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Anatomy & Physiology: Homeostasis and Feedback Mechanisms

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  • What is homeostasis?

    Homeostasis is the maintenance of a stable internal environment within a range suitable for cell activities despite external and internal changes.

  • Name the common functions shared by all living things.

    Responsiveness, growth, reproduction, movement, and metabolism.

  • What is responsiveness in living organisms?

    Responsiveness is the ability to respond to changes in the immediate environment, also called irritability.

  • Define growth in biological terms.

    Growth is an increase in size of an organism by cell growth or addition of new cells, often involving cellular differentiation.

  • What is metabolism?

    Metabolism is the sum of all chemical reactions in the body that provide energy for functions like responsiveness, growth, reproduction, and movement.

  • List the three main metabolic processes mentioned.

    Respiration, digestion, and excretion.

  • Why is homeostasis important for cells?

    Cells are sensitive to changes in temperature, pH, blood pressure, and molecule concentrations; loss of homeostasis disrupts cell function and can cause sickness or death.

  • What are the three components of a homeostatic feedback loop?

    Receptor (sensor), control center (integration center), and effector.

  • What role does the receptor play in homeostasis?

    The receptor senses changes (stimuli) in the environment and sends information to the control center.

  • What is the function of the control center in homeostasis?

    The control center receives information from the receptor and directs the body how to respond, usually the CNS or endocrine organs.

  • What does the effector do in a feedback loop?

    The effector carries out the response directed by the control center to influence the stimulus.

  • Explain negative feedback in homeostasis.

    Negative feedback produces a response that opposes the original stimulus, reversing the direction of change to maintain stability.

  • Give an example of negative feedback controlling body temperature.

    If body temperature rises, receptors detect it, the brain signals effectors like sweat glands and blood vessels to cool the body, restoring normal temperature.

  • How does the body respond when body temperature falls below normal?

    The brain signals effectors to reduce sweating, constrict blood vessels, and cause shivering to increase body temperature.

  • What is positive feedback?

    Positive feedback amplifies or intensifies a change by reinforcing the original stimulus, often in rare or urgent processes.

  • Provide an example of positive feedback in the body.

    During childbirth, oxytocin release causes uterine contractions, which stimulate more oxytocin release, amplifying contractions until delivery.

  • How does positive feedback work in blood clotting?

    Chemicals released by damaged blood vessels accelerate clotting, which in turn releases more chemicals to speed up the process until bleeding stops.

  • Why is negative feedback more common than positive feedback?

    Negative feedback maintains stability by reversing changes frequently, while positive feedback is used for rapid completion of specific processes.

  • What happens if positive feedback occurs in body temperature regulation?

    It would cause body temperature to rise uncontrollably, which is harmful; thus, negative feedback is used instead.

  • What is the set point in homeostasis?

    The set point is the normal value or range that the body tries to maintain for a regulated variable.