This topic summary covers Knowledge Organiser within Homeostasis Intro for GCSE Biology. Topic 1: Homeostasis Intro It is section 15 of 16 in this topic. Use this topic summary to connect the idea to the wider topic before moving on to questions and flashcards.
Topic position
Section 15 of 16
Practice
15 questions
Recall
20 flashcards
Knowledge Organiser
Key Terms
- Homeostasis — regulation of internal conditions within optimum range
- Receptor — detects stimulus/change
- Coordination centre — brain, spinal cord, or gland; processes signals
- Effector — muscle or gland; carries out response
- Negative feedback — response opposes original change
- Stimulus — detectable change that triggers a response
Must-Know Facts
- Three key variables controlled: temperature (37°C), blood glucose, water levels
- Negative feedback pathway: stimulus → receptor → coordination centre → effector → response → return to normal
- Response always opposes the original change (that is what makes it "negative")
- Different coordination centres handle different variables: hypothalamus (temperature), pancreas (blood glucose), kidneys (water)
- Homeostasis maintains an optimal range, not a single fixed value
- Enzymes function within narrow temperature (37°C) and pH ranges — homeostasis keeps conditions within these ranges