The kidneys are important organs for maintaining blood water potential and excreting waste products from the blood. In this article, we will look at the structure of the kidneys and how substances are filtered out and reabsorbed into the blood using ultrafiltration and selective reabsorption. Kidney structure The kidneys have an outer layer called the... Continue Reading →
In the last article we looked at how the body uses negative feedback mechanisms to control the concentration of glucose in the blood. Diabetes mellitus is a condition where these feedback systems fail and blood glucose is not controlled, with potentially fatal consequences if left untreated. In this article we will look at the two... Continue Reading →
Control of blood glucose is very important. Sufficient glucose must be delivered to cells for respiration, but too much glucose can eventually result in coma or even death. The concentration of glucose is affected by factors such as eating and exercise, and must be brought back to the normal level of about 4mmol/L to 5.5mmol/L.... Continue Reading →
Control of body temperature is the first example of homeostasis we will look at in this series. For humans, normal body temperature is 37°C. It is important to maintain this temperature as it is the optimum temperature for enzymes involved in many metabolic processes such as respiration. Humans are endotherms, meaning that they control their... Continue Reading →
Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment. The conditions inside the body must be stable so that cells can function properly. For example, if the temperature or pH are too high, enzymes can become denatured. It is also important to maintain blood glucose concentration and water potential, which we will look at in... Continue Reading →
