Question

1. practice: understanding various organ systems

self assessment

1. practice: understanding various organ systems

respond to the following based on your reading.
question 1
describe what is meant by a \feedback loop\ and how the body responds to changes to maintain homeostasis in blood sugar.
check my answer
question 2
describe the four major steps of digestion, and discuss the organs involved in each.

Explanation:

A feedback loop is a circular - process where the output of a system influences its own input. In blood sugar homeostasis, when blood sugar rises, the pancreas releases insulin which prompts cells to take up glucose, lowering blood sugar. When blood sugar drops, the pancreas releases glucagon which causes the liver to release stored glucose, raising blood sugar.
The four major steps of digestion are ingestion (taking in food through the mouth), propulsion (movement of food through the digestive tract via peristalsis, involving esophagus, stomach, and intestines), mechanical and chemical digestion (teeth for mechanical in mouth, stomach acid and enzymes for chemical, organs include mouth, stomach, small intestine), and absorption (nutrient uptake in small intestine, with help of large intestine for water absorption).

Answer:

Question 1: A feedback loop is a circular process where the output of a system affects its input. In blood - sugar homeostasis, when blood sugar levels rise, the pancreas secretes insulin, which signals cells to take up glucose, thus reducing blood - sugar levels. When blood sugar levels drop, the pancreas secretes glucagon, which prompts the liver to release stored glucose, increasing blood - sugar levels.
Question 2: The four major steps of digestion are: Ingestion (mouth takes in food); Propulsion (esophagus, stomach, and intestines move food via peristalsis); Mechanical and Chemical Digestion (mouth for mechanical with teeth, stomach and small intestine for chemical with acid and enzymes); Absorption (small intestine absorbs nutrients, large intestine absorbs water).