Homeostasis: how the body keeps things steady
Grade 9 Science Worksheet - Building Confidence

Circle the best answer.
Bo reads a loop with boxes W, X, Y and Z. Which box is the effector, the part that makes the response?
- Box Y, the hypothalamus, which compares and decides
- Box Z, the rise in body temperature that starts the loop
- Box W, the temperature sensors that detect the rise
- Box X, the skin blood vessels and sweat glands
Read this first
Use this
Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for a level X. A change in X is the stimulus. A sensor detects the change, a control center decides, and an effector responds.
Esme reads a model loop for a level X. In plain words, what does negative feedback do?
- It pushes the change further away from the set point
- It stops the sensor from detecting the change
- It is a harmful process that the body works to avoid
- It reverses a change and moves the level back toward the set point
model, not to scale. Jun reads the loop for a cold day. What goes in the blank effector box?
Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for body temperature, set point about 37 °C. Stimulus: body temperature falls below the set point. Sensor: temperature sensors. Control center: the hypothalamus, the brain's temperature control center. Effector: ? Response: heat is kept and made, and body temperature rises toward the set point. Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for body temperature, set point about 37 °C. Stimulus: body temperature falls below the set point. Sensor: temperature sensors. Control center: the hypothalamus, the brain's temperature control center. Effector: ? Response: heat is kept and made, and body temperature rises toward the set point. Feedback loop set point about 37 degC Stimulus: body temperature falls below the set point Sensor: temperature sensors Control center: the hypothalamus the brain's temperature control center Effector: Response: heat is kept and made, and body temperature rises toward the set point - Skin blood vessels that widen and sweat glands that release sweat
- Temperature sensors that detect the fall in temperature
- Skin blood vessels that narrow and muscles that shiver
- The hypothalamus, which compares the value with the set point
“model, not to scale” After a meal the glucose level rises. Kira reads the loop. What goes in the blank control center box?
Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for the glucose level, normal range about 70 to 100 mg/dL. Stimulus: the glucose level rises after a meal. Sensor: cells of the pancreas. Control center: ? Effector: liver, muscle and fat cells that take up glucose. Response: the glucose level falls toward the normal range. Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for the glucose level, normal range about 70 to 100 mg/dL. Stimulus: the glucose level rises after a meal. Sensor: cells of the pancreas. Control center: ? Effector: liver, muscle and fat cells that take up glucose. Response: the glucose level falls toward the normal range. normal range about 70 to 100 mg/dL Stimulus: glucose level rises after a meal Sensor: cells of the pancreas Control center: ? Effector: liver, muscle and fat cells that take up glucose Response: glucose level falls toward the normal range - The pancreas, which releases the hormone insulin
- The pancreas, which releases the hormone glucagon
- The kidneys, which release the hormone ADH
- The liver, which releases the hormone insulin
Use this
Two cases (model, not to scale), each starting when body temperature rises above about 37 °C. Case 1: sweat is released, and body temperature falls back toward 37 °C. Case 2: muscles make extra heat, and body temperature rises more.
Milo compares two cases for a rise in body temperature. Which case is negative feedback?
- Case 2, because negative means the change harms the body
- Case 2, because a negative loop makes the change grow bigger
- Neither case, because the temperature changes in both cases
- Case 1, because the response reverses the rise
Use this
Two cases (model, not to scale). Case 1: after a meal the glucose level rises above its normal range of about 70 to 100 mg/dL, and the pancreas releases a hormone that lowers it. Case 2: between meals the glucose level falls below that range, and the pancreas releases a different hormone.
Noah reads two cases about the glucose level. Which hormone is released in Case 2?
- Insulin, which brings the glucose level up
- ADH, which brings the glucose level up
- Glucagon, which raises the glucose level
- Insulin, which brings the glucose level down
Pia compares two model loops for a level X. Which case is positive feedback?
Two model loops (not to scale) for a level X. Case 1: X rises, and the response lowers X back toward its set point. Case 2: X rises, and the response makes X rise more, until an end point is reached. Two model loops (not to scale) for a level X. Case 1: X rises, and the response lowers X back toward its set point. Case 2: X rises, and the response makes X rise more, until an end point is reached. Case 1 level X X rises response lowers X toward its set point Case 2 level X X rises response makes X rise more end point - Neither case, because X changes in both loops
- Both cases, because each one starts with a rise in X
- Case 2, because the response pushes the change further
- Case 1, because the response brings the level back to normal
Ren reads a graph of body temperature at rest. Which statement matches the graph?
Model graph of body temperature at rest (model data). Time since waking (hours) across, 0 to 8, a mark every 2. Body temperature (°C) up, 36 to 38, a mark every 0.5. The line joins (0, 36.8), (2, 37.1), (4, 36.9), (6, 37.2), (8, 37) with straight pieces. The set point is about 37 °C. Model graph of body temperature at rest (model data). Time since waking (hours) across, 0 to 8, a mark every 2. Body temperature (°C) up, 36 to 38, a mark every 0.5. The line joins (0, 36.8), (2, 37.1), (4, 36.9), (6, 37.2), (8, 37) with straight pieces. The set point is about 37 °C. Model graph of body temperature at rest (model data) 0 2 4 6 8 36 36.5 37 37.5 38 Time since waking (hours) Body temperature ( degC) The set point is about 37 degC - It rises steadily across the eight hours of the graph
- It falls below 36 °C at hour 4 and stays there
- It wobbles a little above and below the set point of about 37 °C
- It holds at exactly 37 °C throughout the eight hours
Tala reads a graph of the glucose level between meals. Which statement matches the graph?
Model graph of the glucose level between meals (model data). Time since the last meal (hours) across, 0 to 4, a mark every 1. Glucose level (mg/dL) up, 60 to 120, a mark every 20. The line joins (0, 90), (1, 85), (2, 92), (3, 88), (4, 90) with straight pieces. The normal range is about 70 to 100 mg/dL. Model graph of the glucose level between meals (model data). Time since the last meal (hours) across, 0 to 4, a mark every 1. Glucose level (mg/dL) up, 60 to 120, a mark every 20. The line joins (0, 90), (1, 85), (2, 92), (3, 88), (4, 90) with straight pieces. The normal range is about 70 to 100 mg/dL. Model graph of the glucose level between meals (model data) 0 1 2 3 4 60 80 100 120 Time since the last meal (hours) Glucose level (mg/dL) - It falls below 70 mg/dL at hour 3
- It wobbles a little, staying inside the normal range
- It holds at exactly 90 mg/dL the whole time
- It rises above 100 mg/dL by hour 4
Zee reads the ADH loop. Which part is the effector, the part that carries out the response?
Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for body fluid volume. Stimulus: body fluid volume is low. Control center: the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary, which make and release ADH. Effector: the kidneys. Response: the kidneys take back more water, less water is lost, and body fluid volume rises toward normal. Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for body fluid volume. Stimulus: body fluid volume is low. Control center: the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary, which make and release ADH. Effector: the kidneys. Response: the kidneys take back more water, less water is lost, and body fluid volume rises toward normal. Stimulus body fluid volume is low the hypothalamus and posterior pituitary the kidneys take back more water less water is lost body fluid volume rises make and release ADH toward normal Feedback loop (model, not to scale) for body fluid volume - The hypothalamus, which makes ADH
- The posterior pituitary, which releases ADH
- The kidneys, which take back water
- The low body fluid volume that starts the loop