Question

Thermoregulation is an example of a negative feedback mechanism because...

Option 1. When your body temperature increases (as in a fever), the body metabolizes to increase your body temperature to kill off diseases
Option 2. When your body temperature increases or decreases, the body metabolizes to return body temperature to normal
Option 3. When your body temperature decreases (as in a cold environment), the body metabolizes to decreases your body temperature to conserve energy for later usage
Option 4. When your body temperature increases or decreases, the body metabolizes to increase or decrease your body temperature (respectively) in order to kill off diseases or to conserve energy for later usage (respectively)
Option 5. None of the above

Answer 1

Thermoregulation exemplifies a negative feedback mechanism as it involves the body's efforts to normalize temperature deviations, either cooling or heating to maintain homeostasis.

Step-by-step explanation:

Thermoregulation is an example of a negative feedback mechanism because when your body temperature increases or decreases, the body works to return body temperature to normal.

Negative feedback mechanisms aim to maintain homeostasis, which is the body's stable internal environment. When a deviation from the normal temperature is detected, the control system is activated to adjust the body temperature back towards the set point. If body temperature rises, processes like sweating and increased blood flow to the skin are initiated to cool down the body, while if body temperature falls, shivering and vasoconstriction help to conserve heat and increase the temperature.

This physiological response ensures that the body's temperature is maintained within the range required for optimal functioning, contrasting with positive feedback mechanisms which amplify a response in the same direction as the initial stimulus, such as during childbirth. Hence, Option 2 best explains this temperature regulation process.