Grade 10 12 Biology Revision Notes Homeostasis

eskulu.com STUDY ONLINE. NOTES. PAST PAPERS WITH ANSWERS.
eskulu.com
ECZ GRADE 10 - 12 BIOLOGY SUMMARISED
NOTES (HOMEOSTASIS) WITH EXAM QUESTIONS
AND ANSWERS
eskulu.com 0
G10 TO G12 BIOLOGY
ESKULU ZM 6/17/19
(HOMEOSTASIS) NOTES
Content
unit 6: Homeostasis ............................................................................................................... 2
1.1.1 what is homeostasis? ............................................................................................................2
1.1.2 The skin and homeostasis ................................................................................................2
1.1.3 mechanism for homeostasis (feedback loop)....................................................................5
eskulu.com 1
UNIT 6: HOMEOSTASIS
1.1.1 WHAT IS HOMEOSTASIS?
 Homeostasis is the maintenance of a constant internal environment.
 The concentration, acidity and temperature of tissue fluid are being adjusted
all the time to prevent any big changes.
 Importance of homeostasis:
Organisms are alive because of the metabolic reactions going inside their cells.
All the reactions are controlled by enzymes, and enzymes are extremely
sensitive to changes in temperature and pH, for the enzymes to function
properly, they require the right conditions.
1.1.2 THE SKIN AND HOMEOSTASIS

 Skin structure
o The figure below shows a section through skin. In the basal layer
some of the cells are continually dividing and pushing the older cells
nearer the surface.
o They die at the same rate as they are replaced. The basal layer and
the cells above it constitute the epidermis.
o The basal layer also contributes to the hair follicles. The dividing cells
give rise to the hair.
o There are specialised pigment cells in the basal layer and epidermis.
These produce a black pigment, melanin, which gives the skin its
colour. The more melanin, the darker is the skin.
o The dermis contains connective tissue with hair follicles, sebaceous

glands, sweat glands, blood vessels and nerve endings. There is
eskulu.com 2
usually a layer of adipose tissue (a fat deposit) beneath the dermis.
 Skin function
o Protection
 The outermost layer of dead cells of the epidermis helps to
reduce water loss and provides a barrier against bacteria.
 The pigment cells protect the skin from damage by the

ultraviolet rays in sunlight.
 In white-skinned people, more melanin is produced in

response to exposure to sunlight, giving rise to a tan.
o Sensitivity
 Scattered throughout the skin are large numbers of tiny sense
receptors, which give rise to sensations of touch, pressure,
heat, cold and pain.
eskulu.com 3
o Temperature regulation
 The skin helps to keep the body temperature more or less
constant. This is done by adjusting the flow of blood near
the skin surface and by sweating.
o Temperature control
 Heat is lost from the body surface by conduction,
convection, radiation and evaporation.
 The amount of heat lost is reduced by the insulating

properties of adipose (fatty) tissue in the dermis.
 Any imbalance in temperature is corrected by a number of

methods, including those described below.
 Overheating
1. More blood flows near the surface of the skin,
allowing more heat to be exchanged with the
surroundings.
2. Sweating – the sweat glands secrete sweat on to the
skin surface. When this layer of liquid evaporates, it
takes heat (latent heat) from the body and cools it
down.
NB: Vasodilation – the capillaries get wider to allow
more blood to flow through them. It is the response to
overheating.
 Overcooling
1. Less blood flows near the surface of the skin,
reducing the amount of heat lost to the
surroundings.
2. Sweat production stops – thus the heat lost by
evaporation is reduced.
eskulu.com 4
3. Shivering – uncontrollable bursts of rapid muscular

contraction in the limbs release heat as a result of
respiration in the muscles.
NB: Vasoconstriction - the narrowing of the capillaries
and this allows less blood to flow through them. It is the
response to overcooling.
 You cannot consciously detect changes in your core

temperature.
The brain detects changes by monitoring the
temperature of the blood.
A region called the hypothalamus contains a
thermoregulatory centre in which temperature
receptors detect temperature changes in the blood and
co-ordinate a response to them.
Temperature receptors are also present in the skin. They
send information to the brain about temperature
changes.
1.1.3 MECHANISM FOR HOMEOSTASIS (FEEDBACK LOOP)

