IB Diploma · Biology D3.3

IB Biology D3.3: Homeostasis — Practice Questions & Answers

IB Biology D3.3 Homeostasis study notes: negative feedback control of blood glucose, body temperature, osmoregulation and kidney function.

Here are 10 practice questions with full answers and explanations.

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Practice questions with answers

1 Multiple choice

What is the maintenance of a stable internal environment called?

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WhyHomeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within narrow limits.
2 Multiple choice

Which type of feedback loop is primarily used in homeostasis?

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WhyNegative feedback counteracts deviations from the set point, keeping conditions stable.
3 Multiple choice

What organ plays a key role in regulating blood glucose levels?

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WhyThe pancreas secretes insulin and glucagon to regulate blood glucose concentration.
4 Multiple choice

Which hormone lowers blood glucose levels?

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WhyInsulin lowers blood glucose by promoting cellular uptake and glycogen storage.
5 Multiple choice

What hormone raises blood glucose levels?

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WhyGlucagon raises blood glucose by stimulating glycogen breakdown in the liver.
6 Multiple choice

Which type of diabetes is characterized by the destruction of pancreatic beta cells?

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WhyType 1 diabetes results from autoimmune destruction of insulin-producing pancreatic beta cells.
7 Multiple choice

Which type of diabetes is often associated with insulin resistance?

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WhyType 2 diabetes is characterised by target cells becoming resistant to insulin.
8 Multiple choice

What part of the brain is the primary thermoregulatory control center?

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WhyThe hypothalamus acts as the body's thermostat, coordinating thermoregulatory responses.
9 Multiple choice

What hormone is involved in long-term thermoregulation?

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WhyThyroxin raises metabolic rate for long-term regulation of body heat production.
10 Multiple choice

What is the widening of blood vessels to increase heat loss called?

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WhyVasodilation widens skin arterioles, increasing blood flow and heat loss to the surroundings.

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Key terms in Homeostasis

Homeostasis: The maintenance of a stable internal environment within narrow limits despite changes in external conditions.
Negative feedback: A control mechanism in which a change in a variable triggers a response that reverses that change, returning it towards the set point.
Set point: The target value around which a controlled variable is kept by homeostatic mechanisms.
Effector: A structure (such as a muscle or gland) that carries out the corrective response directed by the control centre.
Antagonistic hormones: A pair of hormones with opposite effects, such as insulin and glucagon, allowing precise two-way control.
Insulin: A hormone from pancreatic β cells that lowers blood glucose by promoting glucose uptake and storage as glycogen.
Glucagon: A hormone from pancreatic α cells that raises blood glucose by stimulating breakdown of glycogen in the liver.
Osmoregulation: The homeostatic control of the water and solute balance of body fluids, carried out chiefly by the kidney.

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Practise other IB Biology topics

A1.1 Water A1.2 Nucleic Acids A2.1 Orig. of cells A2.2 Cell Structure A2.3 Viruses A3.1 Div. of Org. A3.2 Clas. & Clad. A4.1 Evo. & Spec. A4.2 Cons. of Biodiv. B1.1 Carb. & Lipids B1.2 Proteins B2.1 Mem. & Mem. Trans. B2.2 Org. & Compart. B2.3 Cell Spec. B3.1 Gas Exchange B3.2 Transport B3.3 Muscle & Motility B4.1 Adapt. to Envir. B4.2 Eco. niches C1.1 Enzy. & Meta. C1.2 Cell Resp. C1.3 Photosynthesis C2.1 Chem. Signal. C2.2 Neu. Signal. C3.1 Int. of Body Sys. C3.2 Def. against Dis. C4.1 Pop. & Commu. C4.2 Tran. of En. & Mat. D1.1 DNA Replication D1.2 Protein Syn. D1.3 Mut. & Gene Edit. D2.1 Cell & Nuc. Div. D2.2 Gene Exp. D2.3 Water potential D3.1 Reproduction D3.2 Inheritance D4.1 Nat. Select. D4.2 Stab. & Change D4.3 Climate Change DIAG Diagnostic Questions