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Adaptations for Homeostasis

Homeostasis can cause problems when somebody is trying to lose weight. The body adjusts to the particular bodily weight. If a person tries to lose weight by taking in fewer calories, the body responds by sending signals that the body is tired, discouraging the person from using up the remaining energy stored in the body. Fortunately, those who continually diet and exercise can cause the body to adapt to this new situation.

  1. Maintaining Homeostasis

    • The human body must maintain homeostasis. However, there are ways in which the environment can affect homeostasis. For example, a person can consume a large quantity of salt, which would hypothetically lead to salt overload, but the human body can adjust how it functions in response to this large intake of sodium by increasing the sensation of thirst, so the person consumes more liquids as a way to dilute the salt content in the body. People urinate based on how much water they consume. When somebody consumes a lot of water, the body urinates more to maintain homeostasis.

    Internal Equilibrium

    • The human body must maintain an internal equilibrium. Homeostasis refers to how the body does that in the short term. This equilibrium includes the quantity of oxygen and glucose contained in the blood, and the execration of waste products. The body seeks to maintain a consistent state so that it functions properly. When something happens to the body, it responds by trying to cause the opposite effect so no change occurs. Homeostasis is a universal feature of all living organisms, allowing them to manage concentrations of basic components, such as molecules and ions. Death often occurs when the body fails to maintain homeostasis.

    Long-Term Adaptations

    • Adaptations are often a long-term type of homeostasis. For example, people who live in higher elevations have a larger number of blood cells because there is less oxygen, so the body needs more blood cells to carry a sufficient amount of oxygen throughout the body. Certain conditions that occur throughout a person's life, such as childhood growth and pregnancy, change homeostasis, as the body adapts to new conditions.

    Biological Systems

    • Cells have a set point at which they are supposed to be operating, which they use as a reference point. These cells then send the signal that is proportional to the deviation of the biological system. Organisms also have subsystems that automatically oppose different stimuli, and the cell is not required to send the signal in response to the change. Subsystems include tissues enzymes and organs.

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