Living things share many basic characteristics and needs. One characteristic is the need to maintain the internal conditions of their bodies, even if outside conditions change. Maintaining ___________ involves controlling the balance of water and minerals in the body, responding to changes in the environment, and controlling metabolism.
In biology, homeostasis is the state of steady internal, physical, and chemical conditions maintained by living systems. This is the condition of optimal functioning for the organism and includes many variables, such as body temperature and fluid balance, being kept within certain pre-set limits.
