Final answer:
Negative feedback mechanisms work to restore homeostasis by reversing deviations from a normal state, such as with blood glucose regulation. Positive feedback mechanisms amplify changes, often moving the system further away from equilibrium, like the release of oxytocin in childbirth.
Step-by-step explanation:
To answer which statement does not describe an example of a feedback mechanism that maintains homeostasis, one must understand the difference between negative and positive feedback mechanisms. Negative feedback mechanisms are processes that counteract changes in the body by initiating responses that bring conditions back to a normal range. For instance, the regulation of blood glucose levels showcases negative feedback; when blood glucose levels rise, insulin is released to lower them, and when levels fall, glucagon is released to raise them.
Positive feedback mechanisms, on the other hand, enhance or amplify changes; this leads to a greater deviation from the normal state. An example of positive feedback is the release of oxytocin during labor, which intensifies contractions. Therefore, the statement that negative feedback mechanisms maintain homeostasis whereas positive feedback drives the system away from equilibrium correctly describes the concept of feedback mechanisms in homeostasis.