Final answer:
Homeostasis is the process of maintaining balance in an organism’s internal environment, involving a dynamic equilibrium essential for cellular function and health. The plasma membrane plays a crucial role by facilitating the movement of molecules necessary for this balance.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homeostasis is C) the process of maintaining balance in an organism’s internal environment. This involves homeostatic regulation, ensuring that the internal conditions of the body remain within narrow ranges, despite external or internal changes. Homeostasis is a form of dynamic equilibrium, which is essential for proper cellular function and overall health.
The plasma membrane plays a vital role in homeostasis by the constant movement of molecules across it, maintaining the balance of substances within the body. Adjustments in the body are made continuously to react appropriately to the ever-changing internal and external environments. The fluid nature of the plasma membrane is crucial as it allows the components necessary for maintaining balance to move where needed.
Homeostasis is not a static, but rather a constantly adapting state, ensuring that an organism's metabolic processes stay within life-supporting parameters. Understandably, as the body is a complex system of interconnected reactions, maintaining homeostasis is essential for good health.