Homeostasis Lab

      In our lab my team and I tested how homeostasis controls our body, and we wanted to learn more about it. The purpose of our lab was to test how pulse reacts to skin temperature. On our graph the X-axis was temperature and the Y-axis was the measurement of pulse and temperature. Our graph shows the different measurements we got for pulse and temperature at normal, hot, and cold temperatures. First we tested our temperature at room temperature. Then we put our hand in hot water for one minute, and then we tested our pulse. We were expecting that our pulse would decrease so it can help cool down our skin. But, we got different results than what we expected. The results showed that our pulse increased when we heated our skin. Then we measured our temperature at room temperature again before we put our hand in ice water. Then we put our hand in ice water for one minute. We were expecting that our pulse would increase so that it would heat our skin. But, the results showed differently. Our pulse had decrease. The effect that homeostasis had on our pulse in ice water is that blood is pumping harder to flow through our body in which is why it decreased.

    What we learned from doing this lab is that when our body gets hot our pulse goes faster so it can keep your body cool. When your body gets cold your pulse slows down so it can conserve heat energy. Our hypothesis was wrong, but we learned a lot about homeostasis by doing this lab. Homeostasis is what controls our body, and it controls the way our body functions.

Function of Homeostasis

    Homeostasis is a process in which yours body maintains an internal balance in which all of the body parts is functioning and interacting with each other to meet the needs of your body. There are three components that interact which is the Receptor, Integrator, and the Effector. A receptor would be the free nerve ending in the skin, an intergrator would be the brain, and a effector would be a muscle. When homeostasis is not maintained then you become sick, and if it isn't fixed then you will die. Negative feedback of homeostasis is when your body tries to encounter changes. It changes an internal condition back to its normal state. This explains the most common way on how your body regulates itself. It is mostly caused by hormones. An example would be if you are running a race, and then you start to sweat so your blood vessels get closer to the skin which causes a loss of heat. When your blood pressure rises, your heart slows down so this is also an example of negative feedback. Temperature control is another example because the hypothalamus, which monitors the body temperature is capable of determing the slightest variation of normal body temperature.   
      Positive feedback is when your body reacts to a change from the normal state by causing a bigger change. The mechanisms purpose is to push levels out of normal range. A series of events initiates a process that builds to increase the effect of stimulus. A change is detected by the receptors and the information is transmitted to the control centre. An example would be when a blood vessel is damaged, then the chemicals do there job by plugging and repairing the hole. Platelet accumulation causes blood clotting in response to a tear in the lining of blood vessels, is another example that explains positive feedback.


This is a model explaining negative feedback about temperature control.



This is a model explaning the process of positive feedback.