
homeo = same or unchanged
›

stasis = to remain still or steady
›

Greek homoio-, combining form of hómoios similar, like
Greek, from sta- base of histanai 'to stand‘ - a period or state of inactivity or
equilibrium
involves a control system by which an
animal maintains a stable internal
environment, despite fluctuations in their
environment.
To find out how homeostasis works:
 To explore how and why the human
animal maintains a stable internal
environment,
 including how a specific disruption results
in responses within a control system to reestablish a stable internal environment
the adaptive advantage for humans of
their various homeostatic control systems
 the biochemical and biophysical
processes underpinning each mechanism

› (e.g. equilibrium reactions, changes in
membrane permeability, metabolic
pathways).

What happens when the control system
breaks down completely due to extreme
environmental factors?
› ie when the control system cannot
re-establish the homeostatic balance
body temperature
 blood pressure
 osmotic balance
 level of blood glucose
 levels and balance of respiratory gases
in tissues.

What environmental factors might
affect the homeostatic control system?
 External influences such as:

› exposure to extreme environmental
conditions ,
› disease or infection,
› drugs or toxins,

Internal influences such as:
› genetic conditions or metabolic disorders
purpose of the system
 components of the system
 mechanism of the system (how it
responds to being disrupted within a
normal range of environmental
fluctuations)
 possible effect of extreme disruption to
the system by internal or external
influences, resulting in its breakdown.
