Equilibrium Through Homeostasis

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Homeostasis is the process of maintaining a constant internal environment or equilibrium of an animal in order to function despite changes in the external environment. An animal needs to maintain equilibrium through homeostasis as the external and internal environment constantly changes. Homeostasis ensures the requirement for the organism's body cells to function at the optimal levels is acquired.

Thermoregulation is the process of an organism maintaining the core body temperature within certain boundaries, giving the animal the ability to function efficiently - even when the external temperatures are very different. Thermoregulation’s purpose is to balance thermal inputs and losses in the body to maintain a constant core body temperature of approximately 37C. As external temperatures change, cell function changes in correspondence to this - having a large impact on its ability to function.

The fluidity of the cell membrane is an important factor of thermoregulation as many membrane proteins only function effectively if they are able to float freely through the lipid bilayer. …show more content…
Enzymes function at an optimum temperature of 36.7C in humans where the enzyme reactions happen at their most effective rate without the risk of denaturing. Denaturation occurs when the body temperature of an organism is elevated for a long period of time, resulting in the enzymes permanently losing their shape, resulting in the death of the organism as the reactions between enzymes are no longer able to happen. In humans, when the core body temperature rises above 44C for a long enough period death will occur. This is known as hyperthermia and can occur due to exposure of a warmer external environment, high humidity levels, excessive fat deposits and heavy clothing. These factors don’t allow thermoregulation to occur as it becomes harder to lose heat while the body attempts to naturally cool down without
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