Bitesize GCSE Biology - Series 4: Homeostasis and Response

Episode 1: Homeostasis

Overview

• Topic: Homeostasis
• Duration: 10 minutes
• Available: Over a year
• Main Idea: The maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body.

Key Points

• Homeostasis is crucial for maintaining a stable internal environment in organisms.
• It ensures that various factors such as temperature, pH, and solute concentration remain within narrow limits.
• Homeostasis is essential for the proper functioning of cells and, consequently, the entire organism.

Mechanisms of Homeostasis

• Feedback Systems: Involves sensors, control center, and effectors.
  • Negative Feedback: Helps to reverse a change, bringing it back to the normal set point.
  • Positive Feedback: Amplifies a change, leading to an even greater change in the same direction.
• Examples: Regulation of body temperature, blood glucose levels, and water balance.

Importance of Homeostasis

• Health: Prevents damage to body systems and maintains optimal conditions for enzyme action.
• Adaptation: Enables organisms to adapt to changing environmental conditions.

Related Episodes

• Episode 2: The Human Nervous System
• Episode 3: The Human Endocrine System
• Episode 4: Blood Glucose
• Episode 5: Hormones and the Menstrual Cycle
• Episode 6: The Brain and Eye
• Episode 7: Water and Nitrogen Balance
• Episode 8: Plant Hormones

Additional Resources

• More Episodes
• Programme Website