Homeostasis as the Natural Body Function - Assignment Example

Sub Department Homeostasis 1 Homeostasis can be described as the natural body function that controls internal environment of the body. Homeostasis is tasked with the sending as well as receiving of messages via the nervous system, interpretation and appropriate response to the demands of the body’s metabolic balance that is maintained by numerous processes. The human body is tasked with management of numerous extremely complicated interactions that are aimed at maintenance of balance or return systems to operating within a usual range. Homeostasis facilitates normal body functions and appropriate values such as those of blood glucose and temperature levels. When such values are either higher or lower than usual, homeostasis returns them back to normal levels (Gispen & Greidanus, 2014). 1.2 Homeostasis regulates the heart rate via medulla which is part of the brain that controls the rate of heart beat. The medulla sends nerve impulses and chemical messages via the medulla pyramids. Thus during exercise as well as at times of intense activity, the body muscles sends messages to the medulla via the brain stem. Two hormones (norepinephrine and epinephrine) are then discharged by the medulla and travels to the heart via the brain stem. On arriving at the sinus node, the two hormones rouse electrical impulses within the muscles of the heart causing the heart muscles to contract more rapidly. On the other hand, when one stops exercising or decreases their activity level, the body muscles will send a different message to medulla which then releases acetylcholine which slows down heart contractions, allowing it to rest and effectively minimizes the heart rate. Breathing comprises of both involuntary and voluntary actions. At times we can control it but at other times we cannot. Breathing is controlled at the pons as well as medulla oblongata which are both in the base part of the brain. Signals are sent by pons and medulla oblongata to the spinal columns so as to direct breathing muscles. The rate of exhalation and inhalation is controlled by the pons and depends on the oxygen body requirements (Fawcett & Watson, 2014).Temperature regulation also known as thermoregulation is the maintenance of body temperature at its normal range which is at around 35-40 degrees Celsius. Body temperature of a human being is controlled in the hypothalamus by the thermoregulatory centre. Thus, thermoregulatory centre receives messages from 2 sets of thermoreceptors. Hypothalamus receptors monitor blood temperature as it passes via the brain with the skin receptors monitoring the external temperature. Thus, either set of information is required to enable the body arrive at suitable adjustments. When it is very hot, stimulation of the heat loss centre within the hypothalamus occurs and when it is very cold, stimulation of the heat conservation centre within the hypothalamus occurs and the body responds appropriately. For instance, while responding to low temperature, the muscles will contract and cause vasoconstriction and less heat is ferried from the core to the body surface and when responding to high temperature, muscles usually relax leading to vasodilation and more heat is ferried away from the core and onto the surface and heat loss occurs via radiation and convection. Glucose which is also known as blood sugar needs to be controlled strictly within 0.8-1g per dm3 of blood with hypoglycaemia (too low levels)or hyperglycaemia (very high levels) being both serious and may result in death. The pancreas regulates the concentration of glucose in the body via unique glucose receptors in addition to endocrine cells that are tasked with the secretion of hormones. Thus, the alpha cells release glucagon whereas the beta cells release insulin. The 2 hormones are antagonistic implying that their effects on the blood sugar are opposite. For instance insulin encourages glucose uptake by cells to aid in respiration and also encourages the glycogenesis in the liver which is the changing of glucose to glycogen and therefore effectively reduces blood glucose. The hormone glucagon on the other hand encourages glycogenolysis which is glycogen breakdown to glucose and takes place in the liver. By so doing it raises the amount of glucose in the bloodstream (Fawcett & Watson, 2014). 1.3If homeostasis would fail it means heart rate would not be possible implying that human beings would not survive. Homeostasis has several functions within the body especially the heart and in controlling the heart rate as well as such vital roles as delivery of oxygen and blood from the heart to other muscular parts within the body. While exercising, the heart rate rises and so as to stabilize; the heart must rest so that the moment the exercise stops the heart rate will reduce effectively balancing out the heart rate. The heart with every contraction supplies oxygen and blood to every other muscle to enable them work and function properly. Thus, without the oxygen and blood delivery, failure of the muscles would take place leading to the death of the person. Homeostasis is also tasked with breathing which is a critical aspect of tissue oxygenation maintenance in addition to avoiding acidosis which may arise due to the accumulation of carbon dioxide. Thus, there is need for homeostatic procedures to aid the functioning of the lung if maintenance of tissue functions in other places is to be sustained. Failure in temperature regulation would result in various conditions such as hypothermia which results after the body is exposed to coldness and not being able to sustain body temperature. Signs of hypothermia include fatigue and confusion. Hyperthermia on the other hand results when the