U3_Lesson 3.2 - Negative Feedback Loop Systems

Homeostasis

The process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable and constant conditions.

Negative Feedback

A mechanism of response in which a stimulus initiates reactions that reduce the effect of the stimulus.

Positive Feedback

A process in which a change or event increases the output of a system.

Thermoregulation

The process by which the body maintains its core internal temperature.

Hyperthermia

A condition caused by an excessively high body temperature.

Hypothermia

A condition that occurs when the body loses heat faster than it can produce it, causing a dangerously low body temperature.

Insulin

A hormone produced by beta cells of the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels.

Glucagon

A hormone produced by alpha cells of the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels.

Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System (RAAS)

A hormone system that regulates blood pressure and fluid balance by adjusting vasoconstriction and sodium and water retention.

Calcitonin

A hormone released by the thyroid gland that lowers blood calcium levels.

Parathyroid Hormone (PTH)

A hormone that increases blood calcium levels by stimulating bone resorption.

Vasodilation

The expansion of blood vessels to increase blood flow, often associated with a decrease in blood pressure.

Vasoconstriction

The narrowing of blood vessels, reducing blood flow and increasing blood pressure.

Set Point

The ideal value or range of a physiological variable that the body tries to maintain.

Osteoclasts

Cells that break down bone tissue, releasing calcium into the bloodstream.

Osteoblasts

Cells that form new bone tissue and help in the buildup of bone by depositing calcium.

Glycogenesis

The process of converting glucose into glycogen for storage, primarily in the liver and muscle cells.

Glycogenolysis

The breakdown of glycogen into glucose, thereby increasing blood sugar levels.

Gluconeogenesis

The synthesis of glucose from non-carbohydrate sources, primarily in the liver.

Oxytocin

A hormone that triggers uterine contractions during childbirth and is involved in various reproductive functions.