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Summary of negative feedback loop and positive feedback in
homeostasis

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inal answer:

Homeostasis is maintained through negative feedback loops, which adjust conditions back toward a set point, and through less common positive feedback loops, which amplify changes until an end point is reached. Negative feedback includes insulin release to regulate blood sugar, while positive feedback includes oxytocin release during childbirth.

Step-by-step explanation:

Understanding Homeostasis and Feedback Loops

Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions. It is primarily maintained through negative feedback loops, which work to counteract changes that move conditions away from a target set point. When a variable such as body temperature or blood sugar level begins to move away from a normal range, negative feedback mechanisms bring it back to the midpoint. For example, when blood sugar rises, the pancreas secretes insulin to lower it, thereby maintaining balance.

In contrast, positive feedback loops amplify the changes that push systems away from equilibrium but are usually less common. An example of positive feedback can be seen in childbirth, where the secretion of the hormone oxytocin intensifies uterine contractions until birth occurs, despite moving the system away from its normal state. While these mechanisms can temporarily push the organism out of homeostasis, they can be necessary for certain processes, such as giving birth.

Both feedback mechanisms are critical for the healthy functioning of organisms and are controlled by the nervous and endocrine systems in mammals. While negative feedback is associated with maintaining equilibrium, positive feedback is typically associated with reaching a climactic event and then terminating.

User Yuan He
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Final answer:

Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite changing external conditions. Negative feedback loops prevent excessive responses to stimuli, while positive feedback loops amplify responses and move the system further away from the set point.

Step-by-step explanation:

Homeostasis is the ability of the body to maintain a stable internal environment despite a changing external environment. It is regulated by negative feedback loops and, less frequently, by positive feedback loops. Negative feedback mechanisms work to prevent an excessive response to a stimulus and help regulate homeostasis. For example, if your blood sugar level rises after eating jelly donuts, your pancreas releases insulin to decrease blood sugar levels, bringing them back to the appropriate set point. On the other hand, positive feedback amplifies responses in the same direction and moves the system further away from the set point. An example of positive feedback is the onset of labor in childbirth, where uterine contractions increase in strength with the secretion of oxytocin.

User G SriHAri
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