Venn Diagram: Negative vs.

Positive Feedback Loops

Similarities:

• Both types of feedback loops involve a response to a stimulus.

• They play essential roles in regulating physiological processes.

• Both aim to maintain stability or achieve a specific outcome in the body.

Differences:

• Negative Feedback:

• Response opposes the initial change to restore homeostasis.

• Acts to stabilize or maintain a relatively constant internal environment.

• