Write an academic essay of 1500-2000 words to explain the biological concept of homeostasis, using the example of human thermoregulation (body temperature regulation).
Requirements for your essay
Use a variety of high-quality academic resources, including peer-reviewed journals, relevant to the topic. Note that non-academic sources are not considered acceptable for this assessment.
Write in your own words; that is, paraphrase/summarise the information from the sources rather than relying excessively on quotes or copying words. Academic integrity will be scrutinised, including an evaluation of any use of Artificial Intelligence software, which is not permitted.
Use Times New Roman font in size 11 or 12, with 1.5 line spacing.
Include a title page containing your name, student number, unit name and code, lecturer name, due date and your word count (excluding the title page and reference list).
Avoid using headings, dot points, numbered lists or images.
Do not use figures, images, tables etc.
Write in complete sentences, using structured paragraphs and clear, concise and correct English.
Paragraph 1:
Your first paragraph should include definitions and explanations of: homeostasis, homeostatic range and its narrow limits, upper and lower limits (of the homeostatic range), dynamic equilibrium. It should mention the roles of the endocrine system and the nervous system in maintaining homeostasis (that is, how they form part of the communication system in the negative feedback pathways).
Paragraph 2:
Your second paragraph should describe and explain negative feedback loops. The descriptions should explain the stages of negative feedback and the components of negative feedback using a stimulus-response model. That is, you should explain the roles of: a stimulus, a receptor, a control centre, an effector (usually a muscle, organ, or gland), and the response produced.
Section 2
This draft submission should focus on the third and fourth paragraph topics of your essay. Don’t forget to structure your paragraphs, starting with a Topic Sentence (or Point Sentence), followed by explanations, examples, evaluation, and finish with a Linking sentence (that is, relate to the overall issue or link the current paragraph’s topic to the topic of the next paragraph). Include in-text references!
Paragraph 3:
Explain the importance of human’s maintaining a stable body temperature. You should explicitly state the homeostatic temperature range (normal range) of human body temperature, using correct units. You might like to note that humans are endotherms and explain what that term means. Describe the difference between surface/superficial and core body temperatures. Which body regions are involved? Describe how body function or survival is affected if core body temperature gets too high or too low. Explain how the functions of the body and its cells/tissues/organs/organ systems rely on a stable body temperature and explain why (you might use examples, such as what happens to a particular organ when body temperature gets too high or too low). Explain the impact of temperature on enzyme function and explain the importance of enzymes in the human body. Consider giving a brief example if you have room in your word count.
Note: When mentioning values for temperature, use degrees Celsius. The first time you use the units, write it in full with the symbol in brackets after it. Any further reference to degrees Celsius is permitted to use the symbol. When using exact/explicit values, ALWAYS include an in-text citation afterwards.
FICTITIOUS EXAMPLE:
“The homeostatic core body temperature range of the Himalayan Ice Rat is 22.3 to 26.6 degrees Celsius (oC) (Howfabulous & Awesomesauce 2023). In comparison, the Australian Lily-livered Wombat’s homeostatic core temperature range is 32.5 to 39.8oC (Burrows & Burrows 2019).”
Note: You will be discussing the human context and will not be mentioning other animals.
Paragraph 4:
Explain (talk through) the negative feedback loops that are triggered when human body temperature gets too high – do this step by step. Describe stimulus, receptors, control centre, effectors and responses in the case of high body temperature.
After your topic sentence, start with the thermoreceptors. Explain where they are located in the body and the types that exist. Describe the involvement of the nervous system in communicating information to the hypothalamus (control centre for thermoregulation) and how the hypothalamus integrates information about temperature from various body regions (describe these) to initiate communication to effectors. Describe how each effector: is triggered (or communicated with) by the hypothalamus, where it can be found in the body, and what occurs at the effector to produce the response. Remember that effectors are typically muscles, glands, or organs. E.g. sweat glands are effectors, whereas, sweating (the action) is the response of the sweat glands; arrector pili muscles are attached to skin hairs – these smooth muscles are effectors and when they contract (response), they cause body hair to stand on end (goosebumps!) and trap air, helping to insulate the body (an extended explanation of the response).
Section 3
This draft submission should focus on the fifth and sixth paragraph topics of your essay. Don’t forget to structure your paragraphs, starting with a Topic Sentence (or Point Sentence), followed by explanations, examples, evaluation, and finish with a Linking sentence; that is, relate to the overall issue or link the current paragraph’s topic to the topic of the next paragraph. Include in-text references.
Paragraph 5:
Explain (talk through) the negative feedback loops that are triggered when human body temperature gets too low – do this step by step. Describe stimulus, receptors, control centre, effectors and responses in the case of low body temperature.
Start with the thermoreceptors. Explain where they are located in the body and the types that exist. Describe the involvement of the nervous system in communicating information about low body temperature to the hypothalamus (control centre for thermoregulation) and how the hypothalamus integrates information about temperature from various body regions/tissues to initiate communication to effectors. Describe how each effector: is triggered (or communicated with) by the hypothalamus, where it is in the body, and.what occurs at the effector to produce the response. Remember that effectors are typically muscles, glands, or organs (note that brown adipose tissue, or BAT, can act as an organ, in the case of temperature regulation – you may or may not choose to discuss this effector tissue).
E.g. sweat glands are effectors, whereas, sweating (the action) is the response of the sweat glands; arrector pili muscles are attached to skin hairs – these smooth muscles are effectors and when they contract (response), they cause body hair to stand on end (goosebumps!) and trap air, helping to insulate the body (an extended explanation of the response).
Paragraph 6: (When things go wrong)
Discuss examples of when homeostatic mechansims for thermoregulation are overwhelmed (overheated or over cooled, beyond the body’s ability to respond). Explain what section of the feedback loop is failing. You may even like to use some examples of disorders where people cannot regulate their body temperature effectively and discuss which component/s or communication mechanism/s of the body (i.e., aspects of endocrine or nervous systems) are not functioning correctly in such cases, and what the resulting problems can be.
By this stage, you should just need to write your introduction and conclusion. Please use the essay guidance notes and materials to help you with those. Do remember not to use in-text references in the introduction or conclusion and don’t introduce any new ideas in your conclusion, which should comprehensively address the key ideas of your essay and wrap up your whole point about thermoregulation being an important example of homeostasis.
Introduction notes:
An introduction is an outline of the essay structure: Broad ‘name drops’ about what will be in the essay, showing direction of discussion and broadly how these ideas are linked. No deep explanations here and no references should be required.
Essentially, the topic of each paragraph in the body of the essay should be represented here (the essay ‘road map’).
Conclusion notes:
Sum up and reiterate key ideas, tying the picture (key ideas) together, explaining broadly and briefly how thermoregulation is a good example of why homeostasis is an important physiological process and how that works– no new ideas!
No citations should be included here.
