Homeostasis

Dr Harprit Singh
Harprit.singh@dmu.ac.uk
Hawthorn Building, HW1.10

Learning Outcomes of
Session
Understand the principles of homeostasis
Describe physiological events under
homeostasis control
Describe the systems involved in
homeostasis
Explore the mechanism of homeostatic
control

What is Homeostasis?
The traditional spelling of homoeostasis
gives us a clue to the words meaning
HOMO the same STASIS staying
Literally staying the same
Homeostasis refers to the various
mechanisms that maintain the bodys
stable internal environment

Homeostasis
Maintenance of a constant internal
environment despite fluctuations in the
external world Walter Cannon
A state of body equilibrium / stable
internal environment of the body

Physiological factors under

Homeostasis
Can you think of some physiological factors
that need controlling?

How homeostasis works

Blood pressure
120mm
Hg
60mmH
g
90 mmHg Mean
arterial pressure

Homeostatic control
mechanisms
All homeostatic control mechanisms
have at least three components:
Receptor
Control centre
Effector

CONTROLLER
Interprets
stimulus and
coordinates
response

RECEPTOR

EFFECTOR

Detects stimulus

Outputs
response

3. Input
information

Control

4. Output
information

Centre
Recepto
r
2. Change
detected by
receptor

Effector

1.
e

Im

ba
la
n

5.
Feeds back to
the system

Types of Sensory
Receptors

Negative Feedback
Mechanism

This type of feedback system inhibits the

direction of the initial inputs
controller
recepto
r
inpu
t

output

output

receptor

input

Positive Feedback Mechanisms

This type of feedback system intensifies the
input.
controller
recepto
r
inpu
t

output

output

receptor

+
input

Regulatory systems in
the body

Endocrine system
system

Nervous

Frequency
Response
Rapid
(mV)

Blood [hormone]

Amplitude
Response [hormone]
frequency of APs
Slow

Time
(mins hrs)

Time
(msec sec)

Water-balance Homeostasis
Water makes up a high proportion (60%) of the adult
human body.
Water in the body is distributed between two
compartments:
Intracellular fluid (ICF) - water inside cells
Extracellular fluid (ECF) - water outside cells.

Homeostasis through the neuroendocrine reflex,maintains

body fluid volume, distribution and composition.

Fluid
Compartments
Intracellular fluid
66%
blood vessel
Plasma 8%

Extracelllular 34%
Interstitial 26%

red blood cell

Water-balance Homeostasis

Water-balance Homeostasis
Increased plasma osmolality either due to
dehydration, increased salt intake or blood
volume stimulated osmoreceptors in
hypothalamus
Hypothalamus generates action potential
through the paraventricular and
supraoptic nuclei to the posterior pituitary
causing the release of ADH
ADH acts on kidneys to retain water
causing decrease in osmolality and
increase in blood volume

In Summary
Homeostasis restores any changes to
internal environment of the body to
equilibrium
Allows normal function of the human body
Uses the endocrine and nervous system to
help regulate these changes

Any Questions