Homeostasis refers to the balance in the external and internal environments of living organisms that enables them to survive within a range of conditions. Through this self-regulating process, changes in the body and the mechanisms that react to these changes can be easily detected to restore stability. Homeostatic regulatory components that maintain equilibrium include effectors, receptors, and control centers (Fossion et al., 2018). The disruption of homeostatic mechanisms results in disease, and therefore, the interaction of multiple complex feedback systems is vital to ensure the health of organisms. Homeostasis is crucial in regulating various concentrations of pH, ions, blood sugar, fluids, and temperature in the body despite variations in the diet and environment to help maintain life.
Receptors primarily sense, monitor, and respond to internal and external changes in the environment for an appropriate reaction to be elicited by the body. The effectors are the body organs and tissues that receive information about the changes and respond by providing the conditions necessary to maintain homeostasis. The control centers, such as the respiratory system, are crucial in setting the maintenance range for particular variables. However, the homeostatic control of an entity does not necessarily mean that its value is absolutely steady in health (Fossion et al., 2018). For instance, as regulated by a homeostatic mechanism with temperature sensors, the setpoint of core body temperature varies from time to time and needs to be reset. Notably, the body temperature in humans and other mammals changes during the course of the day, with the lowest temperatures being at night and the highest in the afternoons.
The nervous system, digestive system, and endocrine system, among other body systems, work together to contribute to overall homeostasis. In mammals, body temperature regulation is achieved through input from thermoreceptors in the hypothalamus, spinal cord, and internal organs (Fossion et al., 2018). When the core temperature drops, the blood supply to the skin and limbs is reduced, resulting in minimal heat loss. On the other hand, when the temperature is high, sweat glands are stimulated to secrete sweat onto the skin, which evaporates, cooling the skin and blood flowing through it.
Homeostasis is also important in controlling the blood sugar levels through the beta cells of the pancreas. In response to high sugar levels, insulin is secreted into the blood, which inhibits the secretion of glucagon from alpha cells and glucose from the liver. With the limited secretion of more glucose into the blood, fat cells and muscle cells take up and convert the excess glucose to other forms (Fossion et al., 2018). However, when the level of blood glucose falls, insulin secretion is stopped, and glucagon is released into the blood thus correcting the detected error.
In regulating the level of blood gases, carbon dioxide and oxygen levels are monitored by various chemoreceptors, and information is relayed to the respiratory center to activate effector organs (Fossion et al., 2018). The diaphragm and other muscles of respiration respond appropriately to variations of gases especially oxygen which serves many purposes in the body. Moreover, the process of homeostasis enables fluid balance as it balances the amount of water and the levels of electrolytes in the body through osmoregulation. When the water levels are low, the kidney has to reabsorb water, thus preventing water loss through urine, and a thirst reflex is generated to restore the required amount of water.
Conclusively, when the body has a suitable constant internal temperature, metabolic processes can effectively take place to release the energy required by an organism to carry out various activities. All the body systems and organs have to work together for the correct signals and responses to take place. Therefore, homeostatic regulation is a necessary process in maintaining the immunity and proper functioning of the body.
Reference
Fossion, R., Rivera, A., & Estanol B. (2018). A physicist’s view of homeostasis: How time series of continuous monitoring reflect the function of physiological variables in regulatory mechanisms. Physiological Measurement, 39(8), 5-16.