What is external environment ?

* Is the physical place where

organism lives in, and where it interacts
with other organisms.
What is internal environment ?
* Is the environment inside an organism,
which is the fluid surrounding the cells that
is called tissue fluid or interstitial fluid.

* Function of Internal environment :

a) Provide the cells with substances like
nutrients, oxygen & glucose
b) Remove
metabolic waste products from the cells (eg:
carbon dioxide)
c)
Provide an optimal temperature & pH balance for
the enzymes to function properly.
* Function of the cells depend upon their internal
environment
* The condition of internal environment can
affected by the physical & chemical factors

* Physical factors such as:

a) Body temperature
b) Blood pressure
c) Osmotic pressure

* Chemical factors such as:

a) Salt content
b) Sugar content
c) pH value

* The condition of internal environment should

be maintained in normal range to enable cells
to function optimally for survival. Eg;
Temperature is maintained at 37C for optimal

The maintenance of a relatively constant

internal environment for the cells to function
optimally is called homeostasis.
* The mechanism that governs homeostasis
is called negative feedback mechanism that
consists of:
a) stimulus which is a change
in the internal environment
b)receptor
to detect stimulus
c)corrective
mechanism to bring about a negative
feedback (bring back to normal condition)

The involvement of various systems in maintaining

an optimal environment
Factor
Systems that Mechanism
Effect
involve
Body
1. Integumentary
temperature system (skin &
sweat gland)
2. Nervous
system
3. Circulatory
system
4. Muscular
system
5.
Endocrine
system

If body
temperature is
more than 37 C,
heat receptor in
the skin detect
the changes &
send impulses to
the temperature
regulatory centre
in the
hypothalamus.
Then it activates
various effectors
such as blood
vessels & sweat
glands

1. The blood
vessels dilate &
allow more blood
to flow near the
surface of the
body to increase
heat loss to the
external
environment.
2. The sweat
glands are
activated to
produce more
sweat that will
lower the body
temperature

Factor
Concentration
of oxygen &
carbon
dioxide

System
involve
1. Nervous
system
2. Circulatory
system
3.
Respiratory
system

Mechanism

Effect

The decrease in
the
concentration of
oxygen &
increase in the
concentration of
carbon dioxide in
the blood during
vigorous physical
activities
detected by the
nervous system

The breathing
& pulse rates
increase so
that the normal
concentrations
of carbon
dioxide &
oxygen are
attained

Factor

System
involve

Blood glucose 1. Endocrine

level
system
2. Circulatory
system
3. Digestive
system

Mechanism

Effect

1. The
pancrease
secretes
insulin when
the blood
glucose level
is high
2. Secretes
glucagon
when the
blood glucose
level is low

1. More
glucose is
converted to
glycogen &
the blood
glucose level
back to the
normal
2. Glycogen
is converted
to glucose &
the blood
glucose level
back to the
normal

Factor

System
involve

Mechanism

Effect

Blood osmotic 1. Nervous

pressure
system
2. Endocrine
system
3. Excretory
system

Endocrine
gland
excretes
hormone

1. More urine is
produced to get
rid an exceed
water. 2. Less
urine is
produced to
reduce water
loss

Chemical
content such
as the waste
product

Endocrine
gland
excretes
hormone

Toxic substances
such as urea are
transported by the
circulatory system
to the kidney

1. Excretory
system
2.
Circulatory
system
3.
Nervous