Positive Feedback, Negative Feedback and Homeostasis With Examples
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The body uses two different feedback systems to help maintain homeostasis. One is used to strengthen a system while the other reduces the output of the system. Briefly describe the two feedback system, choose two body systems and discuss how these body systems are able to maintain homeostasis. Address the following questions:
1. How do these systems maintain homeostasis?
2. What happens when the balance is 'off'?
3. What do these body systems do to re-equilibrate?
4. Do these two systems complement each other by working together?
o If they do complement each other, how do they work together?
o If they are not complementary, how do they work independently?
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Solution Summary
This response discusses the difference between positive and negative feedback mechanisms in the body and how they maintain homeostasis.
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Negative feedback - good, Positive feedback - bad. These are the two ways in which the body is able to maintain homeostasis. Starting with negative feedback, this is anything the body does to return it to normal conditions. You are cold, you shiver to generate heat. You are warm, you sweat to reduce heat. Your cells require more water, you get thirsty. See? Negative feedback takes the body back to its normal state through a variety of mechanisms, each of which it specifically purposed with returning that particular function back to where it should be. When the balance is off, negative feedback turns on to attempt to return the system, however there are times when it is unable to.
This leads me to positive feedback. I started by saying that positive feedback is bad, and this is usually (but not always) the case. Lets image a person is wounded so badly they lose a lot of blood. This loss of blood causes a drop in blood pressure. To compensate, the heart starts to ...
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