Homeostasis and Feedback
What is Homeostasis❓
Textbook definition: An organisms regulation of its internal environment to maintain conditions suitable for survival
“The tendency of an organism or a cell to regulate its internal conditions, usually by a system of feedback controls, so as to stabilize health and functioning, regardless of the outside changing conditions"
History of Homeostasis
What is feedback?
Feedback is the actions taken by an organism in order to return to homeostasis after a stimulus.
Feedback Loop
Sensor
Control Center
Effector
Examples
“The control of blood sugar (glucose) by insulin is another good example of a negative feedback mechanism. When blood sugar rises, receptors in the body sense a change . In turn, the control center (pancreas) secretes insulin into the blood effectively lowering blood sugar levels. Once blood sugar levels reach homeostasis, the pancreas stops releasing insulin.”
“If the temperature drops, the body shivers to bring up the temperature and if it is too warm, the body will sweat to cool down due to evaporation.”
“When a human is hungry, metabolism slows down to conserve energy and allow the human to continue living with less food.”
Similar to the thermostat in your house - it adjusts to the temperature around it and sends off signals to balance it out. If its too cold it sends extra heat and via versa
(Nerves) - senses the environment to look for possible reasons to react
Brain or other organ
What brings you back to homeostasis
The concept of homeostasis was first described in 1865 by Claude Bernard, a French physiologist. However, the term was coined later in 1962 by the American physiologist Walter Bradford Cannon.