Answer:
Homeostasis may be defined as the maintenance of the internal conditions of body at equilibrium, despite changes in the external environment.
Examples:
1. The core temperature of human body remains at about 37ยฐC despite fluctuations in the
surrounding temperature.
2. The blood glucose level remains about lg per liter despite eating a meal rich in carbohydrates.
Need of homeostasis:
An organism’s body needs homeostasis because:
1. Body cells need the internal environment in which conditions do not change much.
2. Stable internal conditions are important for the efficient functioning of enzymes.
Processes helping in homeostasis
1. Osmoregulation
Definition
It is maintenance of the amounts of water and salts in body fluids (i.e. blood and tissue fluids).:
Effect of osmoregulation
Relative amount of water and salts in body fluids and inside cells control the processes of diffusion and osmosis, which are essential for the functioning of cells.
2. Thermoregulation Definition
The maintenance of internal body temperature is called thermoregulation.
Effect of thermoregulation
The enzymes of body work best at particular temperatures (optimum temperature). Any change in body temperature may affect the functioning of enzymes.
3. Excretion
Definition
Excretion is also a process of homeostasis. In this process, the metabolic wastes are eliminated from body to maintain the internal conditions at equilibrium.
Metabolic wastes
Metabolic waste means any material that is produced during body metabolism and that may harm the body