Homeostasis

Homeostasis

The body's ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world is continuously changing; a dynamic state of equilibrium.

Homeostatic Imbalance

A disturbance of homeostasis, which can result in disease and is more common with aging.

Receptor

A sensor that monitors the environment and responds to changes (stimuli) by sending information to the control center.

Control Center

Determines the set point for a variable, analyzes information from the receptor, and determines the appropriate response.

Effector

Provides the means for the control center's response to the stimulus.

Afferent Pathway

The pathway along which information flows from the receptor to the control center.

Efferent Pathway

The pathway along which information flows from the control center to the effector.

Negative Feedback Mechanism

The most common homeostatic control mechanism; the response shuts off the original stimulus or reduces its intensity.

Positive Feedback Mechanism

A rare feedback mechanism that increases the original disturbance and pushes the variable farther from its original value, controlling infrequent events like blood clotting and childbirth