BIO 282 Lecture Notes - Lecture 1: Thermoregulation, Homeostasis, Arteriole
Document Summary
Physiologist, neuroscientists have a work around: stressor: a perceived threat to homeostasis and thus survival and reproduction, stress response: body"s physiological attempt to deal with stressor, restore homeostasis. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment of an organism. To achieve homeostasis, animals often use regulatory systems: set point is a reference point for a regulated variable, need to detect changes, comparing information and instructing appropriate response, return back to set point. It gets cold and body temperature drops (regulated variable) 1: detected by temperature sensor (in brain) Helps return a variable to a set point. Initial disturbance sets off a series of events that increases the disturbance further. Example: account balances and interest earned, oxytocin and childbirth. Homeostasis is often achieved through regulation, but can be achieved through conforming too: can use both strategies. Maintaining homeostasis is crucial because it enables molecules, cells, enzymes, tissues, organs, and organ systems to operate at optimal levels.
