What is a Feedback Mechanism in the Human Body?

Every organ in the body contributes to homeostasis.

A complex set of chemical, thermal, and neural factors interact in complex ways, both helping and hindering the body while it works to maintain homeostasis.

Homeostatic control
To maintain homeostasis, communication within the body is essential.

The image below is an example of how a homeostatic control system works. Here is a brief explanation:

Stimulus– produces a change to a variable (the factor being regulated).

Receptor– detects the change. The receptor monitors the environment and responds to change (stimuli).

Input– information travels along the (afferent) pathway to the control center. The control center determines the appropriate response and course of action.

Response– a response from the effector balances out the original stimulus to maintain homeostasis.

Think of it as an extremely complex balancing act. Here’s a few more definitions you may want to know.

Afferent pathways– carry nerve impulses into the central nervous system. For instance, if you felt scorching heat on your hand, the message would travel through afferent pathways to your central nervous system.

Efferent pathways– carry nerve impulses away from the central nervous system to effectors (muscles, glands).

The feeling of heat would travel through an afferent pathway to the central nervous system. It would then interact with the effector and travel down the efferent pathway, eventually making the person remove their hand from the scorching heat.