Atom (C, H, N, O, P, S)
↓ Molecule (H
2
O)
↓ Cell Organelle
↓ Cell
↓ Tissue (ex. Muscle)
↓ Organ (ex. Stomach)
↓ Organ System (ex. Digestive)
Organism
Almost every level is working to maintain…

• Homeo – means “same”
• -stasis – means “state of”
• Therefore, homeostasis is an organism’s ability to keep its internal conditions the same in order to survive.

• Internal conditions must be kept at a constant state so that your cells, cell parts, tissues, and organs can properly function.

• Maintained on cellular level by water in cells (water resists changes in temperature)
• Maintained on body level by sweating and shivering

There are several ways in which your body can lose water:
• In exhaled air.
• By evaporation through moist surfaces like the cornea (eye)
• In sweat.
• In faeces.
• By lactation.
• In vomit.
• Spitting.
• Urination.

Water gain:
There are three ways in which your body gets water:
• Drinking.
• Water content of food.
• Tissue respiration.

• Body has chemicals called buffers that keep pH stable
• Some body fluids need to be:
– Acidic – stomach acid (gastric juice), urine
– Basic – intestinal fluid, blood

pH Demonstration: What is the pH of some items found in your home? How could you find out?

• Body maintains the correct amount of sugar
(glucose) in the blood by eating and digesting food, then using and storing the products
• Diabetes is a disease associated with the inability to control blood glucose levels

• Blood sugar too high:
Hyperglycemia-
• Extreme thirst
• Having to urinate often
• Dry skin
• Hunger
• Blurred vision
• Drowsiness
• Wounds that are slow to heal
*High risk of diabetes if this is frequent and not controlled.
• Blood sugar too low:
Hypoglycemia-
• Shaking
• Fast heartbeat
• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Feeling anxious
• Hunger
• Vision problems
• Weakness or feeling very tired
• Headache
• Feeling irritable

Blood sugar levels are controlled by hormones-
Insulin : decreases blood glucose levels
Glucagon : increases blood glucose levels

Some hormones and their effects on body systems

• Hormones also affect:
– Heart Rate
– Breathing Rate
– Fat Deposition
– Calcium Uptake
• Breathing controls amount of oxygen and carbon dioxide in your body. If too much carbon dioxide, the CO
2 is converted to HCO which leads to acidosis…
3
–
(Carbonic Acid)

• Organisms are 70 – 95% water
• Water is needed for maintaining correct temperature and transporting molecules throughout the body
• However, too much water can be fatal
• The cell maintains its correct water balance
• Body maintains water balance primarily through excretory system (by producing urine)

Water is important to homeostasis because: a. Makes a good insulator b. Resists temperature change
- it has a high specific heat capacity!
c. Universal solvent
- many substances dissolve in it d. Coolant

What happens if you drink too much beer?
Beer contains alcohol which is a diuretic. Tea also contains a diuretic.
Diuretics are the opposite of anti-diuretics. The alcohol in your beer makes you produce lots of urine and this results in your blood becoming very concentrated. You are likely to end up with a "hangover" if you drink too much alcohol. The nasty feeling in your head is caused by the effect of the very concentrated blood on your brain cells. You can stop yourself from becoming too dehydrated by drinking lots of water. If you know that you have had too much beer, drink lots of water before you go to bed. You will have to get up in the middle of the night to get rid of all this extra water; after you have been to the "loo", drink some more water.
Yes, you will have to get up again but you are less likely to end up dehydrated and might not feel so bad in the morning.
If you are really clever, you will not drink too much beer in the first place!