Practice Question
The nurse explains that the body uses various physiologic mechanisms to keep the internal environment in a balanced state. What is this called?
Answer Choices:
Correct Answer:
Homeostasis
Rationale:
🔷 Homeostasis is the term used to describe the body’s ability to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in the external environment.
🔷 It involves constant regulation of temperature, pH, fluid balance, electrolytes, and glucose levels to keep them within a narrow, safe range.
🔷 Multiple body systems (e.g., endocrine, nervous, renal) work together through feedback mechanisms, especially negative feedback, to maintain this balance.
🔷 When homeostasis is disrupted, the body triggers compensatory mechanisms to restore equilibrium and protect organ function.
🔷 Understanding homeostasis is foundational in nursing because many diseases and nursing interventions relate to imbalances in internal regulation.
Perfusion
🔷 Perfusion refers to the delivery of oxygenated blood to tissues, which is one component of overall physiology but not the global concept of internal balance.
🔷 It is important for homeostasis, but it does not encompass all regulatory processes in the body.
Catabolism
🔷 Catabolism is the breakdown of complex molecules into simpler ones, releasing energy, and is part of metabolism.
🔷 It is a metabolic process, not the overarching concept of maintaining a balanced internal environment.
Osmosis
🔷 Osmosis is the movement of water across a semipermeable membrane from low solute to high solute concentration.
🔷 It is one mechanism used in homeostasis but does not represent the entire concept of body-wide internal balance.
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This question is from Custom N1100 Fall 25 Comprehensive Final Exam which contains 86 questions.
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From Exam
Custom N1100 Fall 25 Comprehensive Final Exam
86 Questions
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- Category: RN Nursing Exam(s)
- Subcategory: ATI Exam(s)
- Domain: RN Custom Exam(s)
- Answer Choices: 4