Advancing physiology education by understanding the multiple dimensions of homeostasis

Abstract

Homeostasis of the internal environment has been considered the central organizing concept of physiology. However, current definitions of it in textbooks and online teaching sources do not sufficiently reflect how homeostasis serves its central unifying role. Meanwhile, scientific understanding of the functions of the body’s structures at multiple levels (molecular, cell, tissue, organ, organ system, and organism) has advanced significantly, but the understanding of homeostasis is still in the same place. In this article, the author describes some issues and insufficiencies in teaching about homeostasis in physiology education and proposes that homeostasis needs to be understood in terms of four dimensions rather than a simple definition: internal, functional organization; functional manifestation; mechanism; and effect or consequence. Each dimension has two subdimensions or sides. Throughout the elucidation of these dimensions and subdimensions, the original meaning of homeostasis is reinforced, what is lost in current understanding of homeostasis becomes clear, some insufficiencies mentioned above are supplemented, new insights into homeostasis develop, and how the four dimensions of homeostasis can be applied to physiology education is exampled. This new, comprehensive conceptualization advances the understanding of homeostasis and can facilitate teaching and learning about homeostasis and physiology.