Curriculum Expectations
Overall Expectations
E1. evaluate the impact on the human body of selected chemical substances and of environmental factors related to human activity;
E2. investigate the feedback mechanisms that maintain homeostasis in living organisms;
E3. demonstrate an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of human body systems, and explain the mechanisms that enable the body to maintain homeostasis.
Specific Expectations
E2.1 use appropriate terminology related to homeostasis, including, but not limited to:
E3.1 describe the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine, excretory, and nervous systems, and explain how these systems interact to maintain homeostasis
E1. evaluate the impact on the human body of selected chemical substances and of environmental factors related to human activity;
E2. investigate the feedback mechanisms that maintain homeostasis in living organisms;
E3. demonstrate an understanding of the anatomy and physiology of human body systems, and explain the mechanisms that enable the body to maintain homeostasis.
Specific Expectations
E2.1 use appropriate terminology related to homeostasis, including, but not limited to:
E3.1 describe the anatomy and physiology of the endocrine, excretory, and nervous systems, and explain how these systems interact to maintain homeostasis
Learning goals
Students will:
- Describe the actions of both Steroid Hormones and Proteins Hormones and their differences in action
- Define and differentiate between the Endocrine and Exocrine gland system and know examples of each
- Describe the structure and function of the parts of the eye
- Describe optical illusions and abnormalities, including afterimages, focusing, astigmatism, colour blindness, etc.
What is homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the process your body undertakes to maintain a constant state of normal existence How does this work? Before that question can be answered, one must consider all the different types of factors or stresses on the body. Things like temperature, noise level, hydration level, food intake / energy output, pressure and other factors all set the body off it's normal state. The body does it's best to help bring it back to the state of homeostasis.
To think of it in a simple way, it's all about balance. Your body wants to maintain balance in whatever you do.
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
To think of it in a simple way, it's all about balance. Your body wants to maintain balance in whatever you do.
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
- Define Homeostasis in your own words
- Consider the different types of external stresses on the body, that can affect homeostasis (ie temperature, hydration, pain etc.)
So... How does the body do this?
The body maintains a homeostatic state in many ways. It has to adjust to all the different factors listed above. Simple things that happen everyday, thins that we do't even think about. For example, if your body becomes too hot, you begin to sweat. That sweat then evapourates off your body, cooling the surface of your body off. This is known as an Exocrine Gland System process, as your sweat glands are an exocrine gland. Exocrine glands usually release their hormones outside of the body, while an Endocrine Gland System releases hormones within the body, using your circulatory system to deliver them. This system is more common in your body.
This ability for humans to sweat is apart of a larger scale process known as Thermoregulation. This process ensures that your body stays within a certain range of temperature. The opposite of sweating would be shivering, which takes place when your body feels too cold. To correct this, your body quickly contracts your muscles, involuntarily which forces you to use more energy, and generate heat as a by product.
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
This ability for humans to sweat is apart of a larger scale process known as Thermoregulation. This process ensures that your body stays within a certain range of temperature. The opposite of sweating would be shivering, which takes place when your body feels too cold. To correct this, your body quickly contracts your muscles, involuntarily which forces you to use more energy, and generate heat as a by product.
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
- Know the definitions of the bolded terms. Check the Glossary if need be
- Consider the different factors that would cause your body to use these gland processes
- Are there any benefits or disadvantages to either system process? Would the body prefer one or the other? Why does the body have both?
But, how does this happen?
The body is a miraculous thing. Different parts of the body communicate with each other hundreds of times per minute. Much of this communication is done through the nervous system, while much is done through the hormone (Endocrine/Exocrine) system. In many cases, both systems are needed in order to maintain homeostasis.
The above example of a body sweating to help cool off is known as a negative feedback loop. As soon as your body has cooled off, it stops the signaling process, thus stopping the process of sweating. That's where the negative aspect comes from in the name; as soon as the body is back to normal (or back to its homeostasic state), it stops the loop. In the opposite process, a positive feedback loop would continue to cause the body to sweat, even though it was no longer hot. The positive feedback takes you further away from homeostasis while the negative feedback brings you back to it. The negative feedback loop is more commonly used in the body, but the positive feedback loop plays an essential role in childbirth with the hormone Oxytocin.
Curious? Want to learn more about Oxytocin? Click here to read on, but you may regret it!
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
The above example of a body sweating to help cool off is known as a negative feedback loop. As soon as your body has cooled off, it stops the signaling process, thus stopping the process of sweating. That's where the negative aspect comes from in the name; as soon as the body is back to normal (or back to its homeostasic state), it stops the loop. In the opposite process, a positive feedback loop would continue to cause the body to sweat, even though it was no longer hot. The positive feedback takes you further away from homeostasis while the negative feedback brings you back to it. The negative feedback loop is more commonly used in the body, but the positive feedback loop plays an essential role in childbirth with the hormone Oxytocin.
Curious? Want to learn more about Oxytocin? Click here to read on, but you may regret it!
Things to keep in mind / For your notes:
- Know the definition / differences of the two feedback mechanisms
- Consider the different factors that would cause your body to use these mechanisms
- Which process is preferable to the body? Why does the body need both?
Homeostasis basics and thermoregulation assignment
Homeostasis Basics and Thermoregulation Assignment | |
File Size: | 18 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Intro Hook - Vision Lesson
The above video was used for my Vision lesson during the second placement period (November - December 2012). The connection I made to homeostasis is the ability for the two individuals to play off of each other's visual cues, as well as simply knowing which notes to play and step on. Basically one has to realize the importance vision plays in our lives, and what visual cues mean to us. However the claim can be made that people who lose their vision can live perfectly normal lives. When saying that, we understand that the body responds to that loss of vision and brings our life as close to homeostasis as possible.
If nothing else, this is a great video to show your students to wake them up and energized.
If nothing else, this is a great video to show your students to wake them up and energized.
Teacher Resources
(quizzes, tests, assignments etc.)
Vision Lesson - 5 station rotation | |
File Size: | 360 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Vision Worksheet | |
File Size: | 17 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Nervous System Quiz | |
File Size: | 81 kb |
File Type: | rtf |
Endocrine Gland Quiz | |
File Size: | 24 kb |
File Type: | docx |
Homeostasis Unit Test | |
File Size: | 40 kb |
File Type: | docx |