The importance of balance in nature and in the living conditions of all the creatures is extremely high. This balance is based on a multitude of parameters, the alteration of which may cause serious disruptions in the life cycles and cause irreparable adverse outcomes. The scientific term used to describe this state of the internal biological balance and harmony of the living beings is homeostasis. This paper attempts to provide a clear definition to the term, its detailed explanation, and several examples of what it indicates, how it can be disrupted, and what consequences may occur as a result.
The roots of the word “homeostasis” come from the Greek language. The original meaning of this word is “same”. To date, this term stands for the processes all the living beings employ in order to maintain the internal conditions they require for the survival. In other words, homeostasis refers to stability in the vital biological environments within the bodies of the living things.
The textbook Concepts of Biology (2013) explains homeostasis as a process of self-regulation that is conducted on a regular basis by the bodies of animals when their internal organs constantly adjust to the changing external conditions such as atmospheric pressure or temperature. Some of the adjustments done by the internal organs are demonstrated by the changing water content and the levels of blood glucose and calcium. Homeostasis is an ongoing process as the animal body is in constant interaction with the external conditions and their changes. There are two key processes that comprise homeostasis of a body – thermoregulation and osmoregulation (Concepts of Biology, 2013).
Homeostasis can be summarized as a body’s attempt to return to the set point of the cells where the condition is in equilibrium. As soon as certain external influences lead to the internal fluctuations from the set point, the organs automatically begin to adjust to preserve the stability of the cells. In terms of thermoregulation, all animals can be divided into endotherms (the ones who maintain c constant body temperature) and ectotherms (the ones who do not have the capacity to maintain a steady body temperature under the changing conditions).
Ectotherms use the sun to make their bodies warm; the examples of such animals are fish and reptiles. Endotherms have the capacity to produce heat of their own; the examples are mammals and birds. The thermoregulation may be facilitated by the nervous system of the animals via such processes as vasodilation (the relaxation of the smooth muscles of the arteries that causes their opening up to the skin) or vasoconstriction (the contraction of the smooth muscles of the arteries that produces their narrowing) (Concepts of Biology, 2013).
Some other processes that occur as the thermoregulation mechanisms are sweating, heavy breathing, and shivering. In addition, responding to the changes in external temperature, the animals show behavioral reactions that occur in order to find the balanced body temperature; they are expressed in the search for warmer or cooler places to stay in for the maintenance of ideal thermal conditions.
To sum up, the ultimate biological goal of any living being is to survive. For this purpose, they are to maintain normal internal conditions that prevent the destabilization of their organs. The bodies of animals have the capacity to adjust to the external influences such as temperature and maintain balanced internal conditions with the help of thermoregulation. A body’s ability to regulate itself and maintain the stability of cells is known as homeostasis.
Reference
Concepts of Biology. (2013). Houston, TX: OpenStax College.