Homeostasis Basics
What is the process by which the body maintains stable internal conditions within tolerable limits?
Homeostasis
The digestive system breaks down food to mainly extract this molecule for energy.
glucose
The hormone released by the pancreas to lower blood sugar when it is too high.
insulin
True or False: Blood glucose homeostasis is around 80-100 mg/dL for a fasted state.
True
The animated Disney film featuring the hit song "Let It Go".
Frozen
Name at least 2 variables that the body has to maintain homeostasis for.
body temperature, blood pressure, heart rate, pH, or blood sugar/glucose
The organ where excess glucose is stored as a complex carbohydrate.
The hormone released by the pancreas to raise blood sugar when it is too low.
glucagon
True or False: Individuals with diabetes can typically get their blood glucose levels back to homeostasis after about 2 hours.
False
Before launching her solo career and starring in Wicked, Ariana Grande got her big break playing Cat Valentine on which Nickelodeon TV series?
Victorious
This type of feedback loop reverses a change in direction (e.g., if a variable goes up, it brings it back down).
Negative feedback loop
The section of the digestive system where nutrients from food are broken down and released into the bloodstream.
Small Intenstine
Compared to unprocessed foods, these types of foods cause much larger and faster blood glucose spikes.
Ultra-processed or high-refined-sugar foods
Which individual (Person A or B) would be classified as high risk for diabetes?
Person A
Which artist made history at the Grammy Awards by becoming the first person to win Album of the Year four times?
Taylor Swift
You enter a cold room and your body temperature begins to drop below its ideal homeostatic range. Receptors in your skin and brain sense this change and signal your nervous system to respond. Your muscles start shivering to generate heat, and the blood vessels near your skin constrict to retain warmth. As your body temperature rises back to normal, the shivering stops. What mechanism of homeostasis is this an example of?
Negative feedback loop
The complex carbohydrate made from many glucose molecules bonded together and stored in the liver.
glycogen
Action glucagon takes on the liver to increase blood glucose levels.
Signals the liver to break down glycogen back into glucose
Which individual is higher risk for diabetes?
Person B
This 2023 blockbuster movie directed by Greta Gerwig became the highest-grossing film directed by a solo female director in cinema history.
Barbie
When you cut your finger, damaged blood vessel cells release chemicals that attract platelets to the injury site. Once those platelets arrive, they release additional signaling chemicals that attract even more platelets to the area. This continuous cycle rapidly builds a platelet plug until the tear is fully sealed. What mechanism of homeostasis is this an example of?
Positive feedback loop
This organ acts as the body's primary control center for blood glucose by releasing insulin when blood sugar rises and glucagon when blood sugar falls.
pancreas
The condition where chronically elevated insulin levels cause the liver and muscles to stop responding to insulin properly.
Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes
Explain why an individual that has Type 2 diabetes releases insulin but continues to have elevated blood glucose for an extended period of time.
Individuals with Type 2 diabetes continue to have elevated blood glucose even though they release insulin because their cells are no longer responding to the insulin. This prevents the cells from opening their glucose channels, causing the glucose to remain in the blood for an extended period of time.
In the summer of 2025, which airline company's catchy commercial intro ("Nothing beats a...") was blasted ironically over videos of catastrophic vacation fails on TikTok?
Jet2