Feedback Loops Essay

1830 Words4 Pages

Two of these 14 main components of homeostasis are feedback loops. Feedback loops are loop systems that make the body respond to a disturbance in its delicate balance of its major processes and hormones, or otherwise known as perturbation and the body’s ability to respond in either the same or different direction called positive and negative feedback loops respectively. Positive and negative feedback loops are an essential part of the process of homeostasis due to the feedback loops being the actual part of creating and maintaining the balance within our bodies. Positive feedback loops is feedback by which the body responds to the specific perturbation that is affecting it in the same direction as the perturbation. This type of feedback loop has a sporadic result compared to its counterpart because of it going in the same direction as the perturbation. By doing so, this amplifies changes, thus moving the system away from an equilibrium state. A real world example of this (also as seen in Annex 1) is in the form of Toxicodendron radicans, or more popularly known as poison ivy. In this example you develop a rash from contact with the poison ivy. It itches and so you, despite your better judgement, scratch it. Afterwards it begins to itch more and so you scratch more causing the rash to grow exponentially in other places where it never did scratch before. This exemplifies positive feedback loops by showing that by scratching the rash, you had affected it in the same direction as the perturbation leading to an amplified change in the original perturbation and eventually left any chance of an equilibrium state in the immediate future astray. In contrast to positive feedback loops, negative feedback loops is feedback by which th... ... middle of paper ... ...ation in the body; the lower the concentration the higher the amount of ADH and the higher the concentration, the lower amount of ADH is released. Another way that homeostasis is maintained throughout the body is through calcium levels and is done through the processes of osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The hormones involved with this process are the parathyroid hormone (PTH) and calcitonin. The organs involved are the parathyroid gland, thyroid gland, kidneys, and small intestine. When an there is a insufficiency of calcium being outputted from the kidneys into the bloodstream, the parathyroid gland secretes PTH to stimulate the kidneys to begin osteoclast to make the kidneys inhibit the secretion of calcium of the kidneys and allow the small intestine to increase the absorption of calcium. The opposite occurs when there is an excess in the blood calcium levels.

More about Feedback Loops Essay

Open Document