Negative feedback systems in hormonal control - Higher
Homeostatic control
In animals, conditions such as water concentration, temperature, and glucose concentration must be kept as constant as possible. Control systems that keep such conditions constant are examples of homeostasisThe regulation of internal conditions inside cells or organisms, to create the optimum conditions for cell function.; this is the maintenance of constant internal conditions in an organism.
A negative feedback mechanismMechanism to lower raised levels of something, and to raise reduced levels of something. is an important type of control that is found in homeostasis. A negative feedback control system responds when conditions change from the ideal or set point and returns conditions to this set point. There is a continuous cycle of events in negative feedback.
General stages in negative feedback
In general this works by:
if the level of something rises, control systems reduce it again
if the level of something falls, control systems raise it again
Figure caption,
Negative feedback flowchart
An example of negative feedback is the control of body temperature. Body temperature is controlled by the hypothalamusPart of the brain which controls water balance, temperature and secretion of hormones by the pituitary gland. in your brain. If your body gets too hot, your body begins to sweat, which reduces body temperature. In the opposite way, if the body gets too cold, your body begins to shiver to raise body temperature.