Feedback Loops

Overview

  • The body must be able to monitor its internal conditions at all times.

  • Homeostasis: the state if relatively stable internal conditions.

    • Organisms detect and respond to a stimulus

    • Think: balance

    • The body maintains homeostasis through feedback loops

Feedback Loops

  • There are two types of feedback loops: NEGATIVE and POSITIVE

Terms to know:

  • Stimulus: a variable that will cause a response

  • Receptor/sensor: sensory organs that detects a stimulus. this info is sent to the control center

  • Effector: muscle or gland that will respond

  • Response: changes (decreases or increases) the effect of the stimulus

Negative Feedback

  • The most common feedback mechanism

  • This type of feedback REDUCES the effect of the stimulus

    • Examples:

      • Sweat

      • Blood sugar

      • Breathing rate

Positive Feedback

  • This type of feedback increases the effect of a stimulus

    • Examples:

      • Child labor

      • Blood Clotting

      • Fruit ripening