1st Year Lecture 2 Physiology Homeostasis 2019 2020 PDF

Homeostasis and Homeostatic control systems
Lerning objectives:
1- Define the term homeostasis, Disease and Pathophysiology
2. List the role various systems in body homeostasis
3. Describe components of the homeostastic system
4. Analyze the mechanism of action of homeostatic sysytem
‘Homeostasis’ : means the maintenance of constant internal environment of the body

(homeo = same; stasis = standing).
Internal environment in the body is the extracellular fluid (ECF) in which the cells
live. It is the fluid outside the cell and it constantly moves throughout the body. It
includes blood, which circulates in the vascular system and fluid present in between
the cells called interstitial
fluid. ECF contains nutrients, ions and all other substances necessary for the survival
of the cells
The body must recognize the deviation of any physiological activity from the normal
limits.
body is provided with appropriate detectors or sensors, which
recognize the deviation. These detectors sense the deviation and alert the integrating
center. The integrating center immediately sends information to the concerned
effectors to either accelerate or inhibit the activity so that the normality is restored.
Disease:
A state of disrupted homeostasis. However, even in the presence of a disease,

homeostatic mechanisms continue to operate and maintain vital functions through
multiple compensations.
Pathophysiology:
It explains how the various physiological processes are altered in diseases or injury.
ROLE OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF THE BODY IN HOMEOSTASIS:
One or more systems are involved in homeostatic mechanism of each function. Some
of the functions in which the homeostatic mechanism is well established are given
below:
1. The pH of the ECF has to be maintained at the critical value of about 7.4. The
tissues cannot survive if it is altered. Thus, the decrease in pH (acidosis) or increase in
pH (alkalosis) affects the tissues
markedly.
The respiratory system, blood and kidney help in the regulation of pH.
2. Body temperature must be maintained at 37.5°C.
Increase or decrease in temperature alters the metabolic activities of the cells.
The skin, respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system,
skeletal muscles and nervous system are involved in maintaining the temperature
within normal limits.
3. Adequate amount of nutrients must be supplied to the cells. Nutrients are

essential for various activities of the cell and growth of the tissues.
These substances also form the source of energy required for various activities of the
cells. Nutrients must be digested, absorbed into the blood and supplied to the cells.
Digestive system and circulatory system play major roles in the supply of nutrients.
4. Adequate amount of oxygen should be made available to the cells for the
metabolism of the nutrients. Simultaneously, the carbon dioxide and other metabolic
end products must be removed.
Respiratory system is concerned with the supply of oxygen and removal of carbon
dioxide. Kidneys and other excretory organs are involved in the excretion
of waste products.
5. Many hormones are essential for the metabolism of nutrients and other substances
necessary for the
cells.
Hormones are to be synthesized and released from the endocrine glands in appropriate
quantities and these hormones must act on the body cells
appropriately. Otherwise, it leads to abnormal signs and symptoms.
6. Water and electrolyte balance should be maintained
optimally. Otherwise it leads to dehydration or water toxicity and alteration in the

osmolality of the body fluids.
Kidneys, skin, salivary glands and gastrointestinal tract take care of this.
7. The blood, which forms the major part of internal environment, must be normal.
It should contain required number of normal red blood cells and adequate amount of
plasma with normal composition.
it can transport the nutritive substances, respiratory gases, metabolic
and other waste products.
8. Skeletal muscles are also involved in homeostasis.
This system helps the human to move around in tomsearch of food.
It also helps to protect the body from adverse surroundings, thus preventing damage
or destruction.
COMPONENTS OF HOMEOSTATIC SYSTEM
Homeostatic system in the body acts through selfregulating devices, which operate in
a cyclic manner
This cycle includes four components:
1. Sensors or detectors, receptor which recognize the deviation
2. Transmission of this message to a control center
3. Transmission of information from the control center to the effectors for correcting
the deviation.
Transmission of the message or information may be an electrical process in the form

of impulses through nerves or a chemical process mainly in the form of hormones
through blood and body fluids
4. Effectors, which correct the deviation.

