Homeostasis and how the body responds to
exercise
Gabrielle Elmes (497977) Unit 5 Task 5 Health and social care (level 3) 30/4/2020
P5-
Homeostasis is defined as ‘’The maintenance of a constant internal environment
within the body despite external changes.’’ Sensors within the body which monitor a
number of internal functions such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature and
blood sugar levels etc. These sensors can also be known as ‘detectors’ which send
signals to the control centre of the body when there is a change in a mechanism of
the body which has deviated from the bodies ‘norm’, which is causing a disturbance
in the homeostasis of the body. The disturbance in the homeostasis will then be
corrected when the control centre sends a message to the body to return the
equilibrium in the body’s mechanisms leading to homeostasis again. Negative
feedback is an important factor in maintaining homeostasis as it responds when it
notices certain body conditions have changed. This means receptors and effectors
(muscles or organs) carry out a reaction so homeostasis can be maintained. Another
way to explain this is when a change in a bodily variable is detected by the receptor
and the information is then sent along an afferent pathway to the control centre of
the body. The control centre then sends the information along the efferent pathway
to the effector in which it then opposes or increases stimulus.
1
, An example of homeostasis being upheld within the body is in weather conditions.
For example, when it is hot outside, your receptors in the skin send a message of the
negative feedback to the control centre, and it’s receptors detect the change in the
body temperature. Effectors (muscle or glands) then tell the body how to combat the
rise in temperature by
telling the body to sweat in
order to release excess
heat which then
evaporates, resulting in the
body being cooled down
and homeostasis is
maintained. In turn, when it
is cold, the receptors
contact the control centre
of the change in
temperature resulting in the
effectors telling the body to
shiver which heats up the
body to its proper
temperature, maintaining
homeostasis. Vasodilation
and vasoconstriction also help to maintain temperature homeostasis in the body. For
example, if body temperature rises, blood vessels in the skin will dilate (become
wider) to allow more blood flow near the surface which helps cool the circulating
blood (vasodilation) while vasoconstriction kicks in if the body temperature begins to
fall. The blood vessels constrict meaningless warm blood flows near the surface,
meaning less heat loss and maintaining homeostasis.
Homeostasis makes sure our body has the correct levels of; temperature, water,
oxygen, salts and carbon dioxide and equilibrium is maintained.
Homeostasis of the body temperature is very important. This is because your organs
and nervous system cannot work normally leading to complications in the running of
the body. Hypothermia can occur if your body reaches levels too cold, and heat
stroke can occur if your body is too hot for too long. If the amount of water in the
body is not according to homeostatic levels, cells can become damaged as too much
water enters and leaves them, or dehydration will occur meaning an upset in the
body's homeostasis. If there is too much of an increase in CO2, it would alter the
concentration of O2 and CO2 and cells would not receive enough oxygen. This
means cells would not be functioning as they should meaning homeostasis is
disturbed.
Without homeostasis of the regulation of blood glucose levels. A disturbance in its
homeostasis could lead to conditions such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. When
2
exercise
Gabrielle Elmes (497977) Unit 5 Task 5 Health and social care (level 3) 30/4/2020
P5-
Homeostasis is defined as ‘’The maintenance of a constant internal environment
within the body despite external changes.’’ Sensors within the body which monitor a
number of internal functions such as breathing, heart rate, body temperature and
blood sugar levels etc. These sensors can also be known as ‘detectors’ which send
signals to the control centre of the body when there is a change in a mechanism of
the body which has deviated from the bodies ‘norm’, which is causing a disturbance
in the homeostasis of the body. The disturbance in the homeostasis will then be
corrected when the control centre sends a message to the body to return the
equilibrium in the body’s mechanisms leading to homeostasis again. Negative
feedback is an important factor in maintaining homeostasis as it responds when it
notices certain body conditions have changed. This means receptors and effectors
(muscles or organs) carry out a reaction so homeostasis can be maintained. Another
way to explain this is when a change in a bodily variable is detected by the receptor
and the information is then sent along an afferent pathway to the control centre of
the body. The control centre then sends the information along the efferent pathway
to the effector in which it then opposes or increases stimulus.
1
, An example of homeostasis being upheld within the body is in weather conditions.
For example, when it is hot outside, your receptors in the skin send a message of the
negative feedback to the control centre, and it’s receptors detect the change in the
body temperature. Effectors (muscle or glands) then tell the body how to combat the
rise in temperature by
telling the body to sweat in
order to release excess
heat which then
evaporates, resulting in the
body being cooled down
and homeostasis is
maintained. In turn, when it
is cold, the receptors
contact the control centre
of the change in
temperature resulting in the
effectors telling the body to
shiver which heats up the
body to its proper
temperature, maintaining
homeostasis. Vasodilation
and vasoconstriction also help to maintain temperature homeostasis in the body. For
example, if body temperature rises, blood vessels in the skin will dilate (become
wider) to allow more blood flow near the surface which helps cool the circulating
blood (vasodilation) while vasoconstriction kicks in if the body temperature begins to
fall. The blood vessels constrict meaningless warm blood flows near the surface,
meaning less heat loss and maintaining homeostasis.
Homeostasis makes sure our body has the correct levels of; temperature, water,
oxygen, salts and carbon dioxide and equilibrium is maintained.
Homeostasis of the body temperature is very important. This is because your organs
and nervous system cannot work normally leading to complications in the running of
the body. Hypothermia can occur if your body reaches levels too cold, and heat
stroke can occur if your body is too hot for too long. If the amount of water in the
body is not according to homeostatic levels, cells can become damaged as too much
water enters and leaves them, or dehydration will occur meaning an upset in the
body's homeostasis. If there is too much of an increase in CO2, it would alter the
concentration of O2 and CO2 and cells would not receive enough oxygen. This
means cells would not be functioning as they should meaning homeostasis is
disturbed.
Without homeostasis of the regulation of blood glucose levels. A disturbance in its
homeostasis could lead to conditions such as hypoglycemia or hyperglycemia. When
2
