1. Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health
FEEDBACK MECHANISMS
It does not have to do with food…
But, you have some in your body
Partnership for Environmental Education and Rural Health
peer.tamu.edu

2. What is Feedback?
Feedback is the process in which part of the output of a system is returned to its input in order to regulate its further output.

3. Negative Feedback
Negative feedback occurs when the output of a system acts to oppose changes to the input of the system.
A thermostat is an example of a negative feedback system.

4. Heater turns off Heater turns on AC turns off AC turns on
Room temp increases
Set point
is reached
Heater turns on
Heater turns off
Room temp is below the setpoint
Room temp is above the setpoint
Set point
is reached
Room temp decreases
AC turns off
AC turns on
A thermostat is a device for regulating the temperature of a system so that the system's temperature is maintained near a desired setpoint temperature.

5. Negative Feedback in Biology
Negative feedback also regulates many systems in organisms.
The endocrine system is one example.
This diagram shows a negative feedback loop for stress hormones.
Areas of negative feedback are indicated with a minus sign, (-).

6. Endocrine System The endocrine system is composed of glands that
produces chemical
messengers called hormones.
Hormones are produced in
one part of the body and travel to target organs through the bloodstream.

7. Endocrine system Glands of the endocrine system include:
Pituitary gland
Thyroid Gland
Parathyroid glands
Thymus
Adrenal glands
Pancreas
Ovary and Testis

8. Endocrine System
The brain continuously sends signals to the endocrine glands to secrete and release hormones and the glands, in turn, send feedback to the nervous system.
The hypothalamus in the brain
is the master switch that
sends signals to the pituitary
gland which can release up to eight hormones into the bloodstream.
The hormone travels to its target organ and usually results in the release of another hormone into the bloodstream.

9. Endocrine System
The hypothalamus then detects the rising hormone levels from the target organ and decreases the release of hormones from the pituitary which results in a decrease in hormone release from the target organ.
The process of maintaining normal body function through negative feedback mechanisms is called homeostasis.

10. Glucose and Insulin
Pancreas
Glucose intake occurs during digestion of food that is needed for energy expenditure to perform routine physical activities.
The pancreas is the key organ that regulates the glucose levels in body by secreting two hormones, insulin and glucagon.
The liver also helps to store the excess glucose in form of glycogen to be utilized later.
Liver

11. Glucose and Insulin Negative Feedback Loop
Boy eating cake
Increases Glucose Levels
(-)
CYCLE 1
Stimulates β cells of pancreas to secrete insulin
Lowers Blood Glucose levels
Insulin stimulates the cells to take up glucose from the blood.

12. CYCLE 2 Low Blood Glucose Levels Glucagon is released
(-)
Stimulated Alpha Cells in Pancreas
High blood glucose levels and Cycle 1 continues
Glucagon is released
Glucagon stimulates liver cells to release glucose into the blood

13. Glucose and Insulin Negative Feedback Loop
Two primary Hormones
The opposite actions of these two hormones, insulin and glucagon, helps to maintain normal blood sugar levels in the body hence maintain homeostasis of the body.
Insulin
Glucagon
Lowers Blood Glucose Levels
Raises Blood Glucose
Levels

14. Take a Break and Chat With Your Neighbor!
Turn to the person behind or in front of you and discuss the following topics:
What is a feedback and an example of a negative AND positive system?
What is the endocrine system and why is it important?
Define homeostasis and how normal body function is maintained with feedback mechanisms.

15. Kidneys and Water Regulation
The kidneys play a key role in maintaining
water regulation.
Renal Cortex
Renal Medulla

16. Kidney and Water Regulation
The nephron is the most important functional part of the kidney.
It filters nutrients like salts and amino acids in the Bowman’s capsule into ascending loop and filters the urine.

17. Kidney and Water Regulation
Anti-Diuretic Hormone, ADH (also called vasopressin), is secreted by the pituitary gland and acts on the nephron to conserve water and regulate the tonicity of body fluids.
Anti-
Diuretic
Hormone
ADH acts on Nephron to reabsorb water and decrease blood osmolality (saltiness)

18. ADH regulated water conservation in kidneys
Excess water in the blood
Less water in the blood
Stimulates osmoreceptors in hypothalamus to send signals to the pituitary gland
Stimulates osmoreceptors in hypothalamus to send signals to the pituitary gland
Pituitary glands secretes high levels of ADH
Pituitary glands secretes low levels of ADH
Less ADH makes the tubules less permeable and less water is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream (urine is dilute).
ADH makes the tubules more permeable and more water is reabsorbed back into the bloodstream (urine is concentrated).

19. ADH regulated water conservation in kidneys
Osmoregulators send negative feedback to the hypothalamus about the concentration of water in the bloodstream.
The hypothalamus then stimulates the pituitary glands to secrete high or low concentrations of anti-diuretic hormone.
ADH then makes the tubules more or less permeable and hence, maintains water and electrolyte homeostasis.

20. Temperature regulation of Body
Animals that are capable of maintaining their bogy temperature within a given range are called homeotherms.
Temperature is regulated by negative feedback control.
Thermoreceptors located in hypothalamus detect temperature fluctuations in the body.

21. Temperature Regulation of the Body
Increased temperature causes vasodilatation (blood vessels near the surface of the skin dilate).
The large surface area allows heat to be lost from the blood and lowers the body temperature.
Sweating also helps lower the temperature.
Decreased temperature causes vasoconstriction (blood vessels constrict) and minimal heat loss occurs which helps maintain body temperature.
Hair on the body provides insulation and helps maintain body temperature.

22. Positive Feedback
A positive feedback loop occurs when the output of a system acts to enhance the changes to the input of the system.
One example of a biological positive feedback loop is the onset of contractions in childbirth.
When a contraction occurs, the hormone oxytocin is released into the body, which stimulates further contractions.
This results in contractions increasing in amplitude and frequency.

23. Positive Feedback Another example is blood clotting.
The loop is initiated when injured tissue releases signal chemicals that activate platelets in the blood.
An activated platelet releases chemicals to activate more platelets, causing a rapid cascade and the formation of a blood clot.
Lactation involves positive feedback so that the more the baby suckles, the more milk is produced.

24. Positive Feedback
In most cases, once the purpose of the feedback loop is completed, counter-signals are released that suppress or break the loop.
Childbirth contractions stop when the baby is out of the mother's body.
Chemicals break down the blood clot.
Lactation stops when the baby no longer nurses.

25. Take a Break and Chat With Your Neighbor!
Turn to the person behind or in front of you and discuss the following topics:
What are the roles of the kidneys in the body?
How do the kidneys compare or contrast to the feedback systems in the endocrine system?
How does the body regulate temperature?
Define and give examples of a positive feedback system in the body.