Principles of

Homeostasis
12.1

Learning Objectives
Define homeostasis
Explain the importance of homeostasis
Describe how control mechanisms work
Explain how control mechanisms are co-ordinated

Success Criteria
You can define homeostasis and suggest what things need
to be maintained in the body
You can create a mind map of ideas for why homeostasis
is important
You can take notes on control mechanisms
You can answer an exam question on homeostasis

Starter
What is homeostasis?
The maintenance of a constant internal environment

What things need to be maintained?

Temperature
Oxygen levels
Water levels
Tissue Fluid
Composition of blood

Independence:
Stops organisms
being reliant on the
external
environment (wider
choices of where to
live etc.)

Enzymes: sensitive to pH
and temperature changes.
Big changes could cause
denaturation and stop
reactions occurring.

Why is
homeostas
is
important?

Blood glucose:
essential to
maintain this to
maintain water
potential and also
give cells a
constant supply

Water Potential: changing

this in blood/tissue fluid
could make cells shrink or
even burst. Would prevent
cells operating normally.

Control Mechanisms
Stages of Homeostatic Control
The Set Point (the norm)
Receptor (detects variations)
Controller (co-ordinates info and
sends instructions)
Effector (brings about changes)
Feedback Loop (tells receptor
about the changes)

Control Mechanisms
Input
Fall in
some
paramet
er

Receptors
Detect
the
change

Control
Centre
Coordinatio
n

Effector
Have an
effect on
the system

Output
Rise in
some
paramet
er

Analysing Info from

Receptors
Changes can be detected by a number of

different receptors
This gives the brain a better picture of what is
being altered
Allows a more informed response to be made

Plenary Exam Q
How does maintaining a constant body temperature
allow metabolic reactions in cells to proceed with
maximum efficiency?
(5)

Plenary Exam Q
ANSWERS
1. Body temp./37C is optimum temp for
enzymes;
2. excess heat denatures enzymes/alters tertiary
structure/alters
shape of active site/enzyme;
3. substrate cannot bind/eq,;
4. reactions cease/slowed;
5. too little reduces kinetic energy of molecules /
molecules
move more slowly;
6. fewer collisions/fewer ES complexes formed
max 5

Learning Objectives
Define homeostasis
Explain the importance of homeostasis
Describe how control mechanisms work
Explain how control mechanisms are co-ordinated

Success Criteria
You can define homeostasis and suggest what things need
to be maintained in the body
You can create a mind map of ideas for why homeostasis
is important
You can take notes on control mechanisms
You can answer an exam question on homeostasis