This definitions covers Key Definitions within Homeostasis Intro for GCSE Biology. Topic 1: Homeostasis Intro It is section 7 of 13 in this topic. Make sure you can use the exact wording confidently, because definition marks are often lost through vague language.
Topic position
Section 7 of 13
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
📖 Key Definitions
Homeostasis: The regulation of the internal conditions of a cell or organism to maintain optimum conditions for function, in response to internal and external changes.
Internal environment: The conditions inside the body (temperature, blood glucose, water balance, pH) that must be kept within a narrow range for cells and enzymes to function properly.
Receptor: A cell or organ that detects a change (stimulus) in the internal or external environment and sends a signal to the coordination centre.
Coordination centre: The component of a control system (e.g. brain, spinal cord, pancreas) that receives and processes information from receptors and sends instructions to effectors.
Effector: A muscle or gland that responds to instructions from the coordination centre, producing a response that corrects the detected change.
Negative feedback: A control mechanism in which a change from the normal level triggers a response that opposes and reverses the original change, restoring conditions to normal.
Stimulus: A detectable change in the internal or external environment that triggers a response from a receptor.
Optimum conditions: The specific temperature and pH at which an enzyme (or cellular process) works at its maximum efficiency.