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HOMEOSTASIS

The document discusses homeostasis and how the human body maintains stable internal conditions despite changing external factors. It describes the components of the homeostatic system, including regulated variables, sensors, controllers, and effectors. It also explains the mechanisms of negative and positive feedback loops that allow homeostasis to function.

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18 views

HOMEOSTASIS

The document discusses homeostasis and how the human body maintains stable internal conditions despite changing external factors. It describes the components of the homeostatic system, including regulated variables, sensors, controllers, and effectors. It also explains the mechanisms of negative and positive feedback loops that allow homeostasis to function.

Uploaded by

yusufgarba2002
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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HOMEOSTASIS

HAJARA ALI UMAR (MRS)


INTRODUCTION
• Claude Bernard (1813–1878) first described ‘le milieu intérieur’ and
observed that the internal environment of the body remained remarkably
constant (or in equilibrium) despite the ever changing external
environment.

• The term homeostasis was not used until 1929 when Walter Cannon
first used it to describe this ability of physiological systems to maintain
conditions within the body in a relatively constant state of equilibrium.

• It is arguably the most important concept in physiology.

• Homeostasis is Greek for ‘staying the same’. However, this so called


equilibrium is not an unchanging state but is a dynamic state of
equilibrium causing a dynamic constancy of the internal environment.
• This dynamic constancy arises from the variable responses caused by
changes in the external environment.

• Homeostasis maintains most physiological systems:


the way in which the body maintains the H+ ion concentration of body fluids
within narrow limits;
the control of blood glucose by the release of insulin;
and the control of body temperature, heart rate and blood pressure are all
examples of homeostasis.

• The human body has literally thousands of control systems.

• The most intricate are genetic control systems that operate in all cells to
control intracellular function as well as all extracellular functions.
• Many others operate within organs to control their function while others
operate throughout the body to control interaction between organs.

• As long as conditions are maintained within the normal physiological range


within the internal environment, the cells of the body continue to live and
function properly.

• Each cell benefits from homeostasis and in turn, each cell contributes its
share towards the maintenance of homeostasis.

• This reciprocal interplay provides continuity of life until one or more


functional systems lose their ability to contribute their share.

• Moderate dysfunction of homeostasis leads to sickness and disease, and


extreme dysfunction of homeostasis leads to death.
Components of the Homeostatic System

Homeostatic system in the body acts through self regulating devices, which
operate in a cyclic manner. This cycle includes four components:
i. Regulated Variable
ii. Sensor (or Detector)
iii. Controller (Comparator)
iv. Effector

Each component controls the next component to it.


Various disturbances may arise within or outside the internal environment
and cause undesirable changes in the regulated variable.
Sensors or detectors recognize the deviation or changes and transmit these to
the control centre (controller).
Then information from the control center is transmitted to the effectors
for correcting the deviation.
 Transmission of the message or information may be an electrical
process in the form of impulses through nerves or a chemical process
mainly in the form of hormones through blood and body fluids
Effectors then correct the deviation and return the regulated variable
closer to the desired point/level.
Mechanism of Action of Homeostatic System
(Feedback Mechanism)
• Homeostatic mechanism in the body is responsible for maintaining
the normalcy of various body systems.

• Whenever there is any change in behavioral pattern of any system, the


effectors bring back the normalcy either by inhibiting and reversing
the change or by supporting and accelerating the change depending
upon requirement of the situation.

• This is achieved by means of feedback signals.


• Feedback is a process in which some proportion of the output signal
of a system is fed (passed) back to the input. This is done more often
intentionally in order to control the behavior pattern of the system.
Whenever any change occurs, system receives and reacts to two types
of feedback:
1. Negative feedback
2. Positive feedback.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
• Negative feedback is the one to which the system reacts in such a way as to
arrest the change or reverse the direction of change.

• After receiving a message, effectors send negative feedback signals back to the
system.

• Now, the system stabilizes its own function and makes an attempt to maintain
homeostasis.

• Many homeostatic mechanisms in the body function through negative feedback.

• An example is when the thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) released from the


pituitary gland, stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroxine.
• When thyroxine level increases in the blood, it inhibits the secretion of
TSH from pituitary so that, the secretion of thyroxine from thyroid gland
decreases.

• On the other hand, if thyroxine secretion is less, its low blood level induces
pituitary gland to release TSH.

• Now, TSH stimulates the thyroid gland to secrete thyroxine.

• Another example for negative feedback mechanism is the maintenance of


water balance in the body.

• Schematic diagrams of both examples are given below


Negative feedback mechanism in secretion of thyroxine.
TSH = Thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Negative feedback mechanism in maintenance of water balance.
ADH = Antidiuretic hormone.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
• Positive feedback is the one to which the system reacts in such a way as to
increase the intensity of the change in the same direction.

• Positive feedback is less common than the negative feedback. However, it


has its own significance particularly during emergency conditions.

• One of the positive feedbacks occurs during the blood clotting. Blood
clotting is necessary to arrest bleeding during injury and it occurs in three
stages.
i. Formation of prothrombin activator
ii. Conversion of prothrombin into thrombin
iii. Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin.
• Thrombin formed in the second stage stimulates the formation of more
prothrombin activator in addition to converting fibrinogen into fibrin.

• It causes formation of more and more amount of prothrombin activator so


that the blood clotting process is accelerated and blood loss is prevented
quickly.

• Other processes where positive feedback occurs are milk ejection reflex and
parturition; and both of these processes involve oxytocin secretion.
Positive feedback mechanism in coagulation of blood. Once formed,
thrombin induces the formation of more prothrombin activator
Positive feedback mechanism in parturition

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