Homeostasis in humans - Essay Example

Core to this is the human body’s management of a variety of highly complex relations, critical in maintaining either a return to, or a balance of, normal functionality of the body (Guyton & Hall, 2006:310). This is achieved through three core types of processes i.e. thermoregulation, osmo-regulation and chemical regulation. Such interactions vitally facilitate changes, which are compensatory in nature and hence supportive of both psychological and physical human functionality. In the case of an imbalance, a function is usually altered, causing a reversal of the functionality back to its normal settings (Guyton & Hall, 2006:317).

This is exemplified by the function of human skin, with an increase in temperature necessitating thermo-receptor feedback to the brain’s hypothalamus. This results in increased sweating, as a way of balancing the temperature. In the case of blood pH imbalance, chemoreceptors send messages to the brain’s respiratory center, thus enhancing the affected individual’s respiratory rate (Guyton & Hall, 2006:324). Other processes crucial in the maintenance of homeostasis include the body’s balance of electrolyte and blood pressure levels.

Core to this body functionality, is the input of various body organs i.e. the human brain, the kidneys and the liver. The latter two’s role in maintaining homeostasis is undisputed, with the brain’s endocrine system, hypothalamus sector, and its autonomic nervous system being core to this functionality. The human pair of kidneys is on their part essential for a number of roles i.e. the re-absorption of substances into the blood circulation; the excretion of human waste matter and urea; the regulation of blood water levels and blood pH, in addition to maintaining iron and salt levels in circulation (Maton et al., 1993:35).

As Marieb and Hoehn (2007) allude, the liver provides core maintenance of