Introduction to

Physiology and
Homeostasis

Lecture 1
 Homeostasis

• Maintenance of nearly
constant conditions in
the internal environment
• Walter Cannon coined
the term homeostasis
• Claude Bernard,
introduced the concept
of milieu intérieur
• When homeostasis is
maintained, we refer to
physiology; when it is not,
we refer to pathophysiology
(from the Greek pathos,
meaning “suffering” or
“disease”).

• Disease is often considered

to be a state of disrupted
homeostasis.
• The body maintains homeostasis by utilizing
homeostatic control systems that can be grouped into
two classes—intrinsic and extrinsic controls.

• Intrinsic, or local, controls are built into or are inherent

in an organ (intrinsic means “within”).

• Extrinsic control of the organs and body systems is

accomplished by the nervous and endocrine systems,
the two major regulatory systems.
Intrinsic vs extrinsic control
Components of a
Homeostatic control
Mechanism
Feedback Loops Modulate the Response Loop
Positive feedback can sometimes cause
vicious cycles and death
• A mild degree of positive feedback can be overcome by the
negative feedback control mechanisms of the body
 Feedforward Control

• Negative feedback loops can stabilize a function and

maintain it within a normal range but are unable to prevent
the change that triggered the reflex in the first place.

• A few reflexes have evolved that enable the body to predict

that a change is about to occur and start the response loop
in anticipation of the change.

• These anticipatory responses are called feedforward control.

• One of the most complex feedforward reflexes appears to be

the body’s response to exercise.

• Adaptive control is a delayed negative feedback.