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What is physiology?
The science of normal function of living things (esp. animal). How do living organisms function? (how animal function) Can be investigated at several level:
Molecular level Cellular level Tissue level Organ level
HOMEOSTATIC MECHANISMS
Homeostasis
A condition in which the internal environment of the body remains relatively constant despite changes in the external environment. Examples would be the maintenance of body temperature and levels of glucose in the blood
Glucose, water
HOMEOSTASIS
Related to relative stability of internal milieu. What is regulated?
Water volume, concentration [Na+], [K+], [Cl-], [HCO3-], [Ca++], [H+] T Blood pressure [Glucose] Oxygen Waste products (urea)
Feedback
Negative Positive
Temperature homeostasis
Humans, other mammals and birds, are homoeothermic warm-blooded - and so maintain their body temperature within narrow limits despite variations in the external temperature. The advantage of the homoeothermic state may be that critical enzymes in the body's metabolism work optimally at around normal average body temperature: 37 degrees centigrade. The maintenance of a small range of temperature is a good example of a homeostatic physiological control system. At its most basic level, a cerebral integrative centre samples the body temperature at several sites, compares this value with a desired set point, and modulates heat production and heat loss accordingly.
Homeostatic control
Glucose homeostasis
Regulation of Ca
++
Circadian rhythm of Ca
8
++
Ca++ Mm
4
0 0
12
18
24
30
36
42
48
Hours
Intensifies
Effector
Intensifies
The birth of the child will bring this process to a close. Other examples of positive feedback regulation occur during milk letdown and blood clotting.
Feedback in Coagulation
Positive feedback mini-loops are built into pathway to speed up production of chemicals needed to form the clot. Entire sequence of clotting is a negative feedback pathway:
Acclimatization
Continuous exposure to stressors lead to improved adaptation
Biological rhythms
Variations that occur on a daily or annual basis
Acclimatization
Lengthy exposure to a condition that improves ability to survive No genetic change involved
EXERCISE
1. What is homeostasis? Why is it called a dynamic equilibrium? 2. Describe these components of a homeostasis loop: stress, receptor, control center, effector, response. Using an example, put them in order. 3. What are the benefits of a negative feedback response? In what direction does a variable change as a result of a negative feedback response to a stress? 4. What are the benefits of a positive feedback response? In what direction does a variable change as a result of a positive feedback response to a stress? 5. What are the risks associated with positive feedback responses? 6. Draw 2 graphs to show negative & positive feedback responses. 7. Explain how positive feedback events can be built into a negative feedback loop. 8. What is homeostasis failure? What has happened with this