Homeostasis & Adaptation.

By
Amjad Ali
RN, BScN
Allied ION,HS.
Objectives.
At the completion of this unit, learners will be able
to:
1. Define the term homeostasis
2. Discuss the factors which effect homeostasis
3. Define feedback mechanism and its components.
4. Discuss the role of feedback mechanisms in
maintenance of homeostasis with examples.
Homeostasis.
Homeo = same, stasis = standing
The process of maintaining a controlled & stable
internal environment is called homeostasis.

• Homeostasis must be maintained for normal

body functioning and to sustain life.
• Homeostatic imbalance – a disturbance in
homeostasis resulting in a disease.
Conti.
• The word homeostasis derives from Greek,
with home meaning “similar,” and stasis, meaning
“stable.”
• Homeostasis is the state of steady internal, physical,
and chemical conditions maintained by living
systems.
• Homeostasis is an organism’s process of maintaining
a stable internal environment suitable for sustaining
life.
Adaptation
• “Adaptation is the physical or behavioural
characteristic of an organism that helps an organism
to survive better in the surrounding environment.”
• The use of self protective mechanism for the purpose
to regulate homeostasis.
• Unsuccessful adaptation results in stress.
Factors Affecting Homeostasis.
• Metabolic activities constantly taking place inside the
body as a result of unwanted chemicals are produced.
• Secondly, the external environment or condition in
which an organism lives may vary greatly even over a
brief period. Temperature, acidity, salts or water etc
are some of external factors to which an organism
must adjust in order to survive.
Homeostasis are maintained by two system.
• Autonomic Nervous System
• Endocrine System.
Feedback Mechanism.
• The feedback mechanism is the physiological
regulatory system in a living body that works to return
the body to the normal internal state or homeostasis.
• The feedback mechanism is activated as a result of the
change in the system that triggers an output.
• The interaction between the components can be
designated as positive when the activation of a
component leads to the activation of another. It is
designated negative if the activation of a component
leads to the deactivation of another.
Components.
• The feedback mechanism consists of three distinct
components; detector, control center and effector.
• The detector or sensor receives the input and integrates
the incoming information in order to transmit it to the
control center.
• The control center is the ‘brain’ of the system that
determines the extremes within which the variable factor
should lie.
• The effector receives the output and results in an
appropriate change to maintain the variable factor within
its limit.
Conti.
Types.
• Feedback mechanisms are of two types depending on
the changes. Even though these mechanisms are
different in their reactions to changes in variables, the
components of the loop are similar.
• Both positive and negative feedback systems require
three components to adjust specific physiological
pathways:
Conti.
• Receptor: (or sensor) receives information and sends
this to the control center.
• Control center: (or evaluator) processes receptor
information and stimulates the effector.
• Effector: carries out a stimulatory or inhibitory effect
according to control center instructions.
• Signals can be sent via nerve pathways (action
potentials and neurotransmitters) or via chemical
signals (most commonly, hormones).
Positive Feedback Mechanism.
• A positive feedback mechanism, as the name
suggests, is a pathway that in response to a
deviation in the output causes the output to change
even more in the direction of the initial deviation.
• A positive feedback mechanism amplifies the
deviations and brings state changes to the output.
• Positive feedback mechanisms are far less common
than negative feedback mechanisms as it moves the
body away from homeostasis.
Menstrual cycle.
• At the beginning of the menstrual cycle, the ovaries
release the hormone estrogen. The estrogen acts as a
stimulus for the positive feedback loop.
• The information is sent to the brain, which then
stimulates the release of gonadotrophin-releasing
hormone from the hypothalamus and luteinizing
hormone from the pituitary.
Conti.
• These hormones are released as a response to the stimulus
by the control unit. These hormones further cause the
release of estrogen by the ovaries, and the loop continues
until the levels of these hormones increases enough to
induce the release of follicle-stimulating hormone.
