Homeostasis and its need in living organisms
Greek word homio (similar to) and stasis (standing still)
• Homeostasis is the ability of living organisms to auto-regulate and maintain their internal environment in a
stable state despite external changes.
• Homeostasis is a key principle ensuring adaptation of species to their environment. All living organisms, from
plants to puppies to people, must regulate their internal environment to process energy and ultimately survive.
• Torday, in his article “Homeostasis as the Mechanism of Evolution,” claims that not only does homeostasis
assure equilibrium of a biological organism, “but also provides the reference point for change if necessary, for
survival in an ever-changing environment” (Torday, 2015).
• For example, during blood clotting, a cascade of homeostatic events occurs leading to prevention of blood loss,
thermoregulation (regulation of core body temperature), blood glucose regulation etc.
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How do living organisms maintain homeostasis?
The main goal of any homeostatic process is to neutralize the effects of
external stimuli and maintain a stable internal environment. This requires
constant monitoring and adjustments as conditions change. This adjusting
of physiological systems within the organism is called homeostatic
regulation.
Homeostatic regulation is done by homeostatic control systems through
feedback mechanisms that respond to changes, ensuring optimal
functioning and survival.
Feedback mechanisms can be either positive or negative, influencing the
system's response to changes.
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HOMEOSTATIC REGULATION THROUGH HOMEOSTATIC CONTROL SYSTEMS
Maintaining a stable internal environment requires constant monitoring and adjustments as
conditions change. This adjusting of physiological systems within the body is called homeostatic
regulation.
Homeostatic control systems have 3 components:
1) Sensor / Receptor
2) Control Center
3) Effector
Stimulus is the change that occurs in the environment
which is detected by the Receptor/sensor. The
Receptor gathers the data and then messages the
Control center which compares sensor input with set
point, then instructs the Effector to restore normal
balance. 4
TYPES OF HOMEOSTATIC REGULATION
Examples are exercising, regulation of body temperature,
blood pressure, blood calcium levels etc
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BLOOD CALCIUM REGULATION
Calcium is raised via the release of
parathyroid hormone (PTH). PTH secretion
increases Ca 2+ absorption in the kidneys
and small intestine and decreases excretion
through dermal and fecal routes. PTH
enhances the formation of calcitriol in the
kidneys in concert with insulin-like growth
factor 1. Bone resorption is increased.
Calcium is lowered via calcitonin secretion
from C cells of the parathyroid. Calcitonin
downregulates Ca 2+ absorption in the
kidneys and small intestine, and increases
dermal and fecal excretion of Ca 2+ . Bone
resorption is decreased. 6
THERMO REGULATION
Thermoregulation is further
categorized into two distinct
processes: endothermic and ectother
mic.
Endothermic species (or endotherms)
have highly efficient internal
thermoregulatory processes by which
they maintain their temperature
within a narrow range;
Endotherms take advantage of their
internal physiological processes and
morphological characteristics to
maintain their homeostasis.
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BLOOD GLUCOSE REGULATION
Blood sugar (glucose) levels rises after a meal.
High blood sugar promotes insulin release from
beta cells of pancreas. Insulin attaches to insulin
receptors on cells throughout the body, instructing
them to open and grant entry to glucose.
However, the body does not use all of this glucose
at once. Instead, it converts some into storage
molecules called glycogen and stores them in the
liver and muscles. When the body needs energy,
alpha cells of pancrease release glucagon which
converts the glycogen in the liver into glucose by
two processes: gluconeogenesis and
glycogenolysis. From the liver, it enters the
bloodstream. There, insulin enables it to enter
cells and provide energy for all of the body’s 8
TYPES OF HOMEOSTATIC REGULATION
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HEMOSTASIS
Hemostasis is the mechanism that leads to cessation
of bleeding from a blood vessel.
The mechanism of hemostasis can divide into stages.
1) Constriction of the blood vessel and formation of
a temporary “platelet plug."
2) Activation of the coagulation cascade and
Formation of “fibrin plug” or the final clot.
3) Clot Resolution (Tertiary Hemostasis). Activated
platelets contract their internal actin and myosin
fibrils in their cytoskeleton, which leads to shrinkage
of the clot volume. Plasminogen then activates to
plasmin, which promotes lysis of the fibrin clot; this
restores the flow of blood in the damaged/obstructed
blood vessels. 10
BLOOD CLOTTING
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Disruption of homeostasis
Causes of disruption of homeostasis
1) disruptions come from the external
environment in the form of physical insults such
as the intense heat of a hot summer day Disruption of homeostasis results in various
diseases due to
2) disruptions originate in the internal
1. Deficiency (cell not getting all they need)
environment, such as a blood glucose level that
2. Toxicity (cells being poisoned by things
falls too low when you skip breakfast or eating they do not need)
contaminated food
3) may also occur due to psychological stresses in
our social environment—the demands of work
Severe imbalances can cause death
and school
SET POINT CHANGES
However, when the body is deprived of food, a 'new normal' must be adjusted to
function with less energy and a slower metabolism rate. Without this adaptation, the
body's cells would be deprived of the needed nutrients and would die quickly, which is
not the case, as a living organism can survive on less intake as long as the energy can be
maintained.
Disruption in thermoregulation could lead to hypothermia if the body's core temperature
falls below the threshold for optimal cellular functioning, or hyperthermia if the body's
core temperature exceeds the highest. Fever is another example of how the setpoint can
increase without necessarily killing the individual. An increase in core body temperature is
necessary to fight off an invader, but in the case of hyperthermia, the adaptive function of
temperature has failed, and the setpoint is unable to return to normal.
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ORGANS INVOLVED IN HOMEOSTASIS
There is no specific organ which controls homeostasis.
The skin, kidneys, liver, endocrine system, nervous system
and sensory system all play a part in maintaining the
internal environment within narrow limits.
The hypothalamus is involved to a degree in each of these
regulations
1. Skin (helps in temperature regulation)
2. Kidneys (helps in the water concentration of the body)
3. Brain (MASTERMIND)
4. Pancreas (produces insulin that helps in the control of
sugar concentration in the blood)
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APPLICATION OF HOMEOSTATIS IN ENGINEERING
• Homeostasis increasingly attracts researchers aiming at the
development of artificial systems for the purposes of
• bio-inspired electronics
• neuromorphic engineering
• soft robotics and
• control systems engineering.
• It is expected that mimicking basal functional operation of living
organisms, like homeostasis, and transferring their principles to
artificial systems will lead to new flexible and robust control design
architectures and efficient neuromorphic computing applications.
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QUESTIONS
Long questions
1) Elaborate the term homeostasis with an example? What are the consequences of an imbalanced
homeostatic state in the body?
2) What is homeostatic regulation? Describe extrinsic regulation with the help of an example?
3) Describe the different steps involved in prevention of blood loss.
Short questions
4) Why is homeostasis important?
5) What is the role of control center in a homeostatic system?
6) Which organ is primarily involved in regulating homeostasis?
7) Which hormones help in regulating blood sugar levels in the body?
8) Which organs are involved in regulating blood calcium levels in the body?
IMPORTANT DIAGRAMS
Flowcharts explaning intrinsic, extrinsic homeostasis and blood clotting
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