Homeostasis

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Elaine’s reaction to the high winds and extreme cold is because of her body maintaining homeostasis. Homeostasis is the ability of the human body to maintain its internal environment at equilibrium, or in other terms, to keep the body at a constant temperature. This ability is regulated by the circulatory systems, endocrine systems, and the nervous system, because of how they organize the various functions in the human body’s system. When the body maintains homeostasis, it controls blood pressure, body temperature, pH, and glucose concentration. All four of these functions involve the use of the hypothalamus. The hypothalamus manages blood pressure and breathing rates because of its regulation over the medulla oblongata. It is also the location of the thermostat of the body, because it has the administrative center for body temperature. The hypothalamus also has control over certain glands due to the manufacturing of hypothalamic-releasing factors and release-inhibiting factors. Such glands include the direct control of the pituitary gland, and the indirect control on secretions of other glands, such as the thyroid and adrenal cortex. (mhhe)

The body has different responses that maintain internal equilibrium. These responses are conducted by thermoreceptors. Thermoreceptors are neurons in the skin used to detect variances in temperature. The responses are in regard to two short-term and one long-term measure. The first response, which is in regard to the short-term, includes the contraction of the vascular smooth muscle. This will cause blood vessels to constrict, thus conserving heat for the body’s internal enviorment. The second short-term response causes skeletal muscles to involuntarily contract, like shivering...

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...tive tissue. The bones themselves are held together by ligaments (flexible bands of connective tissue), which provide stability to the knee joint. There are 4 main types of ligaments: the anterior cruciate ligament(ACL), the posterior cruciate ligament (PCL), the medial collateral ligament (MCL), and the lateral collateral ligament (LCL). Each of these ligaments has specific functions that limit movements of the knee bones. The ACL restrains the femur from sliding backward on the tibia. The PCL restrains the femur from sliding forward on the tibia. And the MCL and LCL limit the side-ways motion of the femur. There are also two pieces of cartilage known as the medial and lateral menisci. These pieces of cartilage are c-shaped and act as a cushion between the femur and tibia. Fluid-filled sacs, also known as bursae, which helps the knee move smoothly. (webmd)

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