What is homeostasis
Aww, Mr.Neuco.
What's the matter,Cellnosuke?
I don't understand physiology at all. What is homeostasis?
All right. Especially in the beginning, it's crucial. Let's study together.
Even if you don't understand it well at first, it's important to start with the conclusion.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of internal stability and constancy.
I don't understand at all.
Don't worry. It's only natural that it's difficult to understand this word all at once.
So let's start by explaining the meaning of Constancy first.
What is Constancy?
Constancy refers to maintaining the internal environment at a constant level.
What do you mean by 'internal environment'?
That's a good question. The internal environment refers to the extracellular fluid.
If you can understand this point, then you can naturally understand homeostasis. So please listen carefully here.
Yes, teacher!
What is Internal Environment?
The human body is made up of 60% water. Within that 60%, 40% is referred to as intracellular fluid, while the remaining 20% is classified as extracellular fluid.
Most of the cells that make up the human body live in a fluid called extracellular fluid, which is also known as the internal environment.
I think I'm starting to understand a little. So our cells live in the water called extracellular fluid, right?
And because it is the environment in which cells live, it is also referred to as the internal environment, as you just said.
That's right! If you've understood this far, just one more effort and you're there.
Before we proceed, I have a question. Is Cellnosuke the type of person who regularly cleans their room?
Um... it depends. I may clean my room once a week or I may not.
How about living in a dirty room then?
That would be unpleasant.
Would you clean a room that you reluctantly lived in if it became too dirty?
Maybe,I would certainly clean it up in that case.
That's the point!
What do you mean?!
I explained that the Extracellular fluid in which cells live, is called the internal environment.
yes
The cells in our body, just like Cellnosuke cleaning his room, also maintain the cleanliness of the "room" they live in, which is the extracellular fluid (internal environment).
Moreover, unlike Cellnosuke, for cells, the state of the extracellular fluid (internal environment) is critical to life, and a poor state can have significant consequences
Therefore, the cells always strive to maintain a constant state of the extracellular fluid (internal environment)."
We call this mechanism Constancy.
Constancy refers to the property of maintaining a constant state of the extracellular fluid (internal environment).
Let's go back and review the initial conclusion now that we have explained everything so far.
Homeostasis is the maintenance of internal stability and constancy.
How about it? Do you think the meaning of the words came across better than before?
Oh, I feel like I understand it better than before!
So, that's right.
But, teacher, I understand what Constancy means, but why does it have another name called 'homeostasis'?
That's right. Let's explain that part and wrap it up.