• The release of follicle-stimulating hormone finally results in
ovulation, and eventually, the menstrual cycle begins.
• This is an example of a positive feedback mechanism as the
increase in one factor induces the movement of the output
in the same direction until the task is completed.
Normal Childbirth.
Normal childbirth is driven by a positive feedback loop. A positive
feedback loop results in a change in the body’s status, rather than a
return to homeostasis.
• Positive feedback mechanism in humans is also observed during
childbirth which is induced by the pressing of the ovarian wall by
the baby.
• The pressing sensation is passed to the brain via different nerves,
and in response, the brain stimulates the pituitary to produce
oxytocin.
• Oxytocin is responsible for the contractions of the uterine muscles
which cause the movement of the fetus towards the cervix, further
increasing the stimulus.
• The positive feedback loop continues until the baby is born .
Negative Feedback Mechanism.
• A negative feedback mechanism or loop is a pathway
stimulated by the deviation in the output, which
causes changes in output to the direction opposite to
the initial deviation.
• The negative feedback mechanism moves the variable
factors towards the stable state or homeostasis after
the control unit interprets the extent of the deviation.
• Negative feedback loops are more common than
positive ones as they tend to stabilize the system.
Regulation of blood glucose level.
• The level of glucose in the blood is controlled by a
negative feedback mechanism.
• If the blood glucose level increases beyond the normal
range, more glucose is absorbed in the intestine and stored
in the form of glycogen in the liver.
• The conversion and conservation are controlled by the
release of insulin from the pancreas. The hormone insulin
stimulates the muscles and liver to uptake the glucose.
• If the blood glucose level decreases and more glucose is
required in the blood, the release of insulin is inhibited,
reducing the absorption of blood glucose.
Temperature regulation.
• Regulation of body temperature by endotherms is another
classic example of a negative feedback mechanism in the
human body.
• When the temperature of the body increases beyond
normal, the brain signals different organs of the body like
the skin to release heat in the form of sweat.
• These physiological activities eventually the temperature to
drop down to a point where the pathways of the negative
feedback mechanism shut down.
• A similar process occurs if the body temperature increases
beyond the normal value in order to maintain homeostasis .
 The positive feedback
mechanism is a pathway
that in response to a
Definition deviation in the output
causes the output to change
even more in the direction of
the initial deviation.
A positive feedback
Effect on the mechanism breaks down the
homeostasis homeostasis system of the
body.
The positive feedback
mechanism is less common
Occurrence
and occurs in specific
situations.
The positive feedback
Stability
mechanism is less stable.
In a system with a positive
feedback mechanism, the
effective input is increased
Effect
by the addition of actual
input with the feedback
signal.
A positive feedback
External
mechanism might require an
interruption
external interruption.
It enhances the change in
Changes
physiological factors.
Positive feedback
mechanism in nature is
Examples observed during childbirth in
humans and during the
ripening of fruits.
A negative feedback
mechanism or loop is a
pathway stimulated by the
deviation in the output, which
causes changes in output to
the direction opposite to the
initial deviation.
A negative feedback
mechanism works to
maintain the conditions of
homeostasis in the body.
The negative feedback
mechanism is more common
and occurs in different organs
and systems in the body.
The negative feedback
mechanism is more stable.
In a system with a negative
feedback mechanism, the
effective input is decreased
as the feedback signal
inhibits the actual input.
A negative feedback
mechanism doesn’t require
an external interruption.
It resists changes in
physiological factors.
The negative feedback
mechanism is observed
during thermoregulation and
maintaining the blood glucose
level.
ANY QUESTION…?
THANK YOU
References.
• file:///C:/Users/B/Downloads/ros&wil&ana&p
hy&hea&ill&12th.pdf
• https://microbenotes.com/feedback-mechanis
m/
• https://biologydictionary.net/feedback-mecha
nism/
• https://www.slideshare.net/ION-DUHS/
homeostasis-amp-adaptation