body fails to cool itself and may lead to heat stroke whose symptoms include exhaustion and heat cramps. Heatstroke can finally result in seizures brain damage and unconsciousness and may lead to death. If blood sugar regulation failed it would result in hypoglaceamia and hyperglycemia. Hypoglyceamia is a condition in which the blood sugar level falls below the minimum and is too low and results when one is very physically active than normal ,has taken very small amount of food or has taken so much insulin. It is characterized by rapid heartbeats, dizziness, shaking and sweating. On the other hand, if blood glucose is above 180, then it may be considered too high and implies that the person does not have adequate insulin in their body. This condition may result when one does not exercise enough. In addition, it may result because of illness or stress and is characterized by the following symptoms; frequent urination, extreme thirst, hunger, dry skin and blurred vision (Fawcett & Watson, 2014). 2.1. The urinary system is also referred to as the renal system and comprises of the urethra, ureters, kidneys, sphincter muscles and the bladder. Every kidney comprises of millions of useful units known as nephrons. The kidneys are bean shaped and are almost equal in size to a clenched fist. The main function of kidneys is secretion of hormones that assist in maintaining the usual amount of red blood cells as well as regulation of blood pressure. They also assist in removing waste products and excess water from the blood and pass them out as urine. Finally, the kidneys maintain a stabilized balance of salts as well as other substances within the body. Ureters are narrow tubes that measures about 8-10 inches in length and transport urine from kidneys to bladder. Frequent tightening and relaxing of muscles inside the walls of the ureters forces out the urine downward from the kidneys in addition to assisting in the maintenance of a one-way urine flow. The bladder on the other hand is a hollow, balloon-shaped muscular organ that is situated inside the hip bones (pelvis).There are numerous nerves located in the bladder whose main function is informing a person when the bladder is full and when it’s time to empty it. The bladder is positioned by ligaments that are attached to the pelvic bones and other organs. The sphincter muscles are circular in nature and are located around the bladder’s opening into the urethra and their main function is keeping urine from passing through the urethra. The main function of the bladder is storage of urine till it is passed out. Finally, urethra is a tube that facilitates passage of urine from the body. The female urethra differs from the male one in that it is shorter than the male one (Colwell & Goldberg,2011). 2.2Excretion can be described as the removal of metabolism waste products,toxic materials as well as substances that are in excess of needed amounts from organisms.The three key waste materials excreted from the body include water,urea and carbon dioxide.Excretion assists in the removal of toxic substances and thusprevents build up of the same in our bodies and prevents us from dying.Excretion also assists in the maintenance of body fluids composition.Thus,the excretory system consists of 4 structures which include 2 kidneys,2 ureters,a bladder as well as the urethra.Normally,the kidneys serve as filters that remove/filter waste substances from a peson’s blood.On the other han,ureters are narrow tubes that ferry the key waste products (urine) removed in the kidney and into the bladder where it is kept till its final excretion via the urethra and out of the body. 2.3Osmoregulation can be described as the physiological processes which are used by an organism in maintaining water balance or in other words process for compensating water loss, preventing excess gain of water in addition to maintaining the correct osmotic concentration of all body fluids. In other words, osmoregulation assists in keeping the body fluids from being either too concentrated or too diluted. To avoid gain or loss of water from body cells, the water the blood’s water potential is regulated so as to suit each given person, something that is under the control of the hypothalamus. Normally, the hypothalamus notices changes in blood’s water potential as it goes through the brain cells. The body makes use of numerous processes to get rid of bodily waste from an individual’s system, one of which is the metabolic process-a process that maintains the amount of salts as well as other substances dissolving in the body’s blood solution at a constant, which is carried out by removing waste from an organism’s system. The 2 common methods that are used by the body to constantly demonstrate osmoregulation; water logging and dehydration. For dehydration, the hypothalamus receives a message that body’s water level is extremely low. In response, the hypothalamus sends a message to the pituitary gland which secretes the antidiuretic hormone which is released at the kidney causing it to do reabsorption of more water from the body. When enough water has been absorbed, the pituitary gland sends another signal to minimize the production of the antidiuretic hormone. When this kind of reduction is sensed, another type of homeostasis known as negative feedback system takes place so as to return the body to the required set point. On the other hand, water logging is the precise opposite of dehydration and in this scenario the hypothalamus is sent a message that water level in the bodily fluids is extremely high and another signal is relayed to the pituitary, which immediately halts secretion and production of antidiuretic hormone, making the kidney to stop water re-absorption from the blood. This causes the body cells to be waterlogged making them to burst and effectively raises the blood concentration. In addition, the hypothalamus will signal the pituitary gland to stop hormone secretion, a process that is executed via negative feedback mechanism (Bentley, 2013). 