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Physical Health Sciences > Homeostasis > Flashcards

Flashcards in Homeostasis Deck (24)
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1
Q

Define homeostasis

A

Maintenance of a constant internal environment despite external changes; a system in dynamic equilibrium

2
Q

What are the 8 human functional characteristics?

A
  1. Maintaining boundaries
  2. Movement
  3. Responsiveness
  4. Digestion
  5. Metabolism
  6. Excretion
  7. Reproduction
  8. Growth
3
Q

What are the 5 human survival needs?

A
  1. Nutrients
  2. Oxygen
  3. Water
  4. Normal body temperature
  5. Appropriate atmospheric pressure
4
Q

What are the 3 components of a homeostatic control system?

A
  1. Receptor
  2. Control centre
  3. Effector
5
Q

What is the function of the receptor?

A

Detects changes in the environment and informs the control centre via the afferent pathway

6
Q

What is the function of the control centre?

A

Receives information and determines what the response will be

7
Q

What is the function of the effector?

A

Decides how the response is executed by receiving information from the control centre via the efferent pathway

8
Q

What is the afferent pathway?

A

Stimulus –> Receptor –> Control centre

9
Q

What is the efferent pathway?

A

Control centre –> Effector –> Response

10
Q

How does negative feedback work?

A
  • When a stimulus causes conditions to change, the effectors counteract this change to reduce/stop it
  • When the desired level has been reached, negative feedback shuts off the original stimulus to maintain homeostasis
11
Q

Give 5 examples of negative feedback mechanisms

A
  1. Thermoregulation
  2. Blood pressure
  3. Blood glucose
  4. Hunger physiology
  5. Exercise
12
Q

Describe the process of thermoregulation

A

Stimulus - external temperature decreases
Receptor - thermoreceptors in hypothalamus and skin
Control Centre - hypothalamus
Effectors - muscles, organs and glands
Response - vasoconstriction, increase in cellular metabolism, shivering

13
Q

Describe the process of maintaining blood pressure

A

Stimulus - blood pressure increases
Receptor - pressure receptors in carotid arteries
Control Centre - medulla
Effectors - heart muscle
Response - HR decreases so pressure is reduced

14
Q

How does positive feedback work?

A

When a stimulus causes conditions to change, positive feedback increases the effect of the stimulus so that the reactions occurs at a faster rate

15
Q

Give 4 examples of positive feedback mechanisms

A
  1. Blood clotting
  2. Childbirth
  3. Breastfeeding
  4. Menstrual cycle
16
Q

Describe the process of childbirth

A

Stimulus - baby moving further down birth canal
Receptor - pressure receptors in cervix
Control Centre - hypothalamus
Effector - posterior pituitary gland
Response - more oxytocin is released, causing the uterus to contract more vigorously to push the baby out

17
Q

What is anatomy?

A

The study of body shape and structure

18
Q

What is physiology?

A

The study of bodily functions

19
Q

What is cytology?

A

The study of plant and animal cells

20
Q

What is epidemiology?

A

The study of the spreading and incidence of diseases

21
Q

What is metabolism?

A

The chemical processes that occur in the body

22
Q

What is histology?

A

The study of tissue structure

23
Q

What is anabolism?

A

Synthesis of complex molecules

24
Q

What is catabolism?

A

Breaking down of complex molecules