"Homeostasis" plays a very important role in the human body by maintaining constant sustainability and equilibrium. Without homeostasis, the body would lopsided, kind of like a scale with too much mass on one side, unbalanced. However, with homeostasis the body is able to stay on track, allowing each system to function properly, like a perfect balance scale. Before we take our journey into the amazing human body, it is important to know what and how important homeostasis is to living things.
Homeostasis:
Homeostasis is the human body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment by making constant adjustments. For example; if you are very cold, your body will start shivering. This is to move you muscles to get you warmed up. Other examples are if you are hot, your body will make you sweat to release water and harmful toxins inside your body. Other examples are water balance and blood sugar. All of the body systems help the body to stay balanced and healthy.
Homeostasis in the Body Systems
All body systems must preform homeostasis to keep the human body on track and balanced. The endocrine system, responsible for keeping everything on track by producing something called hormones from glands located all around the body, is one example of the body's way of preforming homeostasis. For the endocrine system, homeostasis in blood calcium levels is a key factor in the functioning of the system. Something called the "thyroid gland" is in charge of helping out with this process of homeostasis. For example, as shown in this diagram, if the calcium level rises above it's regular level, the thyroid gland must secrete calcitonin. During this process, calcitonin is able to make the blood calcium level fall to it's average level. The same thing happens if the calcium level falls below the set point, except this time, the parathyroid gland releases a parathyroid hormone, or PTH. During this process, the blood calcium is able to rise to it's level of balance in the endocrine system, maintaining constant homeostasis.
