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“The maintenances of a constant internal environment”
- The internal environment is made up of tissue fluid
- Maintaining the features of this fluid at the optimum levels protect the cells from changes in the external environment which gives the organism a degree of impendence
- Homeostasis includes the maintaining of the chemical makeup, volume and other features of blood and tissue fluids within restricted limits
- It ensures that all cells meet their needs to function normally despite external changes
- Homeostasis is the ability to return to a set point and so maintain organisms in a balanced equilibrium
Importance
- Enzymes controlling biochemical reaches within cells and proteins are sensitive to changes in pH and temperature, resulting in lower effectiveness or denaturing if requirements are not met
- Changes to the water potential of the blood and tissue fluids may cause cells to shrink/expand as a result of water leaving/entering by osmosis. Therefore, the cell cannot function normally.
- Maintenance of blood glucose levels is essential in ensuring a constant water potential and for respiration of the cells
- Enables the organisms to be less dependent on the environment
Control Mechanisms
- Set Point: The desired level for optimum performance
- Receptor: Detects any deviations from the set point and informs the controller
- Controller: Coordinates information from various receptors and seconds instructions to an effector
- Effector: Brings about the change required to return the system back to set point
- Feedback Loop: Informs the receptors of the change to the system brought about by the effector
