What is Homeostasis?

What is Homeostasis?

Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a reasonably stable internal environment that is necessary for overall function and survival of living organisms. Homeostasis is able to maintain the function of an organism by constantly adjusting to the change in conditions caused by external and internal stimuli, stabilising internal conditions suitable for survival. In humans it is carried out by the whole body, reaching every cell and organ, the body being able to detect changes in internal conditions and perform certain adjustments to account for the changes. If the body did not adjust to the changes in the internal environment the enzymes allowing functionality would stop performing prohibiting the internal organs to function correctly. Some of the body’s main uses of homeostasis are maintaining the internal temperature (Thermoregulation), the amount of water within the body (Osmoregulation) and the amount of glucose within the body (blood glucose levels). These forms of homeostasis are physiological adaption's, maintaining the internal conditions by fluctuating in accordance to a change provided by stimuli.

Homeostasis controls an internal environment through a homeostatic control system. Homeostatic control systems consist of three main components, the receptor, control centre and the effector. The receptor senses or detects the change in the internal environment, measures it and then reports it to the control centre, the control centre evaluates the report from the receptor and dictates whether change is required and what action is to be taken. After the change is detected and measured the effectors apply the actions necessary or initiate a response to modify the environment and account for the change, maintai...

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...aori population in comparison the quality given to Non-Maori residents.

The rising figures are also given cause to the increasing trend of obesity in New Zealand population, most severely affecting the Maori and Pacific Island cultures. Unhealthy eating habits and poor lifestyles are the main causes to the spike in recent years, an avoidance of certain foods and change in diet accompanied by regular exercise are the most attainable treatment to avoid full onset type two diabetes. With a healthy diet and physical exercise, insulin resistance is reduced and glucose levels will drop as cells recognise when the level of uptake is increased by identifying the message relayed by insulin. Acknowledgment of the factors leading to type two diabetes will reduce the mortality rate and hopefully defy the expectance of a rise in diagnosis of type two diabetes in New Zealand.