4/13/09 Homeostasis Maintaining a stable environment Homeostasis • Process by which organisms keep internal conditions relatively constant despite changes in external environments. • Endocrine and Nervous Systems play the biggest parts 1 4/13/09 Non‐Living Example • Temp drops below a set point • Thermostat clicks on furnace • Furnace heats house • Temp rises above a set temp • Thermostat clicks off furnace So the temperature is kept within a narrow range. Parts of Homeostasis • Variable – what is being balanced • Sensor – the part that tells if there is a good balance • Integrator – sends message to fix problem • Effector – Gets message & fixes problem 2 4/13/09 Feedback Inhibition (negative feedback) What is the variable? What is the sensor? What is the integrator? What is the effector? 3 4/13/09 Negative Feedback: Regulation of the Endocrine System What is the variable? What is the sensor? What is the integrator? What is the effector? 4