Positive Feedback Lecture Review

Vocabulary flashcards covering the concepts and examples of positive feedback in human physiology based on the lecture transcript.

Positive feedback

A rare physiological mechanism where an increase in a stimulus leads to a further increase in that variable, enabling processes to occur more quickly.

Pituitary gland

An endocrine gland that secretes oxytocin in response to brain signals during childbirth.

Oxytocin

A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland that causes contractions of the uterine wall and pushes the baby towards the cervix.

Platelets

Small cell fragments in the blood that attach to an injury site during blood clotting.

Childbirth positive feedback loop

A pathway where pushing against the cervix activates receptors to trigger oxytocin secretion, inducing stronger uterine contractions until the baby is born.

Blood clotting positive feedback loop

A mechanism where chemicals released from a damaged blood vessel attract platelets, which release additional chemicals to attract more platelets until the hole is completely patched over to limit blood loss.