There is no denying the fact that a negative feedback mechanism is an important type of control that is found in homeostasis. It responds when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to this set point. There is a continuous cycle of events in negative feedback.

General stages in negative feedback

In general this works in the following way:

if the level of something rises, control systems reduce it again
if the level of something falls, control systems raise it again

It is evident that body temperature is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain. If the hypothalamus detects that the body is too hot, the response is that the body begins to sweat to try and reduce the temperature back to the correct level. Once the body temperature is back to the correct level, sweating will stop. In the opposite way, if the hypothalamus detects that the body is too cold then the response is that the body begins to shiver to try and raise the temperature back to the correct level. Once the body temperature is back to the correct level the shivering will stop.

Water content in the blood

Osmoregulation is the control of water levels and mineral salts in the blood. Water levels and mineral salts in the blood are controlled to protect animal cells by stopping too much water from entering or leaving them. The concentration of water and salts is the same inside and outside of the cells. If body cells lose or gain too much water by osmosis, they do not function efficiently.

If the concentration of water is the same inside and out the cells, then there is no net movement of water into or out of the cell. The cells remain in their normal state.

If the water concentration is too high outside of the cell then water enters the cell by osmosis. If too much water enters, the cell will burst. If the water concentration is too low outside compared to the inside of the cells, water leaves the cells by osmosis. This causes cells to shrivel

Negative feedback systems – Higher

A negative feedback mechanism is an important type of control that is found in homeostasis. It responds when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to this set point. There is a continuous cycle of events in negative feedback.

General stages in negative feedback

In general this works in the following way:

if the level of something rises, control systems reduce it again
if the level of something falls, control systems raise it again

Negative feedback flowchart

Negative feedback – example

Body temperature is controlled by the hypothalamus in the brain. If the hypothalamus detects that the body is too hot, the response is that the body begins to sweat to try and reduce the temperature back to the correct level. Once the body temperature is back to the correct level, sweating will stop. In the opposite way, if the hypothalamus detects that the body is too cold then the response is that the body begins to shiver to try and raise the temperature back to the correct level. Once the body temperature is back to the correct level the shivering will stop.

Importance of water balance in the body