Feedback Systems In The Body

Anatomy & Physiology I

Biology 1611 Lecture

Feedback System

A Feedback System is a cycle of events in

which information about the status of a
condition is continually monitored and fed
back or reported to a central control region.

A feedback system consists of 3

basic components

The Control Center: Determines the point at

which a controlled condition should be
maintained.
The Receptor: Monitors changes in the
controlled condition and then sens the
information called the input to the control center.
The Effector: Receives information called output
from the control center and produces a response
called an effect.

Negative Feedback

This occurs if a response reverses the

original stimulus.
Negative Feedback systems tend to
maintain conditions that require frequent
monitoring and adjustment within
physiological limits.
Negative Feedback is by far the most
common type of feedback in the body.

An Example of Negative
Feedback

Homeostasis of Blood Pressure is an example of

Negative Feedback.
If a stimulus (such as stress) causes blood
pressure (controlled condition) to rise, pressure
sensitive nerve cells (receptors) in certain arteries
send impulses (input) to the brain (control
center).
The brain sends impulses (output) to the heart
(effector) which causes the heart rate to decrease
(response) and the return of normal blood
pressure and thus, restoration of homeostasis.

Positive Feedback

Positive Feedback occurs when a response

enhances the original stimulus.
Positive Feedback systems tend to regulate
conditions that do not occur often and do
not require continual fine tuning.
Positive Feedback systems only occur in
limited and very specific instances in the
body. An example is labor and delivery.

An Example of Positive
Feedback

Labor and delivery (contractions) is an example

of positive feedback.
When labor begins, the uterus is stretched
(stimulus) and stretch-sensitive nerve cells in the
cervix of the uterus (receptors) send nerve
impulses (input) to the hypothalamus (control
center.)
The hypothalamus causes the release of the
hormone oxytocin (output) which stimulates the
uterus (effector) to contract more forcefully
(response).

Positive Feedback Continued

Movement of the babys head down the

birth canal causes further stretching and the
release of more oxytocin.
This in turn causes more contractions to
occur.
This upward cycle of stretching-release of
oxytocin-increased contractions is broken
(stopped) by the delivery of the baby.

Homeostatic Imbalance

Disruptions of homeostasis can lead to

disease and death.
Disease: any change from a state of health
that is characterized by symptoms and
signs.

Types of Diseases

Local Disease: A disease that affects one

part of a limited area of the body.
Systemic Disease: A disease that affects
either the entire body or several parts.

Symptoms versus Signs

Symptoms: SUBJECTIVE changes in body

functions that are not apparent to an
observer. Examples: headache, nausea or
fatigue.
Signs: OBJECTIVE changes that a
clinician can observe and measure.
Examples: fever, rash, edema or fracture

Diagnosis

The ART of distinguishing one disease

from another or determining the nature of a
disease; a diagnosis is generally arrived at
after the taking of a medical history and the
administration of a physical examination.
To diagnose a patient is as much an ART
as it is a SCIENCE

Other Medical Terms

Autopsy: A medical procedure done to establish

a cause of death and to verify previous diagnoses.
Autopsies can be done to uncover the existence of
diseases not detected during life, to establish the
effects of drugs, to reveal congenital conditions
and to resolve investigations by law enforcement
officials.
Necropsy: An autopsy of an animal.