What four body functions help maintain homeostasis?

Below are the four of the many ways that human organ systems help the body maintain homeostasis.

The regulation of the amounts of water and minerals in the body. This is known as osmoregulation. This happens primarily in the kidneys.

The removal of metabolic waste. This is known as excretion. This is done by the excretory organs such as the kidneys and lungs.

The regulation of body temperature. This is mainly done by the skin.

The regulation of blood glucose level. This is mainly done by the liver and the insulin and glucagon secreted by the pancreas in the body.

The process in which organ systems work to maintain a stable internal environment is called homeostasis. Keeping a stable internal environment requires constant adjustments.

The regulation of your internal environment is done primarily through negative feedback. Negative feedback is a response to a stimulus that keeps a variable close to a set value . Essentially, it "shuts off" or "turns on" a system when it varies from a set value.

Homeostasis is optimal for survival. If homeostasis is successful, life continues; if unsuccessful, disaster or death ensues. The stability attained is actually a dynamic equilibrium, in which continuous change occurs yet relatively uniform conditions prevail.

To learn more about homeostasis, see:

www.mhhe.com - Body Systems and Homeostasis

www.ck12.org - Homeostasis

opencurriculum.org - Homeostasis and Regulation in the Human Body

www.britannica.com - Homeostasis

Tag: homeostasis 
Wednesday, May 18 2016


Source: http://www.ck12.org/user:a3F1aWNrQHdlYmIub3Jn/section/Homeostasis-and-Regulation/

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