The endocrine system regulates the metabolism and development of most body cells and body systems through feedback mechanisms. The endocrine glands also release hormones that affect skin and hair color, appetite, and secondary sex characteristics of males and females.
Figure 2: The endocrine system controls almost every other body system through feedback mechanisms. Most of the mechanisms of the endocrine system are negative feedback. The endocrine system has a regulatory effect on other organ systems in the human body.
In the muscular system, hormones adjust muscle metabolism, energy production, and growth. In the nervous system, hormones affect neural metabolism, regulate fluid and ion concentration and help with reproductive hormones that influence brain development.
Toxic wastes build up in the blood as proteins and nucleic acids are broken down and used by the body. The urinary system rids the body of these wastes. The urinary system is also directly involved in maintaining proper blood volume. The kidneys also play an important role in maintaining the correct salt and water content of the body. The kidneys also produce a hormone called erythropoietin, also known as EPO, which stimulates red blood cell production.
The reproductive system does little for the homeostasis of the organism. The reproductive system relates instead to the maintenance of the species.
However, sex hormones do have an effect on other body systems, and an imbalance in sex hormones can lead to various disorders. For example, a woman whose ovaries are removed early in life is at higher risk of developing osteoporosis, a disorder in which bones are thin and break easily. The hormone estrogen, produced by the ovaries, is important for bone growth. Therefore, a woman who does not produce estrogen will have impaired bone development.
Many homeostatic mechanisms keep the internal environment within certain limits or set points. When the cells in your body do not work correctly, homeostatic balance is disrupted. Homeostatic imbalance may lead to a state of disease. Disease and cellular malfunction can be caused in two basic ways: by deficiency cells not getting all they need or toxicity cells being poisoned by things they do not need.
When homeostasis is interrupted, your body can correct or worsen the problem, based on certain influences. In addition to inherited genetic influences, there are external influences that are based on lifestyle choices and environmental exposure. The endocrine system of a person with diabetes has difficulty maintaining the correct blood glucose level. A diabetic needs to check their blood glucose levels many times during the day, as shown in Figure 3, and monitor daily sugar intake.
Figure 3: A person with diabetes has to monitor their blood glucose carefully. This glucose meter analyses only a small drop of blood. Genetics: Genes are sometimes turned off or on due to external factors which we have some control over. Other times, little can be done to prevent the development of certain genetic diseases and disorders. Cancer can be genetically inherited or be due to a mutation caused by exposure to toxin such as radiation or harmful drugs.
A person may also inherit a predisposition to develop a disease such as heart disease. Such diseases can be delayed or prevented if the person eats nutritious food, has regular physical activity, and does not smoke.
Nutrition: If your diet lacks certain vitamins or minerals your cells will function poorly, and you may be at risk to develop a disease. For example, a menstruating woman with inadequate dietary intake of iron will become anemic. Hemoglobin, the molecule that enables red blood cells to transport oxygen, requires iron.
Therefore, the blood of an anemic woman will have reduced oxygen-carrying capacity. In mild cases symptoms may be vague e. Physical Activity: Physical activity is essential for proper functioning of our cells and bodies. Adequate rest and regular physical activity are examples of activities that influence homeostasis.
Lack of sleep is related to a number of health problems such as irregular heartbeat, fatigue, anxiety, and headaches. Being overweight and obesity, two conditions that are related to poor nutrition and lack of physical activity greatly affect many organ systems and their homeostatic mechanisms. Staying fit by regularly taking part in aerobic activities such as walking, shown in Figure 4, has been shown to help prevent many of these diseases.
Figure 4: Adding physical activity to your routine can be as simple as walking for a total of 60 minutes a day, five times a week. Many homeostatic mechanisms such as these work continuously to maintain stable conditions in the human body. Sometimes, however, the mechanisms fail. When they do, cells may not get everything they need, or toxic wastes may accumulate in the body. If homeostasis is not restored, the imbalance may lead to disease or even death. What happens if stability is disrupted?
Homeostasis All of the organs and organ systems of the human body work together like a well-oiled machine. Maintaining Homeostasis The process in which organ systems work to maintain a stable internal environment is called homeostasis.
Here are just three of the many ways that human organ systems help the body maintain homeostasis: Respiratory system: A high concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood triggers faster breathing.
The lungs exhale more frequently, which removes carbon dioxide from the body more quickly. Excretory system: A low level of water in the blood triggers retention of water by the kidneys. The kidneys produce more concentrated urine, so less water is lost from the body. Endocrine system: A high concentration of sugar in the blood triggers secretion of insulin by an endocrine gland called the pancreas. Insulin is a hormone that helps cells absorb sugar from the blood.
Positive Feedback Some processes in the body are regulated by positive feedback. Failure of Homeostasis Many homeostatic mechanisms such as these work continuously to maintain stable conditions in the human body.
Summary All of the organ systems of the body work together to maintain homeostasis of the organism. If homeostasis fails, death or disease may result. Review What is homeostasis? Describe how one of the human organ systems helps maintain homeostasis.
A house has several systems, such as the electrical system, plumbing system, and heating and cooling system. Each organ or structure has its own intrinsic way of keeping the internal environment within normal limits. When homeostasis is altered there are two possible responses:. As this tends to keep things constant, it allows the maintenance of homeostasis. For example, if there is a fall in calcium in the blood, the parathyroid glands sense the decrease and secrete more parathyroid hormone, thereby increasing calcium release from the bones;.
Positive feedback is used when rapid change is needed. For example in childbirth the hormone oxytocin is produced to stimulate and enhance labour contractions Bodyguide, A receptor detects external changes that could influence the internal environment. For example, the following are involved in the regulation of blood pressure:. When there is an increase in heart rate more blood is pumped into the arteries resulting in an increase in blood pressure Docherty, This is detected by the baroreceptors, which are located in the walls of certain arteries.
These receptors send impulses to the control centre the medulla oblongata , which interprets the message and sends impulses to the effectors the cardiovascular system. These slow the pulse, decreasing blood pressure Tortora and Anagnostakos, Sign in or Register a new account to join the discussion.
You are here: Respiratory. Homeostasis — Part 1: anatomy and physiology. This article, the first in a series of four, looks at the anatomy and physiology of homeostasis. Related files. NT Contributor. Please remember that the submission of any material is governed by our Terms and Conditions and by submitting material you confirm your agreement to these Terms and Conditions.
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