Systematic Homeostasis

- Maintain a constant internal environment within human body for cells and tissues

- Some examples of homeostasis: 

• Water regulation (Osmoregulation)
• Temperature regulation (Thermoregulation)
• Glucose regulation

Feedback Loops

• Self-regulatory systems (automatic) in which
• It will feedback to the input a part of a system's output (Positive / Negative feedback)
• So as to reverse or enhance the direction of change
• 2 types of feedback loops
• Negative feedback loops (common, e.g. in regulation, the 3 types as stated above: Body temperature (thermoregulation), Amount of water in the body (osmoregulation), Glucose concentration in the blood
• The process can reduce / increase the output of a system in order to re-establish steady state / set point
• Positive feedback loops (rare, not meant to maintain homeostasis, but a mechanism we can see in our body)
• The process increases the output of the system, further enhancing deviation from steady state / set point
• Deviation from set points leads to enhancement of amplification of input
• Examples include: Oxytocin (Giving birth), Histamine (Rashes: the more you scratch, the mort histamine released, due to damaged cells, which makes it swell and itchy), Blood clotting
• Mosquito itch (Anti-coagulant), prevents blood from clotting, recognized as foreign substance by body -> itchy skin

What are the main components in a feedback loop?
1. Stimulus (Produces change in variable)
2. Change detected by receptor -> Receptor (Sensor)
3. Input: Information sent along afferent pathway to -> Control Center
4. Output: Information sent along efferent pathway to -> Effector
5. Response of effector feedsback to influence magnitude of stimulus and returns variable to homeostasis