Homeostasis

The mechanisms involved in the maintenance of a stable, internal environment. The body's ability to physiologically regulate its inner environment to ensure its stability in response to fluctuations in the outside environment.

A structure (sensory nerve ending) of the nervous system that detects stimuli. A structure which, on receiving environmental stimuli, produces an informative nerve impulse that is sent to the control center.

The nerve pathway sending an electrochemical message from the receptors to the control center (hypothalamus of brain).

Region of the brain (hypothalamus) that receives, interprets, and acts on the message sent from the receptors. The control center will then send an electrochemical message along the efferent pathway of nerves to the effectors (muscles and glands).

The nerve pathway sending an electrochemical message from the control center (hypothalamus of brain) to the effectors (muscles and glands).

Muscles or glands that receive a message from the control center and produce a desired EFFECT. Ex: produce sweat that allows water to evaporate from the surface of the skin and cool the body.

Identify 2 places that temperature receptors are located in the body:

Identify 3 specific EFFECTORS utilized in the homeostasis of body temperature.

A mechanism of homeostasis that acts in opposition to the stimulus. (Example: homeostasis of body temperature is an example of negative feedback. A stimulus takes the body away from the normal temperature and negative feedback mechanisms act to bring the temperature back to normal).

A physiological mechanism that acts to ENHANCE the original stimulus. Examples of positive feedback are less common for obvious reasons... blood clotting and labor during pregnancy are a couple of examples of positive feedback.