Homeostasis & Feedback Loops

Question 1

What is the purpose of homeostasis?

Answer 1

To keep enzymes in their optimal conditions (keep them happy)
- high priority of living things
- most energy is invested into maintaining favourable internal conditions

Question 2

Negative Feedback Loops
- what are they
- provide an example

Answer 2

• works against change
• maintain dynamic equilibrium (looks like sin wave)
  ex: body temp exceeds 37 –> nerve cells in skin –> temp regulatory sensory in brain –> sweat glands thru body release sweat to cool body down

Question 3

Positive Feedback Loops
- what are they
- provide an example

Answer 3

• reinforces change by AMPLIFYING effect (exponential, geometric, linear)
  ex. giving birth
  baby head pushes on cervix –> tissue tension –> stretch receptors are stimulated –> hypo. stims ant. pit –> ant. pit releases oxytocin –> smooth muscles contract –> baby is pushed more = cervix is stretched –> cervical tissue tension

Question 4

What are the components of a feedback loop?

Answer 4

1. stimulus
2. sensors
   
   • apart of nervous system
3. control center
   a. hypothalamus: main control center, info runs thru here
   b. pituitary gland: sits underneath hypo, sends signals to wherever they need to go thru HORMONES
4. effector
   
   • causes the direct change