Introduction

Every living organism faces two environments i.e. external and internal. Environment around an organism is called external environment while environment within body of an organism is called internal environment.
External environment does not remain uniform, it fluctuate widely and affects the internal environment. It causes many disturbance in our body.

Thus organism should maintain internal environment at a constant level. This phenomenon is called homeostasis. It helps the organisms to survive and utilized their fluctuating environment in best possible ways, especially to regulate amount of water, salts, suitable temperature and removal of metabolic wastes. The maintenance of amount of water and salts in the body fluids is known as osmoregulation. The maintenance of optimum body temperature is called thermoregulation. The enzymes require suitable temperature for their action.

The removal of metabolic wastes (ammonia, urea, uric acid and other harmful substances produced during metabolism) from body to maintain the internal environment at a constant level is called excretion.
Thus the three important element of homeostasis are osmoregulation, thermoregulation and excretion. In this article we will describe theses three components.

Homeostasis and its Importance:

Homeostasis is the ability of an organism to maintain its internal condition at constant or nearly constant level. Homeostasis keeps the body environment under control and keeps the conditions favorable for cell to function. Without the right body condition, certain process of the body will not function properly.

Homeostasis in Plants:

The plants exhibit many adaptation to adapt themselves in changing environment. Thus plants have ability to respond the external environmental changes and keep their internal environment constant.

Removal of Gases and Water:

All plants, during the day time exhibit both photosynthesis and respiration side by side. Thus some oxygen produced in photosynthesis is utilized in cellular respiration while rest of oxygen is removed in air. Similarly CO₂ produced during cellular respiration is utilized in photosynthesis. However, during dark when photosynthesis stops, the leaf molecules are removed through stomata. At night, sometime extra water is removed through special cells found on the margins of leaves known as hydathodes and this phenomenon is called guttation. In young roots, diffusion helps in gaseous exchange through general root surface.

Removal of other Metabolic Wastes from Plants:

In plants, there are some other metabolic wastes such as calcium oxalate (deposited in crystal form within leaves and stems e.g. tomato), Resin (by lady fingers and carnivorous plants), latex (by rubber plants), gums (by keeker). The falling of leaves and stalk of some plants is the seasonal time for the removal of wastes. In some other plants it is stored in their trunk and remain as harmless crystals. Metabolic wastes of plants are also excreted through sepals of flowers, fruit and seed coats. Aquatic plants remove their metabolic wastes by diffusion.

Rubber Plant ⬆

Gum Tree ⬆

Resin Plant ⬆

Hydrophytes:

These are aquatic plants, grow either submerged or partially submerged in fresh water e.g. water lily, hydrilla and lotus. These plants normally do not face the shortage of water rather absorb more water than they actually need. Following adaptations are made by hydrophytes.

• Xylem is poorly developed.
• Large leaves, increased surface thus contain numerous stomata.
• No root hair, thus absorption of water decreases.

Water Lily ⬆

Hydrilla ⬆

Lotus ⬆

Rose Plant ⬆

Wheat Plant ⬆

Xerophytes:

These plants grow in dry and hot regions where rainfall is scanty and thus possess ability to survive long dry period e.g. cactus, euphorbia. Following adaptation are made by xerophytes for osmoregulation.

• Thick cuticle layers.
• Reduced number of stomata.
• Possess water storage tissues (thus also called succulent plants)
• Reduction of surface area of leaves, many leaves transform into thorns.
• Deep extensive root systems help in absorption of water and salts.

Halophytes:

These plants grow in areas of high salinity such as sea shores e.g. Rhizophora (Mangrove Tree). Following adaptations are made in these plants to prevent themselves from higher concentration of salts.

• Salts concentration in their cell sap (fluid in vacuole of cell) is higher than their surrounding water.
• Some possess salt glands at the margin of leaves to remove surplus salt e.g. sea milkwort.
• Thick cell wall that is covered with mucilaginous sheath to conserve water.

Cactus ⬆

Mangrove ⬆

Homeostasis in Human:

Humans possess highly developed system for homeostasis, the main homeostatic organs are lungs skin and kidneys.

Lungs as Homeostatic Organ:

During cellular respiration CO₂ is produced due to breakdown of organic substances, from cells, CO₂, diffuses in the blood via tissue fluid. CO₂, is acidic gas which decreases the pH of blood, makes it acidic (Normal pH of blood is 7.3 to 7.4) Thus result in the disturbance of many chemical reactions in our body. Therefore it should be removed quickly and immediately. Blood transports CO₂, from tissue fluid to lungs for its removal through respiratory passage.

