Which of the following best describes the term homeostasis?

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B, 'The ability to maintain a stable internal environment.' Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to regulate and maintain a stable internal environment, which includes variables like body temperature, pH levels, and fluid balance. It involves processes that help keep the body's internal conditions within a narrow range, despite external changes. While maintaining body temperature is a component of homeostasis, it is not the complete definition of the term. Choice C, 'The ability to increase body temperature when cold,' is incorrect as homeostasis aims to maintain stability rather than promoting temperature increases in response to external conditions. Choice D, 'The ability to regulate blood glucose levels,' is also incorrect as this is a specific function related to glucose homeostasis, which is a part of overall homeostatic processes but not the sole definition of homeostasis itself.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: 'To regulate hormones.' The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating hormones and maintaining homeostasis by controlling various functions such as hunger, thirst, body temperature, and sleep-wake cycles. While digestion, body temperature, and the immune system are important bodily functions, they are not primarily controlled by the hypothalamus. Therefore, choices A, C, and D are incorrect as they do not accurately represent the primary function of the hypothalamus.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is the Hypothalamus. The hypothalamus plays a crucial role in regulating body temperature, hunger, thirst, and maintaining overall homeostasis in the body. It receives input from temperature receptors in the skin and internal organs and helps initiate responses to maintain a stable internal body temperature. Acting as the body's thermostat, the hypothalamus adjusts responses to ensure the body's temperature remains within a narrow range, despite external conditions. The Cerebellum (Choice B) is primarily involved in coordinating movement and balance, not regulating body temperature. The Pituitary gland (Choice C) is responsible for producing and secreting hormones that regulate various bodily functions but not directly involved in body temperature regulation. The Thyroid gland (Choice D) plays a role in metabolism and hormone regulation but is not the primary regulator of body temperature.

Correct Answer: A

Rationale: The correct answer is A: 'To break down food into nutrients.' The primary function of the digestive system is to break down food into nutrients that can be absorbed by the body for energy, growth, and repair. The digestive system is not responsible for absorbing oxygen (Choice B), as that is the role of the respiratory system. While the digestion process does release energy from nutrients, the primary function is not to produce energy (Choice C), but rather to extract nutrients for energy production. Regulating body temperature (Choice D) is primarily handled by the thermoregulatory mechanisms in the body, such as the skin and sweat glands, not the digestive system.

Correct Answer: B

Rationale: The correct answer is B: Neuron. Neurons are indeed the basic structural and functional units of the nervous system. Neurons are specialized cells that transmit signals throughout the nervous system, enabling communication and coordination of various functions within the body. While axons, dendrites, and synapses are all essential components of neurons and neural function, the neuron as a whole is considered the fundamental building block responsible for signal transmission. Choice A, Axon, is incorrect because an axon is a part of a neuron responsible for transmitting electrical signals away from the cell body. Choice C, Dendrite, is incorrect because dendrites are extensions of a neuron that receive signals from other neurons. Choice D, Synapse, is incorrect because a synapse is the junction between two neurons where signals are transmitted.