Homeostatic Organs In Human

Humans have had highly developed systems for homeostasis. The three major organs of homeostasis are:

i)Lungs: Remove excess carbon dioxide.

ii)Skin: Maintains body temperature.

iii)Kidneys (kidney filters excess water, salts, urea and uric acid from the blood).

LUNGS IN HOMEOSTASIS

In respiration CO2 and water vapours are produced. These should be eliminated from the body. CO2 is acidic and can change the pH of the blood, making it more acidic.

The excess of these substances is dangerous and may disturb the chemical reaction in the body.

Lungs excrete CO2 and water to keep the homeostatic balance in the body. CO2 gets dissolved in the plasma of the blood and reaches the lungs. The lungs contract and CO2 is expelled out.

SKIN IN HOMEOSTASIS:

Skin regulates the temperature of the body. The normal body temperature of humans is 37C or 98.6F.

i) Fat cells in the dermis layer of skin act as insulating material. It prevents loss of heat and thus regulates the body temperature in the winter season.

ii) In the hot summer season, sweat is produced by skin glands. Excess body heat is removed by evaporation and body temperature is regulated.

iii) The Temperature regulating Centre is located in the hypothalamus of the brain. It receives sensory messages from skin.

iv) If body temperature is more than normal it sends orders to the skin to show vasodilation (widening of blood vessels) and sweating to bring the temperature to normal. This process occurs in the summer season.

v) if the body temperature is less than normal vasoconstriction occurs, Blood vessels become narrow and body temperature is brought to normal.

KIDNEYS AS HOMEOSTASIS ORGANS:

Kidneys are the most important organs of the excretory system in humans and other animals.

i) Kidneys filter out the nitrogenous waste from the blood plasma and excrete them from the body. They also remove uric acid in urine.

ii) Kidneys also act as osmoregulatory organs. It means maintaining the balance of water in the body. In case of excess of water, kidneys produce more urine. if water is limited. It is retained in the body. The process is called osmoregulation.

KIDNEY AS OSMOREGULATORY ORGAN:

Kidney is not only an excretory organ but also a regulatory organ. That is, the concentration of body fluid is kept balanced within a narrow limit by the kidney.

i) When the body is short of water, re-absorption of water from the renal tubule occurs. Release antidiuretic hormones are released (ADH) from anterior pituitary gland. As a reason less urine is produced and the water is conserved in the body. Drinking of water restores the water content in the blood.

On the other hand when there is excess of water, the release of ADH is stopped. As a reason more urine is produced and excess water is released from the body.

KIDNEY STONES;

Crystals of calcium oxalate or calcium phosphate formed inside the kidney are called kidney stones. These hard stones block the passage of urine. As a reason causes severe pain on passing through the ureter.

These stones are formed due to metabolic disease like hypercalcemia and hyperoxaluria. When high levels of calcium and oxalate are present in the blood. Calcium is found in fruits, milk eggs and Almonds. Oxalates are present in tomato and green vegetables.

TYPES:

Calcium oxalate type stones are 70% of all kidney stones. The other types of stones are calcium phosphates 15% and uric acid is 10%.

REMOVAL OF KIDNEY STONES

i) About 90% of all kidney stones can pass through the urine system by drinking plenty of water.

ii) Stones can also be removed from the Kidneys by surgical operation.

iii) Lithotripsy is another method for removal of kidney stone.

LITHOTRIPSY OR EXTRACORPOREAL SHOCK WAVE;

LITHOTRIPSY:

It is a non-surgical method used for the removal of kidney stones. This method is used to break up stones in the Kidney, ureter or gallbladder. Stones are bombarded with X-rays or ultrasound waves generated by a machine called 'Lithotripter'.

The rays are focused on the stone in the kidney which breaks the stone into powder form or sand. The pieces are passed out of the kidney through urine.

When stone grows large and starts damaging the kidney. Then it cannot be removed by medicines or lithotripsy. It should be removed by surgery.

RENAL FAILURE OR KIDNEY FAILURE

Renal failure or kidney failure:

It is a condition in which the nephron, particularly its glomerular parts are destroyed and stop the filtration process.

This is caused due to various pathological and other factors like diabetes, hypertension. When nephrons fail to function properly, this causes an increase of urea and other nitrogenous waste in the blood. As a result causes disease like anemia and increases in blood pressure. Renal failure can be treated through dialysis and kidney transplant. The patient may die if not treated properly.

But dialysis is not a permanent treatment. Kidney transplant is the ultimate solution. In this type of treatment, the kidney of a healthy person is transplanted to the patient. The kidney may be donated by a close relative.