In order to function properly it’s important for the body to be able to control certain internal conditions.

Water content

Too much water or too little water can be very bad for the cells in your body. This is why the body needs to control water loss and it does so in three main ways:

• through the skin as sweat
• through the lungs when we exhale
• through the kidneys in urine

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Ion content

Ion or salt levels are important in maintaining water levels in the cells. The body is able to control ion loss via:

• the skin as sweat
• the kidneys in urine

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Body temperature

Enzymes can only work at certain temperature and so it’s important for the body to control how hot or cold it gets. It manages this is by:

• shivering to heat the body up
• sweating to cool the body down
• changing the amount of blood flowing to the surface of the skin

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Blood sugar levels

This is what supplies the cells with energy. It’s controlled by the amount of glucose being stored or released which, in turn, is managed up the hormone insulin.

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Hormones

Within the body there are a number of processes which are controlled by hormones. These are chemical substances that are secreted by glands. Usually, they’re able to reach their target organ by being carried in the bloodstream. Hormones are able to control a variety of different functions in a multitude of cells and organs. One very important function for the survival of our species is the menstrual cycle.