Homeostasis

 

Homeostasis is the constant physiological adjustment of the body in response to in response to external environment changes. Homeostasis is constantly occurring in our bodies to regulate all of our bodily functions and processes. We consuming food, sweating, drinking water, dancing and even smiling is the result of our homeostasis. Homeostasis is achieved through the homeostatic control system. All of the functions of body that involved the homeostasis of our body have an receptor – an organ that detects the changes or senses when conditions are not at normal range, a control centre – organs which process information it receives from the receptor and send signals to another part of the body and a effector – an organ/tissue which normalize the original organ. These series of events result into a feedback systems that help to regulate our bodily functions to reach dynamic equilibrium.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Connections to Hypothyroidism

 

            As mentioned, hypothyroidism is the condition that occurs due to the underactivity of the thyroid gland. Due to the underactivity of the thyroid gland, our body has trouble metabolizing the food we consume to produce energy, affecting the regulation of our homeostasis.

 

The Endocrine System

 

The endocrine systems regulates our metabolism, growth and development, tissue function, reproductive processes and mood with various glands and hormones. In relation to hypothyroidism, the thyroid gland is responsible for producing thyroid hormones – T3 and T4. These hormones regulates the rate at which cell burn fuels from food to produce energy. The production of thyroid hormone is stimulated by thyrotropin, a protein which is secreted by the pituitary gland. The pituitary gland is known to the master gland of the endocrine system as it produces hormones that controls the most of endocrine glands. The hypothalamus, another organs of the endocrine system, secretes thyroid releasing hormones that alerts the pituitary gland to stimulate the production of thyroid hormones.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Homeostasis

 

In relation to homeostasis, hypothyroidism occurs because the body doesn’t produce enough thyroxine hormones to regulate the constant function of metabolism. The body goes through a constant negative feedback system decreasing metabolic rates. The receptor are thyroid hormone receptor and thyroid stimulating hormones, the control centre is the thyroid gland and the effectors are the thyroid hormones. The system begins with the hypothalamus releasing thyroid releasing hormones. The thyroid releasing hormones signals the pituitary gland to release thyroid stimulating hormones. The thyroid stimulating hormones are supposed to release thyroid hormones – T3 and T4 into the bloodstream but instead release T3 and very low level of T4. The levels of thyroid stimulating hormone increases resulting the enlargement of the thyroid gland. The system keeps producing thyroid stimulating hormones but the body does not use them causing the slower rates of metabolism and the dysregulation of the body’s homeostasis.