Homeostasis

• What is homeostasis?

  The maintenance of internal body conditions, despite external changes
• Why is homeostasis important?

  • Stabilises rate of reaction
  • Ensures constant water potential
• What is negative feedback?

  A change from the control system leads to a change in the stimulus detected, so the system turns off
• What is positive feedback?

  A deviation from the optimum results in a change that deviates further from the optimum
• What is an ectotherm?


  Use external sources to gain heat eg the sun
• What are endotherms?


  Gain heat from internal body processes