7.3 Homeostasis

How Does Your Body Stay in Balance??? One word: HOMEOSTASIS!!! Homeostasis is when all of your body systems work together to keep the body in balance. 1. Regulating temperature- How does your body regulate temperature? When you’re cold? When you’re hot? Cold- by shivering Hot- by sweating 2. Meeting Energy Needs- If your body needs more energy, hormones from the endocrine system signal the nervous system to make you feel hungry. After you eat, other hormones, signal your brain to make you feel full! Pretty cool!

Maintaining water balance: Life depends on water!!!! If your body needs more water, you feel thirsty. Excess water leaves your body through your excretory system when you sweat, exhale, and urinate. Keeping your balance: Did you know that your ears keep you in balance??? Structures in your inner ear sense the position of your head. They send this information to your brain. If your brain senses that you are losing your balance, it sends messages to your muscles to move in ways to keep you steady! Responding to stress: stress is the reaction of getting your body ready to handle a threatening situation. It is called “Fight or Flight” system.

Complete the illustration on pp in your textbook.