Greek words ὅμοιος (pronounced: hómoios) and ἵστημι (pronounced: hístēmi). The combination of these words translates to “similar” and “standing still” respectively.
Read on to explore what is homeostasis and its role in regulating internal body environment.
Homeostasis is quite crucial for the survival of organisms. It is often seen as a resistance to changes in the external environment. Furthermore, homeostasis is a self-regulating process that regulates internal variables necessary to sustain life.
In other words, homeostasis is a mechanism that maintains a stable internal environment despite the changes present in the external environment.
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The body maintains homeostasis by controlling a host of variables ranging from body temperature, blood pH, blood glucose levels to fluid balance, sodium, potassium and calcium ion concentrations.
Regulation of Homeostasis
The regulation of homeostasis depends on three mechanisms:
- Effector.
- Receptor.
- Control Center.
The entire process continuously works to maintain homeostasis regulation.
Receptor
As the name suggests, the receptor is the sensing component responsible for monitoring and responding to changes in the external or internal environment.
Control Center
The control centre is also known as the integration centre. It receives and processes information from the receptor.
Effector
The effector responds to the commands of the control centre. It could either oppose or enhance the stimulus.
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An Example of Homeostasis in Action Receptor Cutaneous receptors of the skin. Control centre Brain. Effector Blood vessels and sweat glands in the skin. The skin has receptors that detect changes in temperature. If the external temperature rises or drops below the equilibrium, the control centre sends signals to the blood vessels and sweat glands in our skin to react accordingly. If the temperature is too hot, the blood vessels dilate (vasodilation) and cause a drop in the body temperature. Moreover, sweat glands produce sweat to accompany vasodilation. If the external temperature is too cold, the blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) and enable the body to retain heat.
Also Read: Thermoregulation
The failure of homeostasis function in an internal environment will result in illnesses or diseases. In severe cases, it can even lead to death and disability.
Many factors can affect homeostasis. The most common are:
- Genetics.
- Physical condition.
- Diet and nutrition.
- Venoms and toxins.
- Psychological health.
- Side effects of medicines and medical procedures.
The body system participates in maintaining homeostasis regulations. The purpose of the body system is to describe several controlling mechanisms where every system contributes to homeostasis.
Listed below are the tables which describe how different organs perform different functions to maintain the internal body environment.
- Blood glucose homeostasis.
- Blood oxygen content homeostasis.
- Extracellular fluid pH homeostasis.
- Plasma ionized calcium homeostasis.
- Arterial blood pressure homeostasis.
- Core body temperature homeostasis.
- The volume of body water homeostasis.
- Extracellular sodium concentration homeostasis.
- Extracellular potassium concentration homeostasis.
- Blood partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide homeostasis.
Also Read: Osmoregulation
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