 Many systems in the body contribute to homeostasis. E.g. the kidneys
(which regulates the levels of salts and water), liver (which regulates the
level of glucose in the blood), the brain.
 This shows how important homeostasis is to the body
eskulu.com 5
 The lungs have a role in homeostasis by regulating the concentrations of

oxygen and carbon dioxide.
 The skin regulates the temperature.
 The brain has overall control of the homeostatic processes in the body.
Homeostasis and negative feedback:

 Temperature regulation is an example of homeostasis.
 Maintenance of a constant body temperature ensures that vital chemical

reactions continue.
 The constant-temperature or homoeothermic (‘warm-blooded’) animals,

the birds and mammals, therefore have an advantage over the variable.
 Regulation of blood sugar If the level of sugar in the blood falls, the islets
release a hormone called glucagon into the bloodstream.
eskulu.com 6
 Glucagon acts on the cells in the liver and causes them to convert some of
their stored glycogen into glucose and so restore the blood sugar level.
 Insulin has the opposite effect to glucagon. If the concentration of blood

sugar increases (e.g. after a meal rich in carbohydrate), insulin is released
from the islet cells. Hence, the liver cells to take up glucose from the blood
and store it as glycogen.
 If the blood sugar level rises too high, glucose is excreted by the kidneys. By
helping to keep the glucose concentration within limits, the liver prevents
these undesirable effects and so contributes to the homeostasis of the
body.
 If anything goes wrong with the production or function of insulin, the

person will have diabetes.
eskulu.com 7
Osmoregulation
Stimulus Sensor Integrator Effector Response Feedback
Low osmolarity Osmolarity Osmolarity (1.)_______ Secrete hormone, Raised
(dilute condition sensitive ___ (2.) __________ osmolarity
in blood) neurons in facilitate
hypothalamus reabsorption of (3.)
__________
Adrenal glands (3.) __________ in
Loop of Henle
High osmolarity Omsolarity Osmolarity (4.)_______ Secrete a hormone Raised
(concentrated sensitive controlling __ (5)___________ osmolarity
condition) neurons in centre in to facilitate
hypothalamus the reabsorption of
hypothala (6.)__________
mus in Loop of Henle
Blood glucose level regulation

Stimulus Sensor Integrator Effector Response Feedback
Low glucose Glucose level Glucose level (1.)_______ Secrete
level in blood sensitive controlling in pancreas (2.)________ to
neurons in centre in the facilitate conversion
hypothalamus hypothalamus of
(3.)________
to
(4.)________
(5.)_______ Secrete (7.) _______
High glucose Glucose level Glucose level (1)________ Secrete (7.)_______ Lowered
level in blood sensitive controlling in pancreas to facilitate glucose level
neurons in centre in the synthesis of in blood
hypothalamus hypothalamus (8.)______ from
(9.)_________
eskulu.com 8
answers:
1. islet of Langerhans 2. glucagon 3. Glycogen 4. glucose
5.adrenal glands 6. Adrenaline 7. Insulin 8. glycogen 9. Glucose
eskulu.com 9

Grade 10 12 Biology Revision Notes Homeostasis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Grade 10 12 Biology Revision Notes Homeostasis

Uploaded by

Document Information

Original Title

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Grade 10 12 Biology Revision Notes Homeostasis

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

eskulu.com STUDY ONLINE. NOTES. PAST PAPERS WITH ANSWERS.

1.1.2 THE SKIN AND HOMEOSTASIS

o The dermis contains connective tissue with hair follicles, sebaceous

usually a layer of adipose tissue (a fat deposit) beneath the dermis.

 The pigment cells protect the skin from damage by the

 In white-skinned people, more melanin is produced in

 The amount of heat lost is reduced by the insulating

 Any imbalance in temperature is corrected by a number of

3. Shivering – uncontrollable bursts of rapid muscular

 You cannot consciously detect changes in your core

1.1.3 MECHANISM FOR HOMEOSTASIS (FEEDBACK LOOP)

 This shows how important homeostasis is to the body

 The lungs have a role in homeostasis by regulating the concentrations of

 The skin regulates the temperature.

Homeostasis and negative feedback:

 Maintenance of a constant body temperature ensures that vital chemical

 The constant-temperature or homoeothermic (‘warm-blooded’) animals,

 Insulin has the opposite effect to glucagon. If the concentration of blood

 If anything goes wrong with the production or function of insulin, the

Blood glucose level regulation

You might also like