Homeostasis is the regulation of internal conditions inside our body. (Like 1.

Osmoregulation 2.Blood PH 3.Blood sugar levels Etc)

Cells are surrounded by blood and tissue fluid. Nutrition and other necessities of
the cell is transferred via tissue fluid (i.e diffusion)
Nitrogenous waste; waste that contains nitrogen, like NH3 or urea (toxic). Urea is
a metabolic waste, meaning that it is produced by the chemical reactions taking
place on our bodies, Carbohydrates and fats ,if in excess, are too valuable to be
lost so they are stored. Protein however cant be stored, instead its converted to
glucose via deamination (in the liver), and the nitrogen part, urea, is disposed of
as waste as urine.
Excretion is the disposal of metabolic waste, egestion is the disposal of left-over
undigested material and bacteria.
The kidneys are homeostatic (osmoregulation) organs, and excretory (filtration of
the blood of toxic substances) organs, dual-purposed organs. (Others like skin
and the lungs)
The urinary system.
Kidneys; to filter the blood from Urea and others then dispose of them in the form
of Urine and to regulate the bodys water-levels
Ureter; a pair of tubes that transport Urine from the kidneys to the Bladder.
Bladder; a saclike, muscular bag that temporarily stores Urine until excreted out.
Urethra; a single tube thru which the urine is excreted. Has two sets of circular
muscles (the sphincter muscles) the first set involuntary the second set, that of
which we have conscience control over. (this doesnt apply to children aged less
than toddlers)
The Kidneys

In the cortex there are about 1*10^6 nephrons per kidney. The nephrons run all the way to
the medulla. And past the bulges knowns as the pyramids they join up in the pelvis to empty
urine.

The Bowmans capsule holds withs in it the Glomerulus (a ball of blood

capillaries). The incoming arteriole has a larger diameter than the out going.
This causes resistance against the flow. It causes pressure. Its this pressure that
forces fluid from the blood through the capillaries and the cells of Bowmans
capsule. This fluid is called Glomerular Filtrate.
The separation of d/f sized molecules under pressure is called Ultra-filtration.
There is an additional non-cellular membrane called the basement membrane.
This membrane is selectively permeable, meaning that smaller molecules like
water and glucose pass thru, while larger substances like proteins and blood
cells cant. This is the reason for the excessive numbers of nephrons, it is for
reabsorption.
The process of reabsorbing different materials is called selective reabsorption.
The kidney as mentioned earlier has a dual-purpose (i.e. Blood filtration and
Osmoregulation).
The kidney produces urine that has a higher concentration than the blood. Also
its able to control that concentration of the blood, thus regulating the water
content of the blood. For example if a person losses a lot of water, and has been
unable to replenish his/her water levels, the Kidney produces a higher
concentrated Urine. And does the opposite when there is too much water. The
changes in the concentration of the urine is brought about by Hormones, namely

1.
2.
3.

ADH (anti-diuretic hormones).

The solubility of the blood is sensed by the Hypothalamus.
If the blood solubility is high (low water levels) the Hypothalamus will make the
pituitary gland produce ADH. This will increase the permeability of the tubules
(collecting ducts)
We will produce more more concentrated Urine.
When there is low solubility the ADH isnt produced at all, thus we lose more
water in the form of Urine. (Negative feedback)
Animals that live in the deserts have longer Loops o Henle, animals that live in
environments full of water
have shorter loops. The longer the loop the more the water that is reabsorbed.
The Hypothalamus also stimulates the thirst centre of the brain in times of need.
Control of body temperature

1.
2.
3.
4.
5.

Warm-blooded the same as Homeothermic, meaning that they have control over
their internal temperature. Also called endotherms.
The main difference b/n endotherms and cold-blooded animals is that
endotherms are capable of maintaining their internal temperature via
physiological and behavioural means. while exotherms are able to do so only
through behavioural means.
Whenever our body temperature is altered and we arent capable of regulating it
behaviourally, the thermoregulatory centre in the hypothalamus moves on to
physiological methods like.
Sweating
Da Goosebumps (hair stands on ends)
vasodilation and vasoconstriction
Increased rate of metabolism
Shivering
Uses of the skin
resistance to mechanical damage
barrier to invading micro-organisms
prevention of water loss
a sense organ for touch and temp. changes
controlling the loss of heat via body surface
The latent heat of vaporisation is the energy needed to vaporise a liquid, this
energy is supplied by the the body when we sweat, this loss of energy cools us
down.