Question

how does the liver maintain homeostasis in dolphins?

Answer 1

Answer) Homeostasis is defined as an equilibrium state at which the physiological process are maintained in the system. Dolphins, are comon aquatic mammal that comes under the category or order of cetaceae

2)Thermoregulation of Dolphin in sea:- As Dolphins coms under the category of mammals, they maintain constant temperature of the body. The shape of the dolphin's body is in fusiform and the size of the limb is short, thereby this dimension helps in the conservation of body heat by reducing the surface are (exposed) to the external environment. There is a countercurrent mechanism that exhibits in dolphins i.e. they transfers heat from arteries to vein, in contact with each other and thereby warming the blood that returns to the heart. This is known as counter current heat exchange and this helps in maintaining body warm by preventing venous blood to enter organs (internal) such as heart.

3) Anatomy of Liver:- Liver of Dolphin possess unusual features that helps in the adaptation of diving. These possess thick walls in arteries, thickening of vascular walls and presence of sinuosoids (centrilobular), secreation of cytoplasmic vacuoles. Triads possess connective tissue.

4) Liver maintaining Homeostasis:- Liver maintains homeostasis by (a) Blood glucose regulation(b) Bile production

(a) Blood glucose regulation:- Liver maintains blood glucose regulation by providing constant energy supply of oxidizable substrates. Liver started building up glucose during feeding condition, and store the energy in the form of glycogen and triglycerides and during fasting (when food is not available) to the body, ketone bodies and glucose are released. It follows a gluconeogenesis steps. The major signalling process that takes place between fasting and non fasting state is insulin, glucagon and glucose. This helps in carbohydrate metabolism in dolphins and some irregular signalling may lead to metabolic errors or disorders

(b) Bile production:- Hepato pancreatic duct of bile passage, dilates and forms glandular structure that is termed as intramuric cystic gland. This is responsible for regulation of bile pigments (Bilirubin and biliverdin). This helps in regulation of bile and thereby liver detoxification, and excretion of waste takes place simultaneosly.