3.1The skin happens to be the biggest organ in the human body. It consists of 3 key layers which comprise of the dermis, the epidermis, as well as the subcutaneous layer. The dermis is the skin’s inner layer that constitutes sweat glands which produce sweat .The sweat travels through sweat ducts to epidermis openings known as pores and play a very critical role in regulation of temperature. Secondly are the hair follicles that are pits from where hairs grow and play an important regulation of temperature. The other component of the dermis is the sebaceous glands which produce sebum responsible for keeping hairs from bacteria and dust. The epidermis is the outer elastic layer which is located on the outside and is frequently being generated. The epidermis comprises of the corneocytes, keratinocytes and melanocytes. Keratinocytes are the principal cells of the epidermis and are manufactured via cell division and always move towards the surface and with their movement, they slowly die out becoming flattened in the process. Corneocytes can be described as the dead flattened keratinocytes which together constitute the very external layer of the epidermis known as the horny or stratum corneum layer. Melanocytes on the other hand are charged with the production of melanin pigment which offers protection against the dangerous UV radiation and provides the skin with its colour. There are numerous functions of the skin which comprise of the following; prevention of moisture loss, reduction of dangerous effects of UV radiation, regulation of temperature, provision of protective layer against thermal, mechanical as well as physical injury to internal organs, assists in the regulation of body temperature, produces vitamin D and acts as an immune organ tasked with detection of infections (Montagna,2012). The skin regulates body temperature via blood vessels as well as via sweating process.The skin is actually the thermostat of the body.When a person is in cold place,the skin normally will trigger shivering making the blood vessels to contract and maintain the body temperature as warm as it can be.The capilaries also vasoconstrict so as to reduce heat flow to the skin,sweating ceases and erection of surface hairs occurs so as to raise insulation.When it is very hot,the sweat glands on the urface of the skin will release a lot of sweat which evaporates taking heat away from the surface of the skin.In addition blood vessels that lead to capillaries on the skin,bcome wider or dilate facilitating more blood flow via the skin as well as more heat loss.The skin hairs also assist in controlling the temperature of the body and they usually lie flat when it is hot and rise up when the temperature goes down(cold).This assists in trapping of a layer of air above the skin which asists in insulating the body against loss of heat (Montagna,2012). 3.3 When the body overheats it deploys numerous natural methods to facilitte cooling.One such way is sweating.Thus an increase in temperature will cause increased blood flow to the skin straining to the heart and making the body to produce huge quantities of sweat something that results in dehydration-further straining the heart.Consequently, the body will experience such symptoms as nausea,headache,muscle cramps and vomiting.If nothing is done to reduce the temperature of the body,this can result in heat stroke,which is a life-threatening kind of heat sickness.Finally,body proteins as well as membranes surrounding body cells ,particulaly the brain start to malfunction,resulting to the indvidual developing neurological changes and may affect internal organs leading to the collapsing of the cells of the heart muscle together with damage to blood vessels and other internal organs and in some scenarios even death. When the human body overcools ,numerous defence mechanims are initiated by the body to attempt and boost the body’s core temperature.Thus,for instance there is muscle shivering and teeth chattering.In addition the skin hairs straighten up and the skin forms goosebumps-which is a form of evolutionary echo dating back to the time when our forefathers had fur covering their skins.The hypothalamus gland which serves as the thermostat for the body stimulates the above responses so as to maintain the warmth of the vital organs of the body until when the body can get some form of shelter and warmth.The hypothalamus therefore sacrifices extremities if conditions necessitate and that is why at times we feel needles and pins in our toes and fingers when it extremely cold.This is because the body is maintaining its warmth at the centre ,restricting supply of blood in other outer parts of the body such as our limb ends.In cases of extreme cold,particularly if uncovered skin is exposed to such elements ,the effect can be frostbite.Thus,the flow of blood is reduced with the lack of blood that is warm resulting in not only freezing but also rupturing of tissues (Dowling,2014). List of References Bentley, P.J.2013 Endocrines and Osmoregulation. New York: Springer. Gispen,B.& Greidanus,W. 2014 Hormones, Homeostasis and the Brain. New York: Elsevier. Dowling, S.2014 "What effect does extreme cold have on the human body?" BBC: pg 1-4. Colwell,J.& Goldberg,M.2011 Fecal & Urinary Diversions: Management Principles. New York: Elsevie Health Sciences. Montagna, W.2012 The Structure and Function of Skin 3E. New York: Academic Press,Inc. Fawcett,T & Watson,R. 2014 Pathophysiology, Homeostasis and Nursing. New York: Routledge. Read More