HOMEOSTASIS

It refers to a state of balance among all the body systems needed for the body to
survive and function correctly. In homeostasis, body levels of acid, blood pressure, blood sugar,
electrolytes, energy, hormones, oxygen, proteins, and temperature are constantly adjusted to
respond to changes inside and outside the body, to keep them at a normal level.
There are three components involved in homeostasis:
Receptor - receives the stimulus and sends input to the control center.
Control center - processes the signal received from the receptor and sends instructions
(output command) to the effector. The control center also sets the range of values to be
maintained.
Effector - carries out instructions from the control center by producing a response or
effect that changes the controlled condition.
Feedback mechanisms are metabolic processes that are used by living systems to
maintain a steady internal state known as homeostasis.
Types of feedback mechanisms
There are two main types of feedback mechanisms in biology: positive feedback and
negative feedback. In both cases, feedback mechanisms begin when there is an external
stimulus that leads to changes away from the set point, triggering the correct feedback loop.
A homeostatic set point describes the normal range of physiological values that is
healthy and stable for a controlled variable.
Negative feedback is a control mechanism that reduces or reverses a change in the
external environment. For example, after a meal, blood glucose spikes, triggering negative
feedback to bring blood glucose variables back to its normal range (homeostasis).
Positive feedback is a control mechanism that senses a change and triggers
mechanisms to amplify that change instead of returning to homeostasis. The formation of blood
clots to control bleeding is an example of positive feedback.
 Negative feedback (also called feedback inhibition).
Living systems create negative feedback mechanisms to counteract stimuli and return to
homeostasis. In other words, the response of the effector negates the stimulus and brings the
body back to homeostasis.
After a stimulus induces a change in homeostasis, the living system will work to return the
body back to the homeostatic set point. The general steps of negative feedback are stimulation,
reception, processing, and response.
Step 1: Stimulation - During stimulation, external stimulation causes a deviation from
the set point.
Step 2: Reception - During reception, sensory receptors in our bodies will detect an
external stimulus that has occurred.
Step 3: Processing - During processing, the sensory receptors will send signals to our
brain (regulatory center) that an external stimulus is sensed, to that it can be interpreted.
Step 4: Response - During the response, the brain will coordinate the activity of many
components of the body to counteract the initial stimulation and send the instructions to the
effector that will then carry out the response.
 If
body

temperature is elevated, thermoreceptors in the skin and hypothalamus detect the increase in
temperature and send the information to the hypothalamus control center. In turn, the
hypothalamus stimulates blood vessels in the skin to relax (vasodilation) and sweat glands to
produce sweat, which sends more blood to the body’s surface for radiation of heat away from the
body. The sweat glands and skin blood vessels are the effectors in this scenario. Once body
temperature returns to normal, the control center signals the sweat glands to reduce sweat pro-
duction and the blood vessels constrict to their normal diameter.

When body temperature

drops, the control center
stops sweat production.
Instead, blood vessels in the
skin tighten, directing blood
to deeper parts of the body
to conserve heat. The
hypothalamus also triggers
shivering, which creates
heat through muscle
contractions. Once the
temperature returns to
normal, these actions stop.
  Positive feedback
Positive feedback occurs when a living system amplifies a stimulus to move the body away
from a steady state.
An example of a
positive feedback mechanism
occurs during normal
childbirth.
 Increasing
contractions
cause the baby
to be forced into
the cervix.
 The cervix
stretches, and
stretch-sensitive
receptors send
nerve impulses
to the control
center in the
brain.
 The control
center interprets
the input signal
and releases
oxytocin,
causing the
muscles in the
uterus wall to
increase
contraction.
 This

amplification/increase in contraction leads to an increase in the stretching of the

cervix, allowing the baby to pass through. Once the baby is born, the stretching of
cervix decreases, causing the positive feedback loop to stop.
 Stimulus: An increase in blood
pressure is detected.
Sensor: Baroreceptors (pressure
sensors) in the blood vessels,
particularly in the carotid
arteries and aorta, sense the
elevated pressure.
Control Center: The brain,
specifically the medulla
oblongata, processes the signals
from the baroreceptors.
Effector: The brain sends signals
to the heart to decrease the
heart rate (arterial walls to relax)
which reduces the force of blood
flow, helping to lower the blood
pressure back to normal.

Stimulus: A decrease in blood

pressure is detected.

Sensor: Baroreceptors in the blood

vessels (especially in the carotid
arteries and aorta) sense the lowered
pressure.

Control Center: The brain (medulla

oblongata) processes the signals and
determines the response.

Effector: The brain sends signals to

the heart to increase the heart rate,
which helps to raise blood pressure
by increasing the force of blood flow
and restoring it to normal levels.
Answer the following MCQ questions.
1. Which of the following is the control center in the regulation of body temperature?
a) Skin
b) Blood vessels
c) Hypothalamus
d) Sweat glands

2. What type of feedback mechanism amplifies changes in the body?

a) Negative feedback
b) Positive feedback
c) Neutral feedback
d) Receptor feedback

3. What is homeostasis?
a) Maintaining blood pressure
b) State of balance in the body's systems
c) Process of increasing body temperature
d) Stimulation of muscle contraction

4. Why do blood vessels constrict when body temperature drops?

a) To allow more sweat production
b) To send more blood to deeper body regions
c) To stimulate shivering
d) To increase blood glucose levels

5. How does the body respond when blood sugar levels are too high?
a) Blood sugar increases further
b) A negative feedback mechanism lowers blood sugar
c) Positive feedback lowers blood sugar
d) Blood vessels constrict

6. What role do sensory receptors play in homeostasis?

a) Amplify the stimulus
b) Release hormones
c) Detect external stimuli
d) Increase blood flow

7. If someone has a fever, what will the hypothalamus do to restore homeostasis?

a) Stimulate shivering
b) Stimulate sweating and vasodilation
c) Constrict blood vessels
d) Increase blood sugar levels

8. When a person is dehydrated, what feedback mechanism does the body use to
regulate water balance?
a) Positive feedback
b) Negative feedback
c) Hormonal feedback
d) Neural feedback

9. During childbirth, why does oxytocin continue to be released as contractions

intensify?
a) To maintain body temperature
b) Due to a negative feedback loop
c) Due to a positive feedback loop
d) To reduce cervix stretching
 10. What would happen if the effector in a negative feedback loop fails to
respond?
a) The body will quickly restore homeostasis
b) The stimulus will be amplified
c) The variable will not return to its normal range
d) Positive feedback will occur

11. In the case of extreme cold, what does the hypothalamus prioritize to maintain
homeostasis?
a) Increasing blood flow to the skin
b) Conserving heat by sending blood to deeper areas
c) Amplifying the stimulus to the muscles
d) Releasing oxytocin

12. If a receptor does not detect an external stimulus, what part of the homeostasis
process is interrupted?
a) Response
b) Processing
c) Reception
d) Effector activity

13. If positive feedback continues for too long, what could be the result in the body?
a) Homeostasis will be quickly restored
b) The body could move further away from the steady state
c) Negative feedback will take over
d) The stimulus will become undetectable

14. Which of the following scenarios best illustrates a failure in homeostasis?

a) Body temperature drops, and blood vessels constrict
b) After a meal, blood sugar remains elevated without regulation
c) Body detects low temperature and stimulates shivering
d) Blood glucose levels decrease after insulin is released

15. Which scenario illustrates a negative feedback mechanism?

a) Blood clotting increases after an injury.
b) During childbirth, contractions intensify as the cervix stretches.
c) Blood glucose levels decrease after insulin is released.
d) Oxytocin levels rise, causing further uterine contractions.

16. Predict what could happen to blood pressure if negative feedback loops stop
functioning.

a) Blood pressure would remain stable despite external changes.

b) Blood pressure would continuously increase or decrease without regulation.
c) Blood pressure would decrease slightly but remain within normal range.
d) Blood pressure would increase temporarily, then quickly return to normal.

17. Which scenario illustrates a feedback mechanism not functioning properly?

a) After eating, blood glucose levels remain elevated without insulin release.
b) Body temperature rises, triggering sweat production and vasodilation.
c) Blood clotting accelerates to stop bleeding after a cut.
d) The body responds to cold by shivering to generate heat.