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Physiology Flashcards

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Physiology

50 flashcards

Homeostasis is the maintenance of a relatively stable internal environment within the body by regulating physiological processes.
The main organ systems involved in homeostasis are the nervous system, endocrine system, respiratory system, cardiovascular system, urinary system, digestive system, and integumentary system.
The nervous system, through its sensory and motor components, detects changes in the internal environment and coordinates the responses of other organ systems to maintain homeostasis.
The endocrine system produces hormones that regulate various physiological processes, such as metabolism, growth, and development, to maintain homeostasis.
The respiratory system facilitates gas exchange, providing oxygen for cellular respiration and removing carbon dioxide waste, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
The cardiovascular system transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other essential substances throughout the body, while also removing metabolic wastes, contributing to homeostasis.
The urinary system filters waste products from the blood and regulates fluid balance, electrolyte levels, and acid-base balance in the body, which are crucial for homeostasis.
The digestive system breaks down food into nutrients that can be absorbed and used by cells for energy, growth, and repair, supporting homeostasis.
The integumentary system (skin) protects the body from dehydration, physical damage, and pathogens, while also aiding in temperature regulation, all of which are essential for homeostasis.
Negative feedback is a regulatory mechanism in which a physiological process is counteracted or reversed once the desired state is achieved, helping to maintain homeostasis.
An example of negative feedback is the regulation of blood glucose levels by insulin and glucagon. When blood glucose levels rise, insulin is released to lower them, and when they drop, glucagon is released to raise them.
Maintaining homeostasis is essential for the proper functioning of the body's cells, tissues, and organs, as well as for overall health and survival.
When homeostasis is disrupted, it can lead to various physiological imbalances and potentially result in disease or organ dysfunction.
As individuals age, the body's ability to maintain homeostasis can become impaired due to changes in organ function and regulatory mechanisms, increasing the risk of age-related diseases.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in homeostasis by removing waste, debris, and other unwanted materials from the body's tissues, as well as by supporting the immune system's defense against pathogens.
The muscular system contributes to homeostasis by generating body heat through muscle contraction and facilitating movement, which is essential for various physiological processes, such as respiration and circulation.
The skeletal system provides structural support and protection for organs, stores minerals like calcium and phosphorus, and facilitates movement, all of which are important for maintaining homeostasis.
The reproductive system produces hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, that regulate various physiological processes and contribute to homeostasis, in addition to its primary role in reproduction.
The immune system protects the body against pathogens and other foreign substances, helping to maintain homeostasis by preventing infections and diseases that could disrupt the body's internal balance.
Temperature regulation is essential for homeostasis as it maintains the optimal temperature range for enzymatic reactions and cellular processes to occur efficiently within the body.
The kidneys play a crucial role in homeostasis by filtering waste products from the blood, regulating fluid balance, electrolyte levels, and acid-base balance, as well as producing hormones that regulate blood pressure and red blood cell production.
The liver contributes to homeostasis by metabolizing nutrients, detoxifying harmful substances, producing bile for digestion, and storing and releasing glucose and other essential molecules.
The pancreas produces enzymes for digestion and hormones like insulin and glucagon, which regulate blood sugar levels, contributing to metabolic homeostasis.
The thyroid gland produces hormones that regulate metabolism, growth, and development, playing a crucial role in maintaining homeostasis throughout the body.
The adrenal glands produce hormones like cortisol and adrenaline, which help regulate stress responses, fluid balance, metabolism, and other processes essential for homeostasis.
The pituitary gland, often referred to as the 'master gland,' produces hormones that regulate other endocrine glands, influencing various physiological processes and contributing to overall homeostasis.
The hypothalamus is a crucial region of the brain that regulates many homeostatic mechanisms, including body temperature, hunger, thirst, sleep-wake cycles, and hormone release from the pituitary gland.
The circulatory system, consisting of the heart, blood vessels, and blood, transports oxygen, nutrients, hormones, and other essential substances throughout the body while removing metabolic wastes, playing a vital role in maintaining homeostasis.
The spleen is part of the lymphatic system and contributes to homeostasis by filtering and recycling red blood cells, as well as playing a role in immune function.
The gastrointestinal tract breaks down food, absorbs nutrients, and eliminates waste, contributing to metabolic homeostasis and maintaining fluid and electrolyte balance.
The pineal gland produces the hormone melatonin, which regulates sleep-wake cycles and circadian rhythms, contributing to the maintenance of homeostasis.
The thymus gland is part of the lymphatic system and plays a crucial role in the development and maturation of T cells, which are essential for immune function and maintaining homeostasis.
The parathyroid glands produce parathyroid hormone (PTH), which regulates calcium and phosphate levels in the body, essential for maintaining homeostasis in various physiological processes.
The cardiovascular and respiratory systems work together to ensure adequate gas exchange and delivery of oxygen and removal of carbon dioxide, which is essential for cellular respiration and maintaining homeostasis.
Feedback loops are crucial mechanisms in homeostasis, where a deviation from the desired state triggers a response that either amplifies (positive feedback) or counteracts (negative feedback) the change, helping to maintain the internal environment within acceptable limits.
The integumentary system (skin) helps regulate fluid and electrolyte balance by preventing excessive water loss and regulating perspiration, which is essential for maintaining homeostasis.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in homeostasis by removing waste, debris, and other unwanted materials from the body's tissues, as well as supporting the immune system's defense against pathogens.
The nervous system coordinates with other organ systems through various mechanisms, such as hormonal signals, neural pathways, and reflex arcs, to detect and respond to changes in the internal environment, thereby maintaining homeostasis.
The musculoskeletal system, consisting of muscles and bones, contributes to homeostasis by facilitating movement, providing structural support, and generating body heat through muscle contraction.
The reproductive system produces hormones like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, which not only regulate reproductive functions but also influence various other physiological processes, contributing to overall homeostasis.
Maintaining acid-base balance is crucial for homeostasis, as it ensures that the pH levels in the body's fluids remain within a narrow range, allowing for proper enzyme function and cellular processes.
The endocrine system and the nervous system work together to maintain homeostasis through various mechanisms, such as hormonal signaling and neural regulation, influencing physiological processes like metabolism, growth, and stress responses.
The integumentary system (skin) plays a crucial role in temperature regulation for homeostasis by facilitating heat loss or retention through mechanisms like sweating, vasodilation, and vasoconstriction.
The respiratory system contributes to acid-base balance by regulating the levels of carbon dioxide in the body, which affects the pH of body fluids, thereby playing a role in maintaining homeostasis.
The urinary system plays a crucial role in maintaining electrolyte balance for homeostasis by regulating the levels of substances like sodium, potassium, and chloride in the body through the filtration and reabsorption processes in the kidneys.
The digestive system contributes to energy balance and homeostasis by breaking down food into nutrients that can be absorbed and used for energy production, growth, and repair processes throughout the body.
The lymphatic system plays a crucial role in immune function and homeostasis by transporting lymph, which contains immune cells and substances, throughout the body, aiding in the detection and elimination of pathogens and foreign substances.
The cardiovascular system contributes to maintaining pH balance for homeostasis by transporting respiratory gases (oxygen and carbon dioxide) between the lungs and tissues, as well as by distributing buffers and regulating acid-base balance through various mechanisms.
The skeletal system plays a crucial role in mineral homeostasis by serving as a reservoir for minerals like calcium and phosphorus, which can be released or stored as needed to maintain appropriate levels in the body fluids.
The muscular system contributes to glucose and energy homeostasis by utilizing glucose and other energy sources for muscle contraction and movement, as well as by regulating insulin sensitivity and glucose uptake in skeletal muscles.