What Is Homeostasis?Homeostasisrefers to the body's need to reach and maintain a certain state of equilibrium. The term was first coined by a physiologist named Walter Cannon in 1926. More specifically, homeostasis is the body's tendency to monitor and maintain internal states, such as temperature and blood sugar, at fairly constant and stable levels. Show
Homeostasis refers to an organism's ability to regulate various physiological processes to keep internal states steady and balanced. These processes take place mostly without our conscious awareness. How Is Homeostasis Maintained?Your body has set points for a variety of states—including temperature, weight, sleep, thirst, and hunger. When the level is off (in either direction, too much or too little), homeostasis will work to correct it. For example, to regulate temperature, you will sweat when you get too hot or shiver when you get too cold. Another way to think of it is like the thermostat in your house. Once set at a certain point, it works to keep the internal state at that level. When the temperature drops in your house, your furnace will turn on and warm things up to the preset temperature. In the same way, if something is out of balance in your body, a physiological reaction will kick in until the set point is once again reached. Here's how the primary components of homeostasis work:
A negative feedback loop will work to decrease the effect of the stimulus, whereas a positive feedback loop will increase it. In homeostasis, negative feedback loops are most common, as the body is typically attempting to decrease the effect of the stimulus to get the body back to equilibrium. Types of Homeostatic RegulationThere are three main types of homeostatic regulation that happen in the body. Though their names might be unfamiliar, you probably experience them every day. ThermoregulationWhen you think about homeostasis, temperature might come to mind first. It is one of the most important and obvious homeostatic systems. Regulating body temperature is called thermoregulation. All organisms, from large mammals to tiny bacteria, must maintain an ideal temperature in order to survive. Some factors that influence this ability to maintain a stable body temperature include how these systems are regulated as well as the overall size of the organism.
The colloquial terms "warm-blooded" and "cold-blooded" do not actually mean that these organisms have different blood temperatures. These terms simply refer to how these creatures maintain their internal body temperatures. Thermoregulation is also influenced by an organism's size, or more specifically, the surface-to-volume ratio.
OsmoregulationOsmoregulation strives to maintain the right amount of water and electrolytes inside and outside cells in the body. The balance of salt and water across membranes plays an important role, as in osmosis, which explains the name "osmoregulation." In this process, the kidneys are responsible for getting rid of any excess fluid, waste, or electrolytes. Osmoregulation also affects blood pressure. Chemical RegulationYour body regulates other chemical mechanisms as well to keep systems in balance. These use hormones as chemical signals—for example, in the case of blood sugar levels. In this situation, the pancreas would release either insulin, when blood sugar levels are high, or glucagon, when blood sugars are low, to maintain homeostasis. Impact of HomeostasisHomeostasis involves both physiological and behavioral responses. In terms of behavior, you might seek out warm clothes or a patch of sunlight if you start to feel chilly. You might also curl your body inward and keep your arms tucked in close to your body to keep in the heat. As endotherms, people also have a number of internal systems that help regulate body temperature. When your body temperature dips below normal, a number of physiological reactions respond to help restore balance. Blood vessels in the body's extremities constrict in order to prevent heat loss. Shivering also helps the body produce more heat. The body also responds when temperatures go above normal. Have you ever noticed how your skin becomes flushed when you are very warm? This is your body trying to restore temperature balance. When you are too warm, your blood vessels dilate in order to give off more body heat. Perspiration is another common way to reduce body heat, which is why you often end up flushed and sweaty on a very hot day. Homeostasis and Mental Health Like the body, the mind seeks its own type of homeostasis and attempts to compensate when out of balance. For example, one prominent theory of human motivation, known as
drive-reduction theory, suggests that homeostatic imbalances create needs. These needs, in turn, motivate behavior in an attempt to restore homeostasis. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Kendra Cherry Thanks for your feedback! Which condition involves a person of normal weight who believes that he or she is overweight and induces vomiting or takes laxatives after overeating?Bulimia nervosa
An episode may involve overeating and then vomiting, using laxatives, or administering enemas to eliminate the consumed calories. People living with bulimia may have a normal weight or be slightly overweight or underweight.
Which of the following personality theories presents the most optimistic view of human nature and human potential?humanistic perspective: represents an optimistic look at human nature, emphasizing the self and the fulfillment of a person's unique potential.
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