Components of homeostatic system
MECHANISM OF ACTION OF HOMEOSTATIC SYSTEM
Homeostatic mechanism in the body is responsible for maintaining the normalcy of

various body systems.
Whenever there is any change in behavioral pattern of any system, the effectors bring
back the normality either by inhibiting and reversing the change or by supporting
and accelerating the change depending
upon requirement of the situation. This is achieved by means of feedback signals.
Feedback is a process in which some proportion of the output signal of a system is

fed (passed) back to the input. This is done more often intentionally in order to control
the behavior pattern of the system. Whenever any change occurs, system receives and
reacts to two types of feedback
1. Negative feedback
2. Positive feedback.
NEGATIVE FEEDBACK
Negative feedback is the one to which the system reacts in such a way as to arrest the
change or reverse the direction of change. After receiving a message, effectors send
negative feedback signals back to the system. Now, the system stabilizes its own
function and makes an attempt to maintain homeostasis.
Many homeostatic mechanisms in the body function through negative feedback. For
example, thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) released from pituitary gland stimulates
thyroid gland to secrete thyroxin.
When thyroxin level increases in blood, it inhibits the secretion of TSH from pituitary
so that, the secretion of thyroxin from thyroid gland decreases.
On the other hand, if thyroxin secretion is less, its low blood level induces pituitary
gland to release TSH. Now, TSH stimulates thyroid gland to secrete thyroxin.
Negative feedback mechanism – secretion of thyroxin.
TSH = Thyroid-stimulating hormone.
Another example for negative feedback mechanism is maintenance of water balance

in the body.
POSITIVE FEEDBACK
Positive feedback is the one to which the system reacts in such a way as to increase
the intensity of the change in the same direction.
Positive feedback is less common than the negative feedback.
One of the positive feedbacks occurs during the blood clotting. Blood clotting is
necessary to arrest bleeding during injury and it occurs in three stages.
The three stages are:
i. Formation of prothrombin activator
ii. Conversion of prothrombin into thrombin
iii. Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin.
Thrombin formed in the second stage stimulates the formation of more prothrombin
activator in addition to converting fibrinogen into fibrin
It causes formation of more and more amount of prothrombin activator so that the
blood clotting process is accelerated and blood loss is prevented quickly
Positive feedback mechanism – coagulation of blood. Once formed, thrombin induces

the formation of more prothrombin activator.
Other processes where positive feedback occurs are milk ejection reflex and
parturition (labor) and both of the processes involve oxytocin

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Homeostasis and Homeostatic control systems

1- Define the term homeostasis, Disease and Pathophysiology

2. List the role various systems in body homeostasis

3. Describe components of the homeostastic system

4. Analyze the mechanism of action of homeostatic sysytem

‘Homeostasis’ : means the maintenance of constant internal environment of the body

body is provided with appropriate detectors or sensors, which

A state of disrupted homeostasis. However, even in the presence of a disease,

ROLE OF VARIOUS SYSTEMS OF THE BODY IN HOMEOSTASIS:

2. Body temperature must be maintained at 37.5°C.

Increase or decrease in temperature alters the metabolic activities of the cells.

The skin, respiratory system, digestive system, excretory system,

3. Adequate amount of nutrients must be supplied to the cells. Nutrients are

appropriately. Otherwise, it leads to abnormal signs and symptoms.

6. Water and electrolyte balance should be maintained

optimally. Otherwise it leads to dehydration or water toxicity and alteration in the

it can transport the nutritive substances, respiratory gases, metabolic

and other waste products.

8. Skeletal muscles are also involved in homeostasis.

This system helps the human to move around in tomsearch of food.

COMPONENTS OF HOMEOSTATIC SYSTEM

This cycle includes four components:

1. Sensors or detectors, receptor which recognize the deviation

2. Transmission of this message to a control center

Transmission of the message or information may be an electrical process in the form

4. Effectors, which correct the deviation.

MECHANISM OF ACTION OF HOMEOSTATIC SYSTEM

Homeostatic mechanism in the body is responsible for maintaining the normalcy of

upon requirement of the situation. This is achieved by means of feedback signals.

Feedback is a process in which some proportion of the output signal of a system is

Negative feedback mechanism – secretion of thyroxin.

TSH = Thyroid-stimulating hormone.

Another example for negative feedback mechanism is maintenance of water balance

Positive feedback is less common than the negative feedback.

The three stages are:

i. Formation of prothrombin activator

ii. Conversion of prothrombin into thrombin

iii. Conversion of fibrinogen into fibrin.

Positive feedback mechanism – coagulation of blood. Once formed, thrombin induces

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