Final answer:
It is true that homeostatic reactions are typically maintained by negative feedback loops, which work to counteract deviations from the set point and maintain physiological stability within an organism.
Step-by-step explanation:
Homeostatic reactions are predominantly maintained by negative feedback loops, which are integral for an organism to maintain homeostasis.
This is a true statement. Negative feedback mechanisms help to regulate physiological processes by reversing any deviation from an organism's set point, thus keeping the internal environment stable and within a narrow range.
When a body's system deviates from its normal range, negative feedback loops work to correct the fluctuation and return the system to its set point.
For example, the regulation of blood glucose levels involves negative feedback loops: after eating, insulin is released to lower high blood sugar levels, and when blood sugar levels are too low, glucagon is secreted to increase them.
Unlike negative feedback, positive feedback loops drive the system away from equilibrium by amplifying a change, and they lead to a greater deviation from the set point.
These loops are less common and usually occur as part of a process that needs to rapidly complete, such as childbirth, where the release of oxytocin increases the intensity of contractions.
Overall, negative feedback mechanisms are critical to the functioning of the nervous and endocrine systems, which are central to maintaining homeostasis in mammals.
Conditions such as diabetes illustrate the consequences of homeostatic imbalance, which can arise when these feedback mechanisms are not functioning correctly.