Skin as Homeostatic Organ:

Our skin removes sweat through sweat glands, which contains water, salts and small quantity of urea. Skin also performs important role in thermoregulation. The skin consists of epidermis (outer layer of skin) and dermis. There is a thin layer of fat cells (adipose tissue) around and beneath dermis which act as an insulator.

The sensory nerve endings of skin are stimulated by cold and warm temperature.
The contraction of small erectile muscles, which are attached to hair, forms “goose bumps” (i.e. hair erected). It creates an insulating blanket and prevents heat loss from the body. Similarly when body becomes overheated, the hair erectile muscles relax to remove extra heat. Excess heat is also removed through evaporation of
sweat.

Kidneys as Homeostatic Organs:

Kidneys are major excretory and osmoregulatory organs in human. They remove nitrogen containing wastes (like urea, uric acid, ammonia, creatinine etc.), drugs, used hormone, excess salts and toxic substances. Kidneys maintain water balance in the body either absorbing or removing water. They also help in maintenance of blood and lymph composition.

Interesting Information:

Liver is also involve in homeostasis which remove cholesterol, billirubin (waste of broken red blood cells).

Urinary System of Human:

Urinary system is also known as excretory system. This system consists of a pair of kidneys, a pair of ureters, a single urinary bladder and urethra. Kidneys are placed below the diaphragm in the abdomen, one on each side of vertebral column.

The right kidney is below in position than the left kidney to accommodate the liver. They are bean shaped, red or dark brown in color. Kidneys are enclosed in a thin membrane known as peritoneum. There is a depression in the centre of the kidney known as hillus which acts as a gate, receives and sends blood by renal arteries and renal veins. It also gives out a ureter which drains urine to the urinary bladder. Urine is formed in kidneys then brought and stored temporarily in thin wall sac, the urinary bladder. Urine is removed outside the body through urethra.

Extra Information:

In size each kidney is about 10cm in length, 5cm in width and 4cm in thickness.

Interesting Information:

Urinary bladder can store about 0.75 liter urine.

Internal Structure of Kidney:

A longitudinal section of each kidney internally show two distinct regions, the outer dark brown, the cortex and inner lighter yellowish called medulla. In the center of each kidney, there is a hollow cavity which is continuing with ureter known as pelvis. Medulla is composed of about a dozen renal pyramids. Each kidney consists of more than one million of urinary tubule called nephron. Nephron is structural and functional unit of kidney.

Structure of Nephron:

Function of Nephron (Process of Urine formation)

The function of nephron (Kidney) is urine formation. There are following steps of urine formation.

Pressure filtration

In this process the fluid is separated from the blood in the glomerulus. The filtrate pours in the bowman’s capsule, then to renal tubules. The hydrostatic pressure in the pressure glomerulus created by the heart contraction are greater in capillaries than the fluid in the tubule. This pressure filters everything from blood which is smaller than the pores of the glomerulus. The filtrates are water, salts, sugars, medicines, nitrogenous wastes, hormones, toxins etc.

Tubular reabsorption

Almost all useful substances of filtrate are reabsorbed from renal tubule to peritubular capilallaries, such as about 90% of water, 75% of salts, and all of glucose.

Osmoregulatory Function of Kidneys:

The varied concentration of urine depends on availability of water, which exhibits that kidneys also function as osmoregulatory organ. Antidiuretic hormone secreted form posterior pituitary gland, transport water from filtrate in distal tubule and collecting duct by making them more permeable for water. The stimulus for secretion of this hormone comes when person is dehydrated due to excessive sweating or less drinking. Similarly aldosterone hormone secreted form adrenal gland (endocrine gland located above the kidneys) promote reabsorption of Na⁺ ions and excretion of K⁺ ions.

Disorders of Kidney:

Kidney disorder can cause illness and even death. These disorders take place by ageing, internal and external factors, i.e. diet containing salts and vitamin C and D. The most common one is the kidney stone.

Kidney Stones:

Kidney stones are stone like materials (calculus) formed at any level in the urinary system, such as in bowman’s capsule, pelvis of kidney, ureter and urinary bladder.

