3.

4 Homeostasis in Humans

explain the necessity of maintaining optional physical and

chemical conditions in the internal environment
State the meaning of homeostasis
Relate changes in blood osmotic pressure to
urine output
Describe the formation of urine and relate
the formation of urine
Describe briefly the mechanism of osmoregulation
Predict the consequences of impaired kidney
function
Describe the regulation of blood sugar level.
Describe the regulation of body temperature
Conceptualise the homeostasis

to ensure the physiology processes in the body can proceed at

optimum rates in order to promote harmonious growth and
development
Homeostasis : process of maintaining the internal environment
of the body at constant level.
Internal environment :
i. Physical Factor: body temperature ; blood pressure
ii. Chemical Factor : partial pressure of oxygen and carbon dioxide
The organs involved in maintaining the internal environment:
i. kidney (blood osmotic pressure)
ii. Skin (temperature)
iii. Pancreas (blood sugar level)

water content of the blood determines the blood osmotic

pressure.
osmotic pressure of blood increases; Sweating (body losses water)
More water is reabsorbed into the blood by the kidney
decreasing the amount of urine eliminated.
Osmotic pressure is low : less water reabsorb into the blood
stream-increase the volume of urine output

Kidneys is are organs that

filter wastes from the blood
and excrete them along with
water, as urine.
has two distinct regions
namely the outer renal cortex
and the inner renal medulla
Renal artery : supplies
oxygenated blood and
nutrients to the kidneys
Renal veins: carries filtered
blood from the kidneys to the
body.
Function :
a. filter blood and form urine
b. carry out osmoregulation

Nephrons

is the fucntional unit of the kidneys

Each kidney consists of about one million nephrons
Nephron consist of :
1. Glomerus
2. Bowmans Capsule
3. renal convulated tubule
Renal tubule is made up of the :
1. proximal convulated tubule
2. loop of Henle
3. distal convulated tubule
Formation of urine involved three process namely:
1. Ultrafiltration
2. Reabsortion
3. Secretion

1. Ultrafiltration

Take place in Bowmans capsule

Blood entering the glomerulus under high pressure

because the afferent arteriole has large diameter
than efferent arteriole.

The high pressure forces fluid through the epithelial

cells of the blood capillaries and the cell of the
Bowmans capsular space.

Only molecules of a certain size can pass through

The fluid enters the capsular space is known as

Glomerular filtrate

1. reabsorption
Part of nephron

Substance reabsorbed

Process involved

Proximal convoluted
tubule

Glucose and amino acid

Active transport

water

Osmosis

Sodium ions

Active transport

Chloride ions

Passive transport

Sodium and chloride ions

Active Transport

water

Osmosis

water

Osmosis

Sodium chloride

Active transport

Water

Osmosis

Loop of Henle
Distal concoluted
tubule
Collecting duct

Secretion

is a process in which waste and excess substances

are secreted into the renal tubule
Takes place in the distal convoluted tubule and collecting
ducts by passive diffusion and active transport
Substance that are secreted into the renal tubule are
hydrogen ions, potassium ions, ammonia, urea, creatinine,
toxins and certain drugs.
Secretions help to :
i. increase the rate of waste removal from the body
ii. Regulate blood levels of a certain ions such as hydrogen
and potassium ions

Process of regulating the salt and water balance

in the body to maintain blood osmotic pressure
Blood osmotic pressure is high when there is
excess salt and less water in the blood.
Blood osmotic pressure is low whenthere is more
water and less salt in the blood.
Osmoregulation control by two hormones (ADH
and aldosterone) that work through the negative
feedback mechanism
ADH : control the reabsoption of water
Aldosterone : control the absorption of the salt.