Final answer:
The correct answer is c) Yes, but only when the set point is exceeded. Homeostatic feedback mechanisms work to maintain physiological variables within a normal range around a set point through negative feedback.
Step-by-step explanation:
The goal of a homeostatic feedback loop is indeed to maintain a regulated variable at a constant value or within a normal range. This is done primarily through a mechanism known as negative feedback. Negative feedback works by detecting a change (a stimulus) from a set point, assessed by receptors, leading to a response aimed at countering the change and bringing the variable back toward the set point or keeping it within a normal range. For example, if body temperature rises above the set point of approximately 37°C (98.6°F), mechanisms such as sweating are activated to cool the body down.
Maintaining homeostasis is crucial as it involves the constant monitoring of physiological conditions like body temperature and blood pressure, ensuring that these parameters fluctuate only within a normal range that is optimal for health and stability. This is indicative that the correction answer to the student's multiple-choice question is: c) Yes, but only when the set point is exceeded