Feedback loops

Front

What is a feedback loop?

Back

A feedback loop is a biological mechanism that helps maintain homeostasis by regulating internal conditions in response to changes in the environment.

Front

What is homeostasis?

Back

Homeostasis is the process by which living organisms regulate their internal environment to maintain stable, constant conditions.

Front

What is a negative feedback loop?

Back

A negative feedback loop is a process that counteracts a change in a system, helping to return it to its set point or normal state.

Front

What is a positive feedback loop?

Back

A positive feedback loop is a process that amplifies a change or deviation from a set point, leading to an even greater change.

Front

Give an example of a negative feedback loop in the human body.

Back

An example of a negative feedback loop is the regulation of body temperature: when the body temperature rises, mechanisms like sweating are activated to cool it down.

Front

Give an example of a positive feedback loop in the human body.

Back

An example of a positive feedback loop is childbirth, where the release of oxytocin increases contractions, leading to more oxytocin release.

Front

What role do feedback loops play in maintaining homeostasis?

Back

Feedback loops help detect changes in the internal environment and initiate responses to restore balance, ensuring the body functions optimally.

Front

What happens if homeostasis is not maintained?

Back

Failure to maintain homeostasis can lead to lack of internal balance, difficulty in metabolism, and can ultimately result in death.

Front

What is the 'stimulus' in a feedback loop?

Back

The stimulus is a change in the environment that triggers a response in the feedback loop.

Front

What is the 'response' in a feedback loop?

Back

The response is the action taken by the body to counteract the stimulus and restore balance.