HAN 200 Chapter Notes - Chapter 1: Blood Sugar, Homeostasis, Dynamic Equilibrium
Document Summary
* describe how negative and positive feedback maintain body homeostasis. * describe the relationship between homeostatic imbalance and disease. Homeostasis: the body"s ability to maintain relatively stable internal conditions even though the outside world changes continuously; a dynamic state of equilibrium, or a balance, in which internal conditions vary, but always within relatively narrow limits. Information (output) then flows from the control center to the effector along the efferent pathway (exits: effector: provides the means for the control center"s response (output) to the stimulus. The results of the response then feed back to influence the effect of the stimulus, either: Negative feedback: reducing it so that the whole control process is shut off. Positive feedback: enhancing it so that the whole process: negative feedback mechanisms continues at an even faster rate. Make up the majority of homeostatic control mechanisms. The output shuts off the original effects of the stimulus or reduces its intensity.