Why is homeostasis important to the survival of living things

In animals , the main organs assigned for this task are the kidneys. Aside from the said functions, the kidney also maintains homeostasis by holding essential substances e.

Breathing is an involuntary action and the nervous system helps to keep the homeostasis by ensuring the body gets its most essential oxygen O 2 by proper breathing patterns. The lymphatic system network of tissues and organs to help get rid of toxins from the body maintains homeostasis by getting rid of toxins such as urine, feces, CO 2 , bile, sweat and worn out cells from the body. The way Homeostasis is maintained by the eyes is by contracting the pupil when excess light enters; on contrast, the pupil expands when exposed to darkness to get a sense of the visual.

In an ecological perspective , an ecosystem maintains equilibrium in a different way. An ecosystem in homeostasis occurs when there is a relatively stable number of population of organisms. An example of this occurs when a huge number in the population gets wiped out due to natural disasters of anthropogenic activities.

Based from the aforementioned examples, you may probably already have understood how important homeostasis is. Living organisms need to maintain homeostasis constantly in order to properly grow, work, and survive. In general, homeostasis is essential for normal cell function, and overall balance.

It is important to note that homeostasis occurs naturally when a system is stable and functions correctly. This can be achieved by continuously making systems work together in harmony. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. By using this form you agree with the storage and handling of your data by this website.

Animal Cells Prokaryotic Cells Vs. Eukaryotic Cells Amphibians Vs. Reptiles Anatomy Vs. Physiology Diffusion vs. Osmosis Mitosis Vs. Meiosis Chromosome Vs. Bio Explorer. Biology Questions Concepts.

Table of Contents What is Homeostasis? Examples of Homeostasis 1. Maintenance of Body Temperature 2. Maintenance of Glucose Level 3. For example, the optimum internal temperature for humans is 37 o C In response to the excessive hear of a very hot day, the body will sweat and the evaporation of perspiration will bring about cooling.

During colder times, some heat loss can be compensated for by shivering, which produces extra hear and warms the body. Both responses are part of a homeostatic mechanism designed to maintain body temperature at its optimum value. In each case, a group of specialized cells the sensor detected a change in temperature that was taking the body away from its optimum value of 37 o C.

These cells then triggered a course of action the response that is an attempt to return the body to the desired temperature. If these measures falter or fail, an organism may succumb to disease, or even death. Many homeostatic systems listen for distress signals from the body to know when key variables fall out of their appropriate range.

The nervous system detects these deviations and reports back to a control center, often based in the brain. The control center then directs muscles, organs and glands to correct for the disturbance. The continual loop of disturbance and adjustment is known as "negative feedback," according to the online textbook Anatomy and Physiology. For example, the human body maintains a core temperature of about When overheated, thermosensors in the skin and brain sound an alarm, initiating a chain reaction that directs the body to sweat and flush.

When chilled, the body responds by shivering, and reducing blood circulation to the skin. Similarly, when sodium levels spike, the body signals the kidneys to conserve water and expel excess salt in concentrated urine, according to two NIH-funded studies. Animals will also adjust their behavior in response to negative feedback. For example, when overheated , we may shed a layer of clothing, move into the shade, or drink a cold glass of water.

The concept of negative feedback dates back to Cannon's description of homeostasis in the s, and was the first explanation of how homeostasis works. But in recent decades, many scientists argue that organisms are able to anticipate potential disruptions to homeostasis, rather than only reacting to them after the fact.