GCSE Combined Science (AQA)

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Negative Feedback Cycles

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Homeostasis and Response Hormonal Coordination in Humans

Negative Feedback Cycles

3:34 Negative Feedback Cycles
Spec 4.5.3.2
Previous Diabetes & Obesity Next Maintaining Blood Glucose Levels
  • Negative feedback maintains stable body conditions.
  • Stimuli, changes in the environment, can be internal or external.
  • Example: A drop in body temperature is an internal change.
  • Shivering counteracts a drop in temperature, helping return the body to a set point.
  • Counteracting means acting in the opposite direction to neutralize a change.
  • Negative feedback operates in cycles to maintain homeostasis.
  • Body temperature regulation is an example of a negative feedback cycle.
  • Decreased body temperature triggers shivering and vasoconstriction to restore normal temperature.
  • Increased body temperature triggers sweating and vasodilation to reduce body heat.
  • Blood glucose regulation is another example of negative feedback.
  • Low glucose levels trigger glucagon production; high levels trigger insulin production, both restoring optimal glucose levels.
  • Negative feedback cycles aim to maintain levels within an optimum range, responding to deviations by increasing or decreasing the level as needed.
  • Other body processes controlled by negative feedback include water levels by kidneys, glucose by pancreas, thyroxine by pituitary gland, and body temperature by the thermoregulatory center.

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