Homeostasis Fever & Vomiting Eeeeewwww, gross!!!!! Is it ever good to feel bad? 2.5

Homeostasis Everyone has been sick before In your lab-book: write about one particular instance where you were (or became) sick/ill Why does this memory stand out?

Although it may not seem like it, these two body responses are normal, healthy and useful! Fever and vomiting are your body’s response to certain internal stimuli Your body is trying to maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment… (BALANCE / EQUILIBRIUM) Hunger, thirst, sweating, shivering are other examples. Fever and Vomiting: Why o Why???

You may call it something else: throw-up, barf, upchuck, hurl, puke... But the actual term is emesis. Whatever you call it, it’s all the same: a mix of soggy, half-digested food along with stomach mucus, saliva, stomach acids and other materials. What is vomit???

There are many reasons, including: food poisoning, illness, feeling scared or nervous, eating too much, pregnancy, and motion sickness are a few. Whatever the reason, warning signals are sent to a part of your brain (called the emetic center). The brain tells your body to quickly get rid of whatever is upsetting you… and you vomit. Why do we vomit???

Normally the muscles in your throat and stomach work to move food down and through your digestive system, but when you’re sick… the muscles of your stomach and throat work in reverse, pushing food back towards the mouth to get rid of it How does it happen???

Even though it’s pretty gross and smelly, most people feel much better after vomiting. If you’re lucky, most of the bad stuff is gone, and your body can go back to normal. After we vomit???

When the body temperature rises above normal (98.6 o F), you have a fever. In the very center of your brain is the hypothalamus. It is like a thermostat, constantly working to maintain your correct body temperature. What is a fever???

Teacher Domain Body Control Center Body Heat Regulation

Many things can cause your temperature to rise. Many times fevers occur when your body’s immune response is triggered by pyrogens (fever-producing substances). Sources of pyrogens can include: viruses, bacteria, fungi, drugs, toxins Examples include: cold, flu, ear infections, etc. Why do we get a fever???

When the body senses pyrogens, the hypothalamus raises the body temperature on purpose. Shivering may also occur- the muscle action produces more heat. The extra heat often weakens or destroys the pyrogens. Fever video clip from teachers domain How does a fever happen???

Up to o F- low grade fever Between 101 o F and 102 o F- mild fever Between 102 o F and 103 o F- moderate fever Anything above 104 o F- high fever High fevers for extended time periods can cause brain damage and other problems How hot can it get???

Once the fever-producing agents are gone, the hypothalamus will reset your body temperature back to normal. When your fever “breaks”, you may start to feel warm and you may sweat. Don’t worry, these are signs that things are returning to normal. After a fever???

You may feel lousy, but your body is trying to help. Stimuli are things that cause an organism to perform an activity or to change in some way. Fever and vomiting are reactions- things that occur in response to stimuli Fever and Vomiting: Why o Why???