Final answer:
The negative feedback system of the respiratory system involves increased breathing rate and volume in response to low oxygen levels, with the carotid body as the sensor and the diaphragm as the effector, controlled by respiratory centers in the medulla to maintain homeostasis.
Step-by-step explanation:
The student asked about creating a cartoon illustration of the negative feedback system of the respiratory system, which is a biological concept. In response to oxygen deprivation, the body increases breathing rate and the volume of breaths. This process involves four key components: the sensor (carotid body), the control center (respiratory centers in the medulla), the effector (diaphragm), and the communication pathway between them. When oxygen levels drop, the carotid body sends a signal to the respiratory centers of the brainstem. The medulla processes this information and instructs the diaphragm to adjust breathing accordingly.
To maintain homeostasis, this negative feedback loop ensures that any deviation from normal oxygen levels is corrected by altering the respiratory rate. The body cannot sustain breath-holding indefinitely because eventually, the carbon dioxide levels will rise, triggering the urge to breathe to restore normal gas concentrations. This is akin to the involuntary control of the heart rate in trained individuals, although the heart has more autonomy compared to the respiratory system in terms of voluntary control.