HOMEOSTASIS

Department of Physiology
Faculty of Medicine Hasanuddin
University
 What is homeostasis
• A condition in which the internal environment
of the body remains relatively constant despite
changes in the external environment. Examples
would be the maintenance of body temperature
and levels of glucose in the blood.
Exchange between external and internal environment
 Homeostasis Components
• Negative feedback control mechanisms (used by most of
the body's systems) are called negative because the
information caused by the feedback causes a reverse of the
response. TSH is an example: blood levels of TSH serve as
feedback for production of TSH.
• Positive feedback control is used in some cases. Input
increases or accelerates the response. During uterine
contractions, oxytocin is produced. Oxytocin causes an
increase in frequency and strength of uterine contractions.
This in turn causes further production of oxytocin, etc.
• Homeostasis depends on the action and interaction of a
number of body systems to maintain a range of conditions
within which the body can best operate.
 Negative Feedback
• Negative feedback loop A biochemical
pathway where the products of the reaction
inhibit production of the enzyme that
controlled their formation.
• negative feedback control Occurs when
information produced by the feedback
reverses the direction of the response;
regulates the secretion of most hormone
 Homeostatic Regulation of Body Temperature through Negative
Feedback

Hyperthermia Heat receptors in Hypothalamus

the skin
Stress
Sensors Control Center

Stress is reduced
shutting down
mechanism
Increased activity
of sweat glands
Perspiration
evaporates cooling
the skin Increased blood
flow to the skin
Effect
Effectors
 Positive Feedback
• Biochemical control where the accumulation
of the product stimulates production of an
enzime/hormone responsible for that
product's production.
• positive feedback control occurs when
information produced by the feedback
increases and accelerates the response.
 Positive Feedback Mechanisms
Homeostatic systems utilizing positive feedback exhibit two primary characteristics:
1. Time limitation – Processes in the body that must be completed within a constrained time
frame are usually modified by positive feedback.
2. Intensification of stress – During a positive feedback process, the initial imbalance or stress
is intensified rather than reduced as it is in negative feedback.
Typical Positive Feedback Process

Stress Sensor Control Center

Intensifies Effector
 Feedback in Coagulation

Positive feedback “mini-loops” are built into pathway to speed up production of

chemicals needed to form the clot. Entire sequence of clotting is a negative
feedback pathway:
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