Question

How do the lungs help maintain homeostasis in the body?

Answer 1

Hint: Homeostasis is the steady state of maintaining the body's internal environment irrespective of the outside conditions of the environment.

Complete answer:
Lungs are spongy, air filled primary respiratory organs located in the thoracic cavity. Lungs are situated right above the diaphragm. The main function of lungs is to help oxygen from the air we breathe enter the red cells in the blood. Red blood cells then carry oxygen around the body. The lungs also help the body to get rid of carbon dioxide by exhalation of breath.

The capacity of living beings to perpetuate a consistent internal environment is referred to as homeostasis. The respiratory system and especially the lungs play an important role in maintaining homeostasis in the body. Gas exchange in the lungs is one of the ways that the respiratory system helps maintain homeostasis. This gaseous exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide takes place in alveolar sacs present in the lungs.

As blood passes through the tiny capillaries in the alveolar sacs there are changes in the pressure gradients which allows gases to diffuse in and out of the blood capillaries. The process of gas exchange in the lungs also helps maintain acid-base balance in the body. Thus lungs also help maintain the pH level. If the pH of the blood becomes too acidic, the breathing rate increases.

The increased breathing rate reduces the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. So the blood pH increases and comes to a normal level. If the pH of the blood becomes too alkaline, the breathing rate decreases. The decreased breathing rate increases the amount of carbon dioxide in the blood. So the blood pH lowers and comes to a normal level.

Note: Lungs are a site of gaseous exchange and also maintain pH of blood. Both these enlist that lungs maintain homeostasis in the body. The importance of homeostasis is as follows,
1)It helps in maintenance of optimal conditions for enzyme action in the body
2)It helps in maintenance of constant internal environment irrespective of external changes