Extra Information:

The function of kidney is clearing waste from the body is evident from the fact that weights of kidneys account for less than 1% of the total body weight while it receive 20% of blood supplied to the body with each heart beat.

cause obstruction in urinary tract. The symptom of kidney stone is, severe pain towards pelvis and legs. It may cause vomiting and frequent urination, pus in urine and foul smell in urine.

Types of stone:

About 70% kidney patients possess stone of calcium (due to hypercalcemia) or calcium oxalate (hyperoxaluria). Calcium is found in fruits, green vegetables, milk, curd and eggs while oxalate in tomatoes and green vegetables. Sometime stones of magnesium, ammonium phosphate, uric acid and cystine amino acid are also observed.

Renal of Kidney failure

Renal failure is the inability of kidneys to regulate constant internal environment and to meet the metabolic demand of the body. The causes of renal failure are diabetes mellitus, hypertension and other pathological and chemical factors.
The symptoms of renal failure are pain in lower abdomen, severe pain in kidneys, vomiting, and frequent urination, blood in urine and weight loss. Excess water in the body may result in swelling of body parts like legs, feet, face and breathlessness. The treatment of kidney failure is possible only either by dialysis or kidney transplant.

1) Hemodialysis:

Hemodialysis mean cleaning blood; in this procedure, the patient’s blood from the artery in the arm flows through a machine which contains a dialyzer called artificial kidney blood circulate continuously between two twin porous membranes of cellophane, outside the membrane in dialyzing fluid. The membrane allows the constituents of the plasma, except the plasma proteins, to diffuse in both directions. The blood circulates slowly and exchange between the blood and dialyzing solution continues until equilibrium is reached.

2) Peritoneal Dialysis

In this type, a thin porous membrane is required for dialysis. The peritoneum is thin epithelium, lining the abdominal cavity which contains blood vessels. A thin plastic tube is inserted into the abdominal cavity through a slit in the abdominal wall and can be left in permanently. The tube is filled with dialysis fluid and left for several hours before removal. Exchange of solutes take place between the fluids and the rest of the abdomen. The fluid should be replaced regularly 3 and 4 times per day. In between patient can be mobile and free to live a relatively normal life..

Contributions of Muslim Scientist about Renal disorders

Contribution of Abul-Qasim

Abul-Qasim khalaf ibn Al-Abbas al-Zahrawi (936-1013-A.D) is considered to be one of great Muslim surgeon. He invented many surgical methods; the most important one is operational method to remove the kidney stone from urinary bladder. He also dissected animals and performed surgery of eye, ear and throat.
His famous encyclopedia, Al- Tasrif/ means the methods, describes more than 200 surgical instruments.

Contribution of Abu Nasr al-Farabi (872-951 A.D.)

He wrote many books, in which explained much information about diseases of kidney. Kitab-ul-Burhan and philosphy of Al-Farabai are his famous books.

Conclusion

Homeostasis is essential for maintaining a stable internal environment in both plants and humans. Homeostasis in plants involves gas exchange, osmoregulation, and the removal of metabolic wastes. Different plant types, such as hydrophytes, mesophytes, xerophytes, and halophytes, have unique adaptations to ensure homeostasis. Homeostasis in humans relies on organs like the lungs, skin, and kidneys. The kidneys are crucial for homeostasis, managing osmoregulation and excretion to keep the body’s internal conditions balanced. Disorders such as kidney stones and renal failure highlight the importance of homeostasis in maintaining health.

Treatments like dialysis and kidney transplants are vital for managing severe disruptions in homeostasis. The historical contributions of scientists like Abul-Qasim and Abu Nasr al-Farabi have significantly advanced our understanding of renal disorders and homeostasis. Understanding homeostasis is fundamental for the survival and optimal functioning of all living organisms. By focusing on homeostasis, we can better appreciate the delicate balance required for life. Maintaining homeostasis ensures that living organisms can adapt to external changes while keeping their internal environment constant. Homeostasis is, therefore, a key concept in both plant and human biology.

The mechanisms of homeostasis in different organisms are diverse but serve the same essential purpose. Homeostasis allows organisms to thrive in varying environments. Therefore, homeostasis is not just a biological concept but a cornerstone of life. By studying homeostasis, scientists can develop better treatments and strategies to support health. In conclusion, homeostasis is vital for life, and ongoing research into homeostasis continues to reveal its complexity and importance.

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