Practicing Success

Target Exam

CUET

Subject

General Test

Chapter

General Knowledge

Question:

What do you call the property of an organism of self-regulation and the tendency to maintain a steady state within an external environment which is liable to change?

Options:

Consciousness

Metabolism

Homeostasis

Irritability

Correct Answer:

Homeostasis

Explanation:

The correct answer is Option (3) -Homeostasis

The correct term is Homeostasis.

Explanation:

  • Homeostasis refers to the ability of an organism to maintain a relatively stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.
  • It involves the regulation of various physiological processes, such as temperature, pH, blood sugar levels, and water balance, within narrow limits to ensure optimal functioning of cells and tissues.
  • Homeostasis is essential for the survival of organisms because it allows them to adapt to changes in their surroundings while maintaining internal stability.
  • The process of homeostasis involves sensors or receptors that detect changes in the internal environment, control centers that receive and process this information, and effectors that carry out responses to restore equilibrium.
  • For example, when body temperature rises above normal, sensors in the skin and brain detect the change and send signals to the hypothalamus, the control center. The hypothalamus then initiates responses such as sweating and dilation of blood vessels to dissipate heat and lower body temperature, thereby restoring homeostasis.
  • Homeostasis is crucial for the health and survival of organisms, as disruptions in internal balance can lead to diseases and other health problems.