Osmoregulation

A.K Johnson

doi:10.1016/B978-008045046-9.00463-0

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Book chapter

Osmoregulation

A.K Johnson

Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, pp.309-316

Elsevier Ltd

2009

DOI: 10.1016/B978-008045046-9.00463-0

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Abstract

Osmoregulation refers to the physiological processes that maintain a fixed concentration of cell membrane-impermeable molecules and ions in the fluid that surrounds cells. Broadly viewed, osmoregulation involves (1) multiple body-to-brain signaling mechanisms reporting the status of total body fluids and of the distribution of fluids in the body, (2) a brain neural network (the visceral neuraxis) which receives and integrates body fluid-related input, and (3) reflex (autonomic and endocrine) and behavioral (thirst- and sodium appetite-related behaviors) mechanisms that are controlled and activated by the visceral neuraxis. Because water is essential to life, osmoregulation is vital to health and well-being of humans and other animals.

Area postrema

Baroreceptors

Effective osmolality

Extracellular fluid compartment

Intracellular fluid compartment

Lamina terminalis

Nax channels

Organum vasculosum of the lamina terminalis

Osmoreceptors

Sensory circumventricular organs

Sodium receptors

Subfornical organ

TRPV1

TRPV4 channels

Visceral neural network

Details

Title: Subtitle: Osmoregulation
Creators: A.K Johnson - University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Resource Type: Book chapter
Publication Details: Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, pp.309-316
DOI: 10.1016/B978-008045046-9.00463-0
Publisher: Elsevier Ltd
Language: English
Date published: 2009
Academic Unit: Psychological and Brain Sciences; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Health, Sport, and Human Physiology
Record Identifier: 9984213430402771

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