Final answer:
Negative feedback is a mechanism in the body that helps maintain stability and balance by counteracting or reversing a change in a variable. It provides stability, control, and protection against extreme fluctuations.
Step-by-step explanation:
Negative feedback is a mechanism in the body that helps maintain homeostasis, or a stable internal environment. It works by counteracting or reversing a change in a particular variable, such as body temperature or blood glucose levels, in order to bring it back to normal. This is done through a feedback loop, where a stimulus triggers a response that opposes the initial change. For example, if body temperature increases, negative feedback mechanisms will work to bring it back down.
There are several benefits of negative feedback in living organisms:
- Stability: Negative feedback helps to maintain stability and balance within the body. By continuously adjusting variables to stay within the normal range, negative feedback mechanisms ensure that bodily functions can efficiently carry on.
- Control: Negative feedback provides precise control over bodily processes. It allows the body to respond to changes in its environment and make the necessary adjustments to maintain optimal conditions.
- Protection: Negative feedback serves as a protective mechanism against extreme fluctuations in variables. It prevents variables from deviating too far from their set points, which can be harmful to the body.