Physiology Chapter 1 Question 4

Physiology Chapter 1 Question 4

Short Answer Essay Question: In addition to being able to metabolize, grow, digest food, and excrete wastes, what functions must an organism perform if it is to survive?

          In addition to being able to metabolize, grow, digest food, and excrete wastes, an organism requires a few more additional needs in order to survive. The human body have several factors called survival needs which include nutrients, oxygen, water and appropriate temperature and atmospheric pressure. The body needs nutrients for energy and cell building. Oxygen is used to release energy from foods.Without oxygen, nutrients would be of no use because the chemical reactions require oxygen. Oxygen is also about 20 percent of the air we breathe. Our body is made up of 60 to 80 percent of water. Water is also the base of bodily secretions and excretions. Other than that, body temperature must be maintained around 37 degrees Celsius. Most body heat is generated bt the activity of the skeletal muscles. Atmospheric pressure also plays a role in our body due to how we can carry our weight Breathing and the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide in the lungs depend on appropriate atmospheric pressure. Lastly,everything must be present in appropriate amounts because too much or too less of anything is life threatening.