Paper 2
Homeostasis and Response
BothInsulin and glucagon work as a feedback loop.
Key Facts
- Homeostasis keeps internal conditions stable.
- Thermoregulation uses sweating, shivering, and blood flow changes.
- ADH release increases when the body is dehydrated.
- Auxin moves to the shaded side of a shoot.
Topics Covered
Nervous System
What you need to know
- •Reflexes are rapid, automatic responses.
- •A reflex arc: receptor -> sensory neuron -> relay -> motor -> effector.
Exam Tips
- List the order of the reflex arc in full for 4-6 marks.
Hormonal Control
What you need to know
- •Insulin lowers blood glucose; glucagon raises it.
- •Hormones are chemical messengers carried in the blood.
Exam Tips
- Use negative feedback in longer answers.
Kidneys and Osmoregulation
What you need to know
- •Kidneys filter the blood and reabsorb needed substances.
- •ADH controls how much water is reabsorbed.
Exam Tips
- Mention ADH and the collecting ducts for 4-6 mark answers.
Plant Hormones and Tropisms
What you need to know
- •Auxin controls growth responses to light and gravity.
- •Higher auxin concentration causes cells to elongate more.
Exam Tips
- Use phototropism and gravitropism terms.
Key Terms
Homeostasis
Regulation of internal conditions to maintain optimum function.
Negative feedback
Responses reduce the change and return to a set point.
ADH
A hormone that controls water reabsorption in kidneys.
Tropism
A growth response in plants to a stimulus.
Loading practice drills...
Common Exam Questions
Explain how the body cools down when temperature rises.
Model Answer
Sweating increases evaporation to remove heat and blood vessels in the skin dilate to increase heat loss.
What examiners want to see
- ✓Mention sweating and evaporation.
- ✓Mention vasodilation.
Explain how ADH helps control water levels.
Model Answer
ADH makes kidney tubules more permeable so more water is reabsorbed into the blood, reducing water loss in urine.
What examiners want to see
- ✓Mention ADH.
- ✓Link to increased water reabsorption.
Related Topics
Other topics you might find useful