Negative Feedback Loops

Definition

A negative feedback loop is a process in which the body senses a change and activates mechanisms to reverse that change.

Analogy

Think of it like your home's thermostat. When the temperature gets too hot, the air conditioning kicks on to cool things down. Once it reaches the desired temperature, the AC shuts off. This is similar to how negative feedback loops work in our bodies.

Related terms

Homeostasis: The state of steady internal conditions maintained by living things.

Thermoregulation: The ability of an organism to keep its body temperature within certain boundaries, even when surrounding temperature is very different.

Hormones: Chemical messengers that are secreted directly into the blood, which carries them to organs and tissues of the body to exert their functions.