The maintenance of glucose concentration within a narrow range in vertebrates is an example of what biological concept?

The maintenance of glucose concentration within a narrow range in vertebrates is a prime example of homeostasis. This concept refers to the processes that organisms use to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in their external environment. In vertebrates, maintaining a stable concentration of glucose in the bloodstream is crucial for normal cellular function and overall metabolic health. The body employs mechanisms such as insulin and glucagon secretion from the pancreas to regulate blood sugar levels, ensuring that they do not become too high (hyperglycemia) or too low (hypoglycemia). This regulation is essential for providing energy to cells and maintaining physiological balance.

Metabolism refer to all biochemical reactions that occur within an organism, which involves processes that can indeed affect glucose levels, but does not specifically focus on the maintenance of a stable internal environment. Adaptation involves evolutionary changes in species over time in response to environmental pressures, and is not directly related to the immediate regulation of physiological parameters like glucose. Homeothermy refers specifically to the process by which certain animals maintain a stable internal body temperature, which, although it is a form of homeostasis, does not address the regulation of glucose levels. Hence, the most appropriate term for the regulation of glucose levels is homeostasis.