Maintaining Homeostasis
The Importance Of Maintaining Homeostasis
Maintaining homeostasis is essential for any organism to remain healthy and stay alive. It is essentially the body's ability to control the environment from the inside. Basically, it is characterized as the way that your internal organs work together in perfect harmony, primarily the brain, kidneys and liver.
Your kidneys have the important responsibility of controlling your blood water level by absorbing substances, regulating salt and excreting urea, while the liver metabolizes toxic substances and stabilizes carbohydrate metabolism. Then, the ringleader to all of the many functions that takes place in your body is your brain. It is responsible for controlling your autonomic nervous system as well as your endocrine system which is vitally important for maintaining homeostasis.
How It All Works
The brain, liver and kidneys are responsible for maintaining homeostasis by regulating the iron content in your blood, regulating your body temperature, composition of blood and producing energy.
- Iron – This is a vital component for your overall well-being however, this can also be a potentially toxic substance if not controlled. Iron is important for hemoglobin and red blood cells so a deficiency can cause anemia. Although, just as iron deficiencies can make it hard for your body to maintain perfect health, an overdose can cause severe problems as well. Human iron metabolism is vital for maintaining homeostasis.
- Temperature – Being warm blooded beings, the human body maintains a fairly constant body temperature. This is the most important homeostasis aspect. When the temperature around you is cold, your body reacts and maintains your goal temperature by causing your to shiver and when temperatures are hot, you are designed to sweat. Exercising and eating right is helpful to maintaining this equilibrium. It is easiest to recognize the process of maintaining homeostasis by exercising and then noticing how your body sweats to help cool you down.
- Energy – Internal heat produced + storage + external work = energy intake. Energy includes the way that the digestive system functions as well.
Composition Of Blood
There are many components to understand when it comes to your blood circulation. Blood contains minerals, glucose and fats and it plays many rolls in maintaining homeostasis.
- Osmoregulation prevents bodily fluids from becoming overly diluted or concentrated.
- Stabilizes your blood pressure by controlling any extra cellular volume by your renal angiotensin hormonal system.
- Maintains calcium levels.
- Your kidneys regulate acid content by keeping close tabs on blood plasma.
- Fluid balance in your body is regulated by your kidneys. If there is too much fluid in your blood, there is an increase in anti-diuretic hormones and if your blood is fuel deficient, there are less of these hormones excreted. If your blood contains high carbon levels it becomes acidic.
- Homeostasis is very important in blood composition. This is the process that stops excessive bleeding by accumulating platelets that causes your blood to clot in case of severe injury.
Importance Of Maintaining Homeostasis
If your body cannot maintain its perfect harmonic balance, you will eventually die. When this occurs it is referred to as homeostatic imbalance. When destructive positive mechanisms in your body takes over, conditions like heart attacks and strokes can occur. Imbalances can also lead to diabetes, dehydration, hyperglycemia and hypoglycemia.
It is extremely important to note that this is a good reason why your body needs an adequate amount of sleep every night, preferably six to eight hours. Sleeping is essential to achieving the homeostatic balance in your body. It is recommended when possible to have a consistent sleeping schedule where you go to sleep and wake up at the same time so that your body can have a cycle to look forward to every night. Every organ and bodily function plays its key role in the production of your well-being.