Name________________________________ Block__________ Date___________________
12.1-Human Body Systems & Maintaining Homeostasis Research & Essay
Homeostasis: the maintenance of stable internal conditions in spite of changes in the external environment.
Your task:
Choose a focus question and research the general function of the body systems associated with it. Then write a
4 paragraph essay describing how at least 3 different body systems work together to maintain homeostasis in the
body. You may wish to use one of the focus questions, below, to frame your essay or you can choose a
situation of your own in which body systems act together to maintain a constant internal environment.
Focus questions:
❒ How does the body regulate a constant internal temperature (98.60F) whether exercising on a hot summer day or
waiting for the bus on a cold winter morning? (hint: circulatory, integumentary, muscular, nervous systems)
❒ How does the body regulate blood oxygen and carbon dioxide levels whether sprinting in a soccer game or
watching T.V.? (hint: circulatory, respiratory, nervous, muscular systems)
❒ How does the body keep harmful germs out and kill those that enter so that it doesn’t become sick? (hint:
immune, circulatory, integumentary, endocrine, nervous, and even digestive systems)
❒ How does the body provide energy and nutrients to all 100 Trillion cells? (hint: digestive, circulatory, muscular,
and endocrine systems)
Research: Complete the following table using the Inner Body Website: http://www.innerbody.com/
2.____________
1.____________
Body
System
Major Structures
Summary of Overall Function(s)
3.____________
Essay Outline & Grading Rubric:
3
2
1
0
Introductory
Paragraph
(anecdotal:
story-like)
Paragraph tells a brief story
to hook the reader and
introduce the body
condition(s) that need to be
maintained in order to live
and ends with a question
such as “How does the
body regulate ___”
Paragraph tells a brief story
to hook the reader and
introduce the body
condition(s) that need to be
maintained in order to live.
Does not lead into next
paragraphs with a question
or smooth transition.
Introductory paragraph only
states the body condition
that must be regulated but
does not have a catchy
anecdotal story to hook the
reader.
Is not present or
otherwise unreadable.
First Body
system
Paragraph states the body
system and thoroughly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system and briefly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system but doesn’t describe
it’s role in maintaining
homeostasis.
Body system is not
mentioned.
Second Body
system
Paragraph states the body
system and thoroughly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system and briefly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system but doesn’t describe
it’s role in maintaining
homeostasis.
Body system is not
mentioned.
Third Body
system
Paragraph states the body
system and thoroughly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system and briefly
describes it’s role in
maintaining homeostasis.
Paragraph states the body
system but doesn’t describe
it’s role in maintaining
homeostasis.
Body system is not
mentioned.
Spelling,
Grammar,
overall
readability
Essay is typed and neatly
organized in paragraphs.
Contains fewer than 3
spelling or grammar errors
Essay is typed and neatly
organized in paragraphs
but contains 4-8 spelling or
grammar errors
Essay is hand-written
and/or not well organized in
paragraphs and/or contains
more than 8
spelling/grammar errors
Essay is illegible.
Sample Anecdotal Introduction (short story):
It’s 7:00am and my alarm just rang, signaling the start of the day. I jump out of bed and grab a quick shower
before heading downstairs to eat breakfast. My stomach growls because I haven’t eaten in 12 hours so I slice a
bagel and slather it with peanut butter. Before I know it, it’s 7:45 so I grab my backpack and head out the door.
As I walk to school I think to myself: how does the body get the energy and nutrients from my bagel to all 100
Trillion cells?
The first body system that aids in maintaining a constant energy supply for all of my cells is the digestive system.
The general function of the digestive system is to……. The small intestine works to absorb most of the nutrients
from my food after it has been mashed up by the stomach. From the small intestine, these nutrients enter into
the bloodstream through the process of diffusion……..