How Does the Human Body Maintain Homeostasis?
The human body is an exquisite machine, partly because it maintains functionality in a variety of environments. Humans can thrive in conditions ranging from the arctic to the equator, and with a variety of diets and lifestyles. Part of the reason for this adaptability is the body’s ability to maintain homeostasis. Homeostasis is a fancy word meaning “equilibrium,” and it entails many interwoven variables that are amazing to consider. Temperature is among the most straightforward of these. The body sweats to keep cool and shivers to stay warm. But the human body is masterful at balancing many other factors. Most are subtler, involving the regulation of hormones and other bodily chemicals. All of the body’s systems self-regulate using an intricate coordination of three principle roles: signal reception, centralized control and action. All of the body’s systems work together to maintain balance in the body, but various systems do have specific roles. Two of the most important systems for
