AQA GCSE HOMEOSTASIS QUESTION AND ANSWERS
LATEST UPDATE
Homeostasis
The regulation of internal conditions to maintain optimum conditions in response to
changes
Stimulus
A change in the environment
Receptors
Cells that detect changes in the environment
Coordination centres
Receive and process information from receptors. E.g. brain
Effectors
Muscles or glands which bring about a response
Reflex action
An automatic and rapid action
Endocrine system
Consists of glands that release hormones into the blood to get to a target organ to
cause a response
Insulin
Released from the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels and causes
glucose to move from the blood into the cells. It causes glucose to be converted into
glycogen for storage in the liver
Glucagon
Released from the pancreas in response to low blood glucose levels and causes
glycogen to be broken down into glucose and released back into the blood
Type 1 diabetes
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin
Type 2 diabetes
When the body cells no longer respond to insulin
Oestrogen
Released by the ovaries. Stops FSH being released and stimulates LH to be released
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Causes maturation of the egg in the ovary.
Lutenising hormone (LH)
Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Causes the egg to be released from the ovary.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Where egg cells are fertilised outside of the body with sperm cells
Cerebral cortex
The outer part of the brain responsible for intelligence, language, memory and
consciousness
Medulla
LATEST UPDATE
Homeostasis
The regulation of internal conditions to maintain optimum conditions in response to
changes
Stimulus
A change in the environment
Receptors
Cells that detect changes in the environment
Coordination centres
Receive and process information from receptors. E.g. brain
Effectors
Muscles or glands which bring about a response
Reflex action
An automatic and rapid action
Endocrine system
Consists of glands that release hormones into the blood to get to a target organ to
cause a response
Insulin
Released from the pancreas in response to high blood glucose levels and causes
glucose to move from the blood into the cells. It causes glucose to be converted into
glycogen for storage in the liver
Glucagon
Released from the pancreas in response to low blood glucose levels and causes
glycogen to be broken down into glucose and released back into the blood
Type 1 diabetes
When the pancreas does not produce enough insulin
Type 2 diabetes
When the body cells no longer respond to insulin
Oestrogen
Released by the ovaries. Stops FSH being released and stimulates LH to be released
Follicle stimulating hormone (FSH)
Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Causes maturation of the egg in the ovary.
Lutenising hormone (LH)
Hormone released by the pituitary gland. Causes the egg to be released from the ovary.
In vitro fertilisation (IVF)
Where egg cells are fertilised outside of the body with sperm cells
Cerebral cortex
The outer part of the brain responsible for intelligence, language, memory and
consciousness
Medulla
