Homeostasis

Welcome to this lecture on homeostasis, providing an overview of the concept of homeostasis, highlighting how the body maintains internal stability through dynamic regulation despite external changes. We will discuss the roles of feedback mechanisms, particularly negative and positive feedback in controlling variables like temperature, pH, and blood glucose. The lecture will also examine how multiple organ systems work together to uphold homeostasis, emphasizing its active and ongoing nature. Ultimately, this understanding sheds light on how physiological balance supports health and adaptation. Homeostasis is the body's remarkable ability to maintain a relatively constant internal environment despite changes in the external world. Conditions within our bodies are not absolutely stable but are kept within ranges for optimal function. When facing heat, cold, or altitude, the body regulates temperature, pH, and vital substances, ensuring survival and health through a dynamic equilibrium. Central to homeostasis are feedback mechanisms that detect changes and coordinate responses. Most physiological regulation uses negative feedback, where a deviation triggers mechanisms to reverse it. For example, rising blood glucose after a meal prompts systems to lower it. Negative feedback maintains stability like a thermostat. Positive feedback in contrast, amplifies the original stimulus such as hormone released during childbirth. While vital in specific cases,