Final answer:
The natural tendency of the body to keep internal conditions stable, referred to as homeostasis, involves maintaining equilibrium around a set point despite external changes.
Step-by-step explanation:
The natural tendency of the body to keep the internal environment and metabolism steady and normal is called homeostasis. This biological concept explains how living organisms maintain stable conditions within their bodies despite external changes, such as fluctuations in temperature or availability of resources. The goal of homeostasis is the maintenance of equilibrium around a specific value, known as the set point, of some aspect of the body or its cells. Equilibrium in the context of organismal homeostasis refers to the process of maintaining a stable internal environment through constant adjustment, ensuring that bodily functions remain within a certain range without drastic fluctuations. For example, if body temperature rises, mechanisms such as sweating and increased blood flow to the skin are activated to cool the body down back to its set point.