Which process helps maintain stable internal conditions in the body?

• A. Metabolism
• B. Homeostasis
• C. Growth
• D. Digestion

Answer: (B)

Maintaining stable internal conditions is homeostasis. This is how the body keeps variables like temperature, pH, and glucose within narrow limits despite changes in the environment. It relies on feedback systems: sensors detect deviations, a control center processes the info, and effectors enact responses to restore balance. For example, when temperature rises, the body cools itself through sweating and bringing more blood to the skin; when it drops, shivering and reduced heat loss help raise it. Through these negative feedback loops, the internal environment stays relatively constant.

Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body, driving energy and function but not the regulatory process that maintains steady conditions. Growth is about getting larger and developing tissues, not keeping internal conditions stable. Digestion breaks down food for nutrients, which supports energy and resources, but it isn’t the mechanism that maintains homeostasis.