BIO 223 Homeostasis and Feedback Loops

What is homeostasis

the maintenance of a relatively constant internal environment

what are variables

conditions maintained within narrow ranges

which body systems mainly do regulation

nervous and endocrine body systems

what are the characteristics of an nervous system regulation response

quick and brief response

what are the characteristics of an endocrine system regulation response

slower and longer lasting

what is homeostasis regulated by

feedback loops

what are the two different types of feed back loops

negative and positive feedback loops

what are the components of a feedback loop

1. receptor, 2. control center, 3. effector

what does a receptor do

monitors value of a variable

what does the control center do

establishes a set point and gets info from a receptor

what does an effector do

generates a response that will change the value of a variable

what is the most common type of feedback loog

negative feedback loop

what does a negative feedback loop do

produces a response that opposes the initial stimulus

what is an example of a stimulus and response in negative feedback loop

stimulus - decrease in temperature, response - shiver and increase in temperature

what does the response in a positive feedback loop do

increase/enhance the initial stimulus

if a positive feedback loop increase/enhances the initial stimulus, when will it stop

when the initial stimulus goes away

what is an example of a positive feedback loop

child birth, contractions are very mild at first and get more intense until child is born

what is a homeostatic imbalance

disturbances in homeostasis that can lead to death or illness if not corrected

what is a disorder

any abnormality in form or function in the human body

what are signs

objective change in the body that can be recognized, observed, and measured

what are symptoms

subjective changes that may not be apparent

what is disease

a specific term for an illness that is characterized by signs and symptoms

what is diagnosis

the ability to distinguish one disease from another

what is pathology

the study of the science of a disease