HomeostasisThe tendency to resist change in order to maintain a stable, relatively constant internal environment
Explanation:
The body maintains homeostasis for many factors. Some of these include body temperature, blood glucose, and various pH levels.
Homeostasis is maintained at many levels, not just the level of the whole body as it is for temperature. For instance, the stomach maintains a pH that's different from that of surrounding organs, and each individual cell maintains ion concentrations different from those of the surrounding fluid. Maintaining homeostasis at each level is key to maintaining the body's overall function.
Feedback loops
Homeostasis typically involves negative feedback loops that counteract changes of various properties from their target values. An example of a negative feedback loop is body temperature regulation.
Example of negative feedback loop
Example of negative feedback loop
The maintaining of body temperature is an example of a negative feedback loop. When body temperature increases, there are mechanisms that work to decrease temperature, and vice versa.
In contrast to negative feedback loops, positive feedback loops amplify their initiating stimuli, in other words, they move the system away from its starting state.
Example of positive feedback loop
Negative feedback loop=
Feedback loop that acts to oppose the triggering stimulus
Positive feedback loop=Feedback loop that amplifies the starting signal
Cell=Smallest unit of life
TissueMade of a group of similar cells that work together on a specific task
OrganStructure made up of two or more tissues, organized to carry out a
specific function
Organ systemGroups of organs with related functions
