The Body In Balance

There are some functions that the body does automatically, such as maintaining a constant internal temperature in the body. Your autonomic nervous system responds to internal and external stimuli by sneding impulses to cardiac and smooth muscles and to the glands.

Your autonomic nervous system is part of the peripheral nervous system. Another part of this system is the somatic system. This system sends impulses to the skeletal muscles.

The control center for many of the automatic processes of the body is the medulla. The medulla is located near the center of the brain at the top of the spinal cord.

The medulla regulates: 1.Emotional responses 2.Behavior 3.Sleeping cycles 4.Water balance 5.Food intake 6.Homeostasis

Our bodies constantly release or produce heat in response to changes in the external or internal environment in order to keep our body at the right temperature.

The body responds to lower temperatures by conserving heat or producing more heat. Skeletal muscles produce more heat than other parts of the body if they are active. Inactive muscles like smooth or cardiac produce heat Blood vessels constrict to keep warm blood deeper in the skin.

Perspiration is reduced Goose bumps react to cold which helps insulate the body. Shivering produced heat because it increases muscle activity.

The body responds to higher temperatures by releasing heat. Blood vessels dilate and more blood flows closer to the surface of the skin. More perspiration is released and when it evaporates, heat is removed from the body.

Heat is also lost through radiation and conduction. Fever is an elevation in body temperature over the normal. Infection is the major cause of fever. Other causes include certain diseases and allergies.

Fever increases the rate of metabolisms and speeds the rate at which the body can fight and eliminate infectious organisms. If fever gets to high, it can damage tissues and interfere with enzyme activity.

Homeostasis means that our bodies maintain a constant internal temperature, normally between the ranges of 35.6 to 37.8 degrees Celsius. Why is this important? Because enzyme activity is most effective at these temperatures.