Homeostasis in Mammals

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment, despite changes in the external environment.

The fluid that surrounds and bathes all cells in the body, providing nutrients and removing waste products.

The complex process by which organisms maintain a constant internal environment, involving multiple factors like temperature, pH, and blood sugar.

A system that allows rapid, targeted communication between specific parts of the body, using electrical impulses.

A system that uses hormones to communicate throughout the body, often slower and with broader effects.

A mechanism that reduces deviation from a set point, bringing the body back to equilibrium.

Specialized cells, tissues, or organs that detect changes in the internal environment.

Specialized cells or tissues that carry out responses to maintain homeostasis, often muscles or glands.

The functional unit of the kidney, a narrow tube responsible for filtering blood and producing urine.

The closed end of the nephron, cup-shaped and containing the glomerulus, a network of capillaries where filtration begins.

A network of blood capillaries located within the renal capsule, where filtration of blood occurs.

Specialized cells lining the inner layer of the renal capsule, forming filtration slits.

The first segment of the nephron after the renal capsule, where most reabsorption occurs.

The long, hairpin-shaped loop extending from the cortex into the medulla and back, responsible for concentrating the filtrate.

The second segment of the nephron, where further reabsorption and secretion take place.

A tube that collects filtrate from multiple distal convoluted tubules, transporting it to the ureter.

The ability of an organism to maintain a stable internal environment.

A set point is the desired value of a factor like temperature, pH, or blood sugar.

A change in internal conditions, such as a drop in body temperature, that triggers a response to maintain homeostasis.

The system that detects changes in the environment and sends signals to the control center to initiate a response.

The part of the body that receives information from receptors and coordinates the response.

The part of the body that carries out the response to maintain homeostasis.

The process by which the body reduces deviation from a set point, bringing the body back to equilibrium.

The breakdown of amino acids to remove their amino groups (NH2) and produce ammonia.

A tiny vessel that branches from the renal artery and delivers blood to the nephron.

A tiny vessel exiting the renal capsule, carrying blood away from the glomerulus, with a smaller diameter than the afferent arteriole – causing higher pressure in the glomerulus.

A network of capillaries surrounding the nephron tubules, reabsorbing water, glucose, and mineral salts from the filtered fluid.

The process of removing nitrogenous waste from amino acids.

The process of converting ammonia to urea, using carbon dioxide.

The outer region of the kidney containing the renal corpuscles and convoluted tubules.

The inner region of the kidney containing the loop of Henle and collecting ducts.