Homeostasis maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action throughout the body, as well as all cell functions. It is the maintenance of a constant internal environment despite changes in internal and external conditions. In the human body, these include the control of: blood glucose concentration.

The Blood Vessels Blood vessels such as arteries, veins, and capillaries can dilate and constrict to help the body maintain homeostasis. When sensors in the body detect an increase in core temperature, vessels dilate to allow more blood to pass through them which releases the excess heat.

What is another word for homeostasis?

Maintaining the essential internal parameters relatively constant is the phrase that best describes the process of homeostasis.

Generally, there are three types of homeostatic regulation in the body, which are:

• Thermoregulation. Thermoregulation is the process occurring inside the body that is responsible for maintaining the core temperature of the body.
• Osmoregulation.
• Chemical regulation.

Include the chances for complete recovery, if there is any permanent loss of function, or possibility of death.

• Diabetes.
• Graves’ disease.
• Hypothermia or Hyperthermia.
• Dehydration.
• Hypertension.
• Hemochromatosis.
• Parathyroid disorders (calcium levels in blood)
• Myocardial infarction (heart attack)

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 or toxicity. Toxicity occurs when cells have an excess of a toxin that poisons the cell.

Many diseases are a result of homeostatic imbalance, an inability of the body to restore a functional, stable internal environment. Aging is a source of homeostatic imbalance as the control mechanisms of the feedback loops lose their efficiency, which can cause heart failure.

Harmful Bacteria Bacteria can also disrupt homeostasis in your body, and can make you sick. Any substance that causes disease is called a pathogen. Your body reacts to pathogens to try and maintain homeostasis, and certain symptoms will appear as your body tries to get back on track.

Bacterial evolution refers to the heritable genetic changes that a bacterium accumulates during its life time, which can arise from adaptations in response to environmental changes or the immune response of the host. Because of their short generation times and large population sizes, bacteria can evolve rapidly.

The immune response plays an important role in maintaining homeostasis by preparing the body to fight off infection, and to help the healing process. During infection, the immune system will cause the body to develop a fever and an increase in blood flow to bring oxygen and other immune cells to where the infection is.

When the heart becomes damaged, such as after a heart attack, it may not be able to maintain adequate flow. This causes blood pressure to fall, initiating homeostatic feedback loops to try to bring blood pressure (and cardiac output) back to normal. One way that the heart can become damaged is through a heart attack.

Heart disease affects the respiratory system by causing irregularities in the way fluid is carried away from the lungs. Looking after your heart health is extremely important for your whole body, especially your lungs. Find out more.

At lower blood pressures, the degree of stretch is lower and the rate of firing is slower. When the cardiovascular center in the medulla oblongata receives this input, it triggers a reflex that maintains homeostasis.

The bacterial flora in the intestines are essential to homeostasis in the body. They not only break down food so the nutrients can be absorbed, they produce vitamins like biotin and vitamin K and guard against harmful bacteria that enter the system.

Intestinal homeostasis depends on a physical separation of the majority of intestinal microbiota from the mammalian immune system, and this is accomplished through numerous biophysical and biochemical barriers, such as the production of tight junctions, antimicrobial proteins, and mucus by the host epithelium.

However, the organ systems also work together to help the body maintain homeostasis. For example, the cardiovascular, urinary, and lymphatic systems all help the body control water balance. If body temperature rises, blood vessels in the skin dilate, allowing more blood to flow near the skin’s surface.

Talk with your doctor if you think you might have one of these 10 common digestive disorders.

• Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD)
• Peptic Ulcer Disease (PUD) and Gastritis.
• Stomach Flu.
• Gluten Sensitivity and Celiac Disease.
• Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD)
• Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
• Constipation.
• Hemorrhoids.