Department of Education

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DIVISION OF MABALACAT CITY

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LEARNING ACTIVITY SHEET

General Biology 2 (Q4 – Wk 5-6)
Feedback Mechanism

I. Introduction

The capacity to keep the internal environment stable and steady is

called homeostasis. Over and over, the body retains homeostasis. For
example, the levels of different blood ions and the pH and glucose levels in
your blood have to be maintained steadily. You will get ill if the values are
too high or too low.

Homeostasis is preserved through various processes. The stomach

retains a pH different from the surrounding organ, and each cell maintains
different levels of ions than the surrounding fluid.

II. Learning Competency

 Explain how some organisms maintain steady internal conditions (e.g.,

temperature regulation, osmotic balance, and glucose levels) that possess
various structures and processes (STEM_BIO11/12-IVi-j-2)

III.Objectives

After going through this Learning Activity Sheet, you are expected to:
1. describe the homeostasis process.
2. identify and define the four interacting components that maintain
homeostasis in feedback loops.
3. compare and contrast negative and positive feedback loops.

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IV. Discussion

Feedback Mechanism

What is Homeostasis?
Homeostasis is the condition in which a system such as the human body is
maintained in a more-or-less steady state. It is the function of cells, tissues,
muscles, and organ systems all over the body to sustain several variables
consistent with life in a limited range. To maintain a stable internal atmosphere,
the internal environment must be continuously monitored and adapted constantly
to keep everything in order.

Setpoint and Normal Range

There is a specific setpoint that is the physiological optimal value for any
aspect, such as body temperature or blood glucose content. For instance, the body
temperature settings are approximately 98.6 oF (37 ºC). The value normally
fluctuates around the fixed stage, while the body acts to preserve the balance for
the temperature. These are natural fluctuations as long as they are not too severe,
and it is called the standard range. For instance, the standard range for an adult in
body temperature is approximately 36.5 to 37.5 °C (97.7 to 99.5 °F).

Maintaining Homeostasis
In the human body, homeostasis is usually preserved by a dynamic
balancing act. Maintaining homeostasis needs at least four communicating
components: stimulus, sensor, control core, and effector, regardless of whether the
variable is held within its usual range.
1. The element that is being monitored provides the stimulation. In general, the
stimulus means that the variable's value has deviated from the fixed point or
has shifted outside of its usual range.
2. The sensor keeps track of the variable's values and sends data to the control
center.
3. The data is matched with standard values by the control center. The control
center sends a signal to the effector if the value is not at the fixed point or is
below the usual range.
4. The effector is an organ, gland, muscle, or other mechanism that reacts to the
control center's signal to return the variable to the fixed point.

In Figure 1 depicts each of these elements in detail. The diagram on the left
depicts how the elements work together to preserve homeostasis. The sensor is
activated by the stimuli. The effector is controlled by the control mechanism, which
is activated by the sensor.
The example of body temperature is seen on the right. As you can see from
the diagrams, preserving homeostasis requires input, which is data that is fed back
to monitor a reaction. The temperature regulatory core of the brain can be
stimulated by a high body temperature, causing the sweat glands to unlock and
cool the body. When the body temperature returns to normal, it serves as a
negative feedback loop, effectively stopping the process. Negative or positive

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feedback is possible. Negative feedback is used in all homeostatic feedback
systems. Positive feedback in the biological system is much less common.

https://courses.lumenlearning.com/
Figure 1: Maintaining homeostasis through feedback requires a stimulus, sensor, control center, and effector

Negative Feedback
In a negative feedback loop, feedback is used to minimize an overly
aggressive response and maintain a variable's normal range. Body temperature
regulation and blood glucose balance are two examples of processes regulated by
negative feedback.

Body Temperature

Negative feedback is used in body temperature control, whether in

decreasing or increasing the temperature. (Figure 2)

Cooling Down

The hypothalamus, located in the brain, regulates the body's temperature.

As the hypothalamus collects data from skin and brain sensors indicating that
body temperature is greater than the setpoint. It initiates the following actions:

 Vasodilation causes blood vessels in the skin to dilate, allowing more blood from
the warm body heart to circulate
close to the surface of the body to
radiate heat into the atmosphere.
 Sweat glands in the skin are
stimulated to maximize sweat
production as blood supply to the
skin increases (diaphoresis).The
heat is carried out by sweat as it
evaporates from the skin surface
into the ambient air.
 Breathing becomes deeper, and
instead of using the nasal
passages, the individual can breathe through the mouth. This causes the lungs
to lose more heat.
https://bookshelves/Human_Biology

Figure 2:The hypothalamus plays a major role in temperature

regulation
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Heating Up

When the brain's temperature regulatory core receives information indicating

that the body temperature is below the setpoint, it initiates the following actions:
 The skin's blood vessels constrict (vasoconstriction) to prevent blood from
circulating too close to the body's surface.
 If the temperature drops, spontaneous signals are sent to skeletal muscles,
allowing them to contract. Shivering occurs as a result, generating a slight
amount of blood.
 The brain (via the pituitary gland) can stimulate the thyroid gland to secrete
more thyroid hormones. This hormone boosts metabolic activity and heat
generation in the body's cells.
 The hormone adrenaline can also be secreted by the adrenal glands
whenever they are activated. Glycogen (the carbohydrate used for energy
storage in animals) is broken down into glucose and can be used as an
energy supply through this hormone. This catabolic chemical reaction is
exothermic, meaning it generates heat.

Blood Glucose

Specific endocrine cells in the pancreas, called alpha and beta cells, sense
the amount of glucose in the blood during blood glucose regulation. Then they
respond correctly to maintain blood glucose levels under normal limits.
 Pancreatic beta cells release the hormone insulin into the bloodstream as
blood glucose levels increase above the normal limit. Insulin instructs cells
to absorb extra glucose from the bloodstream before blood glucose levels
return to normal.
 Pancreatic alpha cells release the hormone glucagon into the bloodstream as
blood glucose levels dip outside the normal limit.

Positive Feedback
Feedback helps to intensify a reaction in a positive feedback process
before an endpoint is achieved. Blood clotting and reproduction are two examples
of mechanisms in the human body that are regulated by positive feedback.

Blood Clotting

When an injury involves bleeding, a body responds to blood clots and

stops blood loss with a positive feedback loop. The mechanism of blood clotting
starts with substances expelled from the wounded blood vessel wall. Blood platelets
begin to stick to the site and release chemicals that attract additional platelets. The
platelets continuing to mix are releasing more chemicals and attracting more
platelets to the clot region. The positive feedback speeds up the clotting process
until the coagulation is big enough to avoid bleeding.

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Childbirth
Figure 3 shows the positive
feedback loop during childbirth. The
procedure usually starts as the baby's
head presses into the cervix. This
induces nerve drives from the cervix to
the brain hypothalamus. The
hypothalamus in turn transfers the
hormone oxytocin to the hypofis gland,
which secretes the hormone into the flow
of the blood to the womb. Oxytocin
induces contractions in the uterus that
force the baby into the cervix harder. In
reaction, the cervix begins to dilate until
the baby passes.
This cycle continues with an
increase in oxytocin levels, strengthened uterine https://bookshelves/Human_Biology
contractions and wider cervix dilation to birth Figure 3: Normal childbirth is driven by a
positive feedback loop.
canal and pushed the baby out of the canal. The
cervix is not activated to forward nerve impulses to the brain at this stage, and the
entire process ceases.

When Homeostasis Fails

Homeostatic processes actively act to preserve the healthy human body.
But the systems often malfunction. A homeostatic imbalance may cause cells to fail
or radioactive waste collect in the body. It may result in cells failing. If homeostasis
is not restored, disease or even death might lead to imbalance. Diabetes is a case in
point of homeostatic imbalance disorder. Blood glucose is no longer regulated and
is potentially dangerously high in the case of diabetes. Medical procedures may
help to recover homeostasis and may prevent continuous organism injury.
The effectiveness of the body control systems can be decreased by normal
aging. This increases the body's disease sensitivity. Older adults, for example, can
have difficulty controlling their body temperature. This is one reason why they
seem to experience severe thermal-induced diseases such as heat stroke more often
than younger people.

V. ACTIVITIES

Activity # 1
Match the information from Column A to Column B.

Column A Column B
   
1 Wound covered with a blood clot   A. Positive Feedback Loop
2 Body Temperature regulation   B. Negative Feedback Loop
3 Increased diaphoresis  

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 Release of Oxytocin during
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childbirth    
5 Regulation of Blood Glucose level  

Activity # 2
Compare and Contrast the negative and positive feedback loop

Positive Feedback Negative Feedback

Activity # 3
Rearrange the following to find the correct word.
1. ISSSTAOOEMH - _______________________________
2. OUECSGL - _______________________________
3. SMLHTPYHOAAU - _______________________________
4. AEAPNCRS - _______________________________
5. TRSEUU - _______________________________

VI. Assessment

Read the following statements and encircle the letter of the correct answer.

1. What is the major difference between positive and negative feedback?

A. Positive feedback causes responses to continue, while negative
feedback causes responses to start or stop.
B. Positive feedback results from the increase in temperature,
while negative feedback results from the decreased in
temperature.
C. Positive feedback stimulates body systems, while negative
feedback shuts down body systems.
D. Positive feedback is controlled by external factors, while internal
factors control negative feedback.

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2. What are the correct levels of body organization from smallest to
largest?
A. Organ System, organ, tissue, cell C.Cell, tissue, organ, organ
system
B. Tissue, cell, organ, organ system D.Organ, organ system,
tissue, cell

3. A boy jumps into a cold lake, causing his body temperature to

decrease. As a result, his muscles, blood vessels, and nervous system
work together to restore his body temperature.The statement depicts
______.
A. Active Transport
B. Positive feedback
C. Hypothermia
D. Homeostasis

4. Which of the following is true regarding positive and negative

feedback?
A. Positive feedback catalyzes the digestive process, and negative
feedback slows it down.
B. Positive feedback amplifies signals, and negative feedback
opposes signals.
C. Internal sources trigger positive feedback and negative feedback
is triggered by external sources.
D. Positive feedback causes body temperature to rise and negative
feedback causes body temperature to fall.

5. Which of the following statements best describes homeostasis?

A. Keeping the body in a fixed and unaltered state.
B. Dynamic equilibrium.
C.  Maintaining a near-constant internal environment.
D.  Altering the external environment to accommodate the body's needs.

6. Which of the following strategies would not help restore a high body
temperature to normal??
A. Non-Shivering thermogenesis
B. Flattening of skin hair 
C. Sweating
D. Redistribution of blood flow to the periphery

7. Which of the following features of a system is unlikely to lead to a

stable homeostatic system.
A. Negative feedback
B. Positive feedback
C. Redundancy
D. Complexity

8. If the environment gets cold, we will often shiver in order to:

A. keep body temperature the same as the external temperature
B. increase body temperature

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 C. decrease body temperature
D. regulate blood pressure

9. Homeostasis in the human body is often maintained by a:

A. Neutral feedback loop C. Solar feedback loop
B. Positive feedback Loop D. Negative feedback loop

10. When you cut your skin, cells release hormones that signal
platelets to come and stop the bleeding. Platelets then release more
hormones that signal even more platelets to help stop bleeding. The
hormone signals continue until the cut is closed.
A. Neutral feedback loop C. Solar feedback loop
B. Positive feedback Loop D. Negative feedback loop

11. When glucose levels in the blood rise, your brain sends a signal to
your pancreas. The pancreas releases insulin, which opens channels
in cell membranes to allow glucose to enter the cell, lowering blood
sugar levels.
A. Neutral feedback loop C. Solar feedback loop
B. Positive feedback Loop D. Negative feedback loop

12. Maintaining body temperature is an example of ______:

A. Neutral feedback loop C. Solar feedback loop
B. Positive feedback Loop D. Negative feedback loop

13. The process of childbirth is an example of ________:

A. Neutral feedback loop C. Solar feedback loop
B. Positive feedback Loop D. Negative feedback loop

14. Failure to maintain homeostasis could result in _________.

A. Lack of internal balance C. Eventual death
B. Difficulty carrying on metabolism D. All of the above

15. The two types of feedback systems that help organisms maintain
homeostasis are _________________.
A. Positive and Negative C. Receptor and Effector
B. Static and Dynamic D. Minor and Major

VII. Reflection

Essay: “Is menstrual cycle a positive feedback loop or a negative feedback

loop? Explain your answer. (Use another sheet of paper)
Criteria
Creativity 5 points
Content 5 points
Evidence-Based 5 points
TOTAL 15 points

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VIII. References

https://bio.libretexts.org/Bookshelves/Human_Biology/Book
%3A_Human_Biology_(Wakim_and_Grewal)/10%3A_Introduction_to_the_Hu
man_Body/10.7%3A_Homeostasis_and_Feedback
https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-biology/chapter/homeostasis/
https://global.oup.com/uk/orc/pharmacy/ifp_therapeutics/student/mcqs/ch08/
https://microbenotes.com/feedback-mechanism/
https://quizizz.com/admin/quiz/58b3be9abd1549e624d0c46b/homeostasis-and-
feedback-loops
https://www.biologyonline.com/dictionary/feedback-mechanism
https://www.khanacademy.org/science/high-school-biology/hs-human-body-
systems/hs-body-structure-and-homeostasis/a/homeostasis

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IX. Answer Key

Activity 1 Activity 2
1. A Answer may vary Activity 3
2. B
3. B 1. HOMEOSTASIS
4. A 2. GLUCOSE
5. B 3. HYPOTHALAMUS
4. PANCREAS
5. UTERUS

Assessment REFLECTION
1. A Answers may vary.
2. C
3. D
4. B
5. C
6. A
7. B
8. B
9. D
10. B
11. D
12. D
13. B
14. D
15. A

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X. Development Team

Development Team of the Learning Activity Sheets

Writer: Chillet G. Credo
Editor: Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Reviewers: Ala M. Elagio, Nicole Ann P. Tiongco, Jeffrey R. Yumang
Illustrator:
Layout Artist:
Management Team: Ericson Sabacan, EdD, CESO V
Leandro C. Canlas, PhD, CESE
Elizabeth O. Latorilla, PhD
Sonny N. De Guzman, EdD
Cristina L. Dizon, PhD
Elizabeth C. Miguel, EdD

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P. Burgos St., Poblacion, Mabalacat City, Pampanga

Telefax: (045) 331-8143

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