Unit 9: Human Regulation & Reproduction
B: Understand the homeostatic mechanisms used by the human body
Feedback and control
A high level of monitoring and control is required for homeostasis. To bring conditions back
to the correct level; hormones and the nervous system work together to both detect and
respond to stimuli. To regulate and monitor conditions within the body, the body uses system
of feedback to monitor.
Feedback
An example of feedback mechanism is a thermostat. To maintain the temperature of the
room, the thermostat is made use of by the household central heating system. If the
temperature of the room decreases, then the thermostat detects the change. Once it does, it
switches the radiator on thus allowing the room to increase.
The thermostat detects the increase in temperature when the room gets too warm. Once it
does, it switches the radiator off to allow the room temperature to fall. Depending on the
temperature of the room; the radiators may be switched off.
Negative feedback
Negative feedback is the way in which homeostasis is achieved. To restore conditions to its
original level, an effector causes change in one condition inside the body. Similar
components are found within all negative feedback systems. These are made up of: a set point
and an output. The output are factors that need to be controlled. An example of this would be
blood pH. A set point however, is the typical factor for the factor. An example would be for
blood pH the set point is from 7.35 to about 7.45. sensory receptors also known as detectors,
have two fundamental components. Those of which are; regulators needed to compare the
actual output with the set point and will then send out an error signal. Once it does this, the
output falls outside the set point range. The detectors on the other hand monitor the outputs.
Positive feedback
1
, Positive feedback is a process in which the end products of an action cause more of that
action to occur in a feedback loop. Unstable conditions could be caused which makes this
system harmful. Sometimes, positive feedback is useful in some circumstances. An example
of positive feedback is the contractions that occur during labour. The cervix causes the
release of hormones from the pressure of the baby’s head. This increases the contractions of
the uterus which then results in the head being pushed down even stronger on the cervix.
Figure 1 which shows positive feedback during labour
(Homeostasis (Anatomy & Physiology l ), 2021)
Glands and organs
Messages from the human body are able to be sent through the body in two ways. Rapid
messages can be sent by a system of electrical impulses carried by the nervous system.
Hormones are chemicals in which blood sends out slower messages. This is then secreted by
the glands. As hormones are carried around the body in blood, it allows more tissues to be
targeted. A common example of changes to the body is puberty. Endocrine glands are glands
that secrete hormones into the blood. Endocrine glands make up the endocrine system.
2
B: Understand the homeostatic mechanisms used by the human body
Feedback and control
A high level of monitoring and control is required for homeostasis. To bring conditions back
to the correct level; hormones and the nervous system work together to both detect and
respond to stimuli. To regulate and monitor conditions within the body, the body uses system
of feedback to monitor.
Feedback
An example of feedback mechanism is a thermostat. To maintain the temperature of the
room, the thermostat is made use of by the household central heating system. If the
temperature of the room decreases, then the thermostat detects the change. Once it does, it
switches the radiator on thus allowing the room to increase.
The thermostat detects the increase in temperature when the room gets too warm. Once it
does, it switches the radiator off to allow the room temperature to fall. Depending on the
temperature of the room; the radiators may be switched off.
Negative feedback
Negative feedback is the way in which homeostasis is achieved. To restore conditions to its
original level, an effector causes change in one condition inside the body. Similar
components are found within all negative feedback systems. These are made up of: a set point
and an output. The output are factors that need to be controlled. An example of this would be
blood pH. A set point however, is the typical factor for the factor. An example would be for
blood pH the set point is from 7.35 to about 7.45. sensory receptors also known as detectors,
have two fundamental components. Those of which are; regulators needed to compare the
actual output with the set point and will then send out an error signal. Once it does this, the
output falls outside the set point range. The detectors on the other hand monitor the outputs.
Positive feedback
1
, Positive feedback is a process in which the end products of an action cause more of that
action to occur in a feedback loop. Unstable conditions could be caused which makes this
system harmful. Sometimes, positive feedback is useful in some circumstances. An example
of positive feedback is the contractions that occur during labour. The cervix causes the
release of hormones from the pressure of the baby’s head. This increases the contractions of
the uterus which then results in the head being pushed down even stronger on the cervix.
Figure 1 which shows positive feedback during labour
(Homeostasis (Anatomy & Physiology l ), 2021)
Glands and organs
Messages from the human body are able to be sent through the body in two ways. Rapid
messages can be sent by a system of electrical impulses carried by the nervous system.
Hormones are chemicals in which blood sends out slower messages. This is then secreted by
the glands. As hormones are carried around the body in blood, it allows more tissues to be
targeted. A common example of changes to the body is puberty. Endocrine glands are glands
that secrete hormones into the blood. Endocrine glands make up the endocrine system.
2
