Lecture Notes for Feedback Loops

These flashcards cover key concepts related to feedback loops and cell communication as discussed in the lecture.

Negative Feedback Loops

Processes that return the body to a set point.

Hypothalamus

Part of the brain that acts as a control center for maintaining homeostasis.

Effectors

Organs that fix the problem in a feedback loop.

Homeostasis

Maintaining body conditions.

Blood Glucose Homeostasis

Process involving the pancreas, liver, and body cells to regulate blood glucose levels.

Insulin

A hormone released by the pancreas that lowers blood glucose levels.

Glucagon

A hormone released by the pancreas that raises blood glucose levels.

Positive Feedback Loops

Processes that move the body away from a set point.

Oxytocin

A hormone that stimulates uterine contractions during childbirth.

Endocrine Communication

Involves secretion of hormones into the bloodstream to act on target cells.

Neurons

Cells in the nervous system that communicate via neurotransmitters.

Signal Transduction

The process by which a signal molecule activates a receptor and initiates a cellular response.

G Protein

A protein that transmits signals from outside the cell to inside, activating other cellular processes.

Protein Kinase

An enzyme that modifies other proteins by adding phosphate groups, affecting their activity.