What is homeostasis?

Homeostasis is defined as the maintenance of a constant internal environment in the body. 

An example of this would be the blood glucose level:

After a meal, a person's blood glucose level would be high. This stimulates the beta cells of the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas to secrete insulin, an enzyme that converts glucose to glycogen to be stored in the liver. This then reduces the blood glucose level back to the norm. 

On the other hand, when a person's blood glucose level is low, such as after exercising, the alpha cells of the islets of Langerhans secrete glucagon, an enzyme that is responsible for converting glycogen to glucose and releasing it into the bloodstream, in order to increase the blood glucose level. 

This is an example of negative feedback (an important regulatory mechanism in the body). 

Answered by Lauren S. Biology tutor

3880 Views

See similar Biology GCSE tutors

Related Biology GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Describe the steps that occur in allopatric speciation or geographical speciation.


Describe the process of eutrophication and its impact on the environment.


Explain why a plant tip will bend towards a light source (2)


Why and how is blood glucose controlled in the body?


We're here to help

contact us iconContact usWhatsapp logoMessage us on Whatsapptelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo
Cookie Preferences