Explain how homeostasis is the maintenance of a dynamic range of environmental qualities rather than holding the internal environment at a set point
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a dynamic range of environmental qualities because body fluid levels and temperature are not set at constant.
The amount of fluid and temperature keep varying due to various factors in the internal environment. Fluid levels are dynamic and not set in the body as they can either increase or decrease depending on a person’s water intake. Internal temperatures keep on varying though at a range; thus, body temperature is never set to a specific or constant.
The body temperature and water levels fluctuate according to the different activities performed. Morning jog, for example, makes the body warmer thus, the body temperatures are higher, and one may sweat at the same time, and the body water level is reduced.
What would be wrong with a set point (say for body temperature) rather than a working range of temperatures?
It is wrong to work with a setpoint since the body is never in a static condition. Body temperature changes as a result of the body responding to both the internal and external stimuli. There is always a range of body temperatures because the body goes through various changes; hence we cannot assume it works in a set point of temperatures. Don't use plagiarised sources.Get your custom essay just from $11/page
Give two examples of hormones (including their glands of origin and action) that play significant roles in homeostatic processes in the body.
The essential hormones involved in regulating the homeostatic process are:
Insulin- this hormone is synthesized in the pancreas by the beta cells of islets of Langerhans and assists in controlling the blood glucose levels by signaling the liver, muscle, and fat cells to absorb glucose from the blood thus, insulin helps body cells in the uptake of glucose. The glucose is used for energy. In cases where the body has enough power, the liver is signaled by insulin to store the excess glucose as glycogen.
Calcitonin- this hormone is synthesized in the thyroid by the C cell. It is produced in response to a rise in blood calcium levels and helps in maintaining healthy calcium levels in the blood by reducing calcium release from the bones.
What happens when the action of these hormones is disrupted?
Deficiency of insulin causes diabetes, while calcitonin deficiency causes osteoporosis.
Discuss how maintaining homeostasis gives us greater freedom of activity from dependence upon changes in the external environment.
Maintaining homeostasis gives us greater freedom of activity from dependence upon changes in the external environment because, as mammals, we are warm-blooded, and we can adjust our internal body temperatures when it is necessary.
Warm-blooded animals are less affected by extremes such as winter since their bodies will increase in metabolism in response to cold temperatures raising their internal body temperature, which is possible through homeostasis.
What happens during extremes that force our bodies out of homeostatic bounds?
If the body temperatures go too high or fall too low, one might experience life-threatening conditions such as heat stroke or hypothermia.
One might develop obesity or diabetes as a result of the failure of the body to maintain its energy balance.
Too low or too high blood calcium levels can result in one developing hypocalcemia or hypercalcemia.
A problem in water balance results in dehydration or hyper-hydration.
Why is the maintenance of homeostasis especially crucial during the development of new humans within the bodies of their mothers?
The function of homeostasis is very vital when a mother is pregnant since this process it helps in retaining the right conditions for the body to function. For growth to take place, a balance in body fluids and temperature should be maintained. When body temperatures and fluids are maintained at the correct ranges, body metabolism occurs, leading to newborn’s growth and development.
What can go wrong if specific homeostatic functions are disrupted?
When any human body function is disrupted, the body cannot function in the right manner.
When a disruption occurs, the outcome is negative since the expected results are not obtained. Lack of a properly balanced internal environment hinders body metabolism from taking place in the right manner.
Body functions such as digestion and excretion depend on the process of homeostasis. For digestion to take place, a specific range of body fluid is required, and if these ranges are not present, there is a likelihood of low nutrient intake as well as constipation to take place.
Accumulation of excess waste can occur as a result of excretion process interruption. Processes of excretion, such as sweating and urinating, are homeostatic body functions. When urination does not take place, there is an accumulation of excess wastes in the body, which is harmful to the body because a pile of such wastes hinders other functions of the body.
Terminal diseases such as diabetes can be caused by insulin inadequacy in the body.