BIOL 319 COHN FINAL 402 2026 FINAL
ASSESSMENT PAPER ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL
SYSTEMS COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ Why is homeostasis necessary? Answer: It keeps internal
conditions within ranges compatible with life, ensuring enzymes,
cells, and organs function properly.
◉ Which two systems primarily regulate homeostasis? Answer: The
nervous system (fast, short-term) and the endocrine system (slow,
long-term).
◉ Does homeostasis apply to few or many variables? Answer: Many
— almost all physiological parameters are regulated.
◉ Give examples of homeostatically regulated variables. Answer:
Body temperature, blood glucose, blood pressure, pH, electrolytes,
oxygen, and CO₂.
◉ What is the controlled variable disrupted in Type I Diabetes?
Answer: Blood glucose.
,◉ How does Type I Diabetes represent a failure of homeostasis?
Answer: The pancreas fails to produce insulin, preventing glucose
uptake and causing chronic high blood sugar.
◉ What are the main consequences of uncontrolled Type I Diabetes?
Answer: Hyperglycemia, dehydration, ketoacidosis, tissue and organ
damage.
◉ How can Type I Diabetes be managed? Answer: Insulin therapy,
glucose monitoring, balanced diet, and exercise.
◉ What are chemoreceptors? Answer: Sensory receptors that detect
changes in chemical concentrations such as CO₂, O₂, or pH.
◉ Give an example of chemoreceptors maintaining homeostasis.
Answer: Carotid and aortic bodies detect high CO₂ to adjust
breathing rate.
◉ What is the textbook set point for body temperature? Answer:
98.6 °F (37 °C).
◉ What are electrolytes? Answer: Ions in body fluids that carry
electrical charge and regulate physiological functions.
, ◉ Name major cations. Answer: Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺.
◉ Name major anions. Answer: Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, SO₄²⁻.
◉ What is acidosis? Answer: Blood pH below 7.35 (excess H⁺).
◉ What is alkalosis? Answer: Blood pH above 7.45 (low H⁺).
◉ Write formulas: CO₂, H₂O, H₂CO₃, HCO₃⁻, H₃O⁺. CO₂ = Answer:
carbon dioxide; H₂O = water; H₂CO₃ = carbonic acid; HCO₃⁻ =
bicarbonate; H₃O⁺ = hydronium ion.
◉ What is negative feedback? Answer: A control mechanism that
counteracts deviations from a set point to maintain stability.
◉ List components of a feedback loop. Answer: Variable, signal,
receptor, controller, effector.
◉ What is a receptor? Answer: A sensor that detects changes in a
variable and sends input to the controller.
◉ What quality makes a receptor effective? Answer: Sensitivity and
specificity to the variable.
ASSESSMENT PAPER ADVANCED BIOLOGICAL
SYSTEMS COMPREHENSIVE QUESTIONS AND
ANSWERS VERIFIED A+
◉ Why is homeostasis necessary? Answer: It keeps internal
conditions within ranges compatible with life, ensuring enzymes,
cells, and organs function properly.
◉ Which two systems primarily regulate homeostasis? Answer: The
nervous system (fast, short-term) and the endocrine system (slow,
long-term).
◉ Does homeostasis apply to few or many variables? Answer: Many
— almost all physiological parameters are regulated.
◉ Give examples of homeostatically regulated variables. Answer:
Body temperature, blood glucose, blood pressure, pH, electrolytes,
oxygen, and CO₂.
◉ What is the controlled variable disrupted in Type I Diabetes?
Answer: Blood glucose.
,◉ How does Type I Diabetes represent a failure of homeostasis?
Answer: The pancreas fails to produce insulin, preventing glucose
uptake and causing chronic high blood sugar.
◉ What are the main consequences of uncontrolled Type I Diabetes?
Answer: Hyperglycemia, dehydration, ketoacidosis, tissue and organ
damage.
◉ How can Type I Diabetes be managed? Answer: Insulin therapy,
glucose monitoring, balanced diet, and exercise.
◉ What are chemoreceptors? Answer: Sensory receptors that detect
changes in chemical concentrations such as CO₂, O₂, or pH.
◉ Give an example of chemoreceptors maintaining homeostasis.
Answer: Carotid and aortic bodies detect high CO₂ to adjust
breathing rate.
◉ What is the textbook set point for body temperature? Answer:
98.6 °F (37 °C).
◉ What are electrolytes? Answer: Ions in body fluids that carry
electrical charge and regulate physiological functions.
, ◉ Name major cations. Answer: Na⁺, K⁺, Ca²⁺, Mg²⁺.
◉ Name major anions. Answer: Cl⁻, HCO₃⁻, PO₄³⁻, SO₄²⁻.
◉ What is acidosis? Answer: Blood pH below 7.35 (excess H⁺).
◉ What is alkalosis? Answer: Blood pH above 7.45 (low H⁺).
◉ Write formulas: CO₂, H₂O, H₂CO₃, HCO₃⁻, H₃O⁺. CO₂ = Answer:
carbon dioxide; H₂O = water; H₂CO₃ = carbonic acid; HCO₃⁻ =
bicarbonate; H₃O⁺ = hydronium ion.
◉ What is negative feedback? Answer: A control mechanism that
counteracts deviations from a set point to maintain stability.
◉ List components of a feedback loop. Answer: Variable, signal,
receptor, controller, effector.
◉ What is a receptor? Answer: A sensor that detects changes in a
variable and sends input to the controller.
◉ What quality makes a receptor effective? Answer: Sensitivity and
specificity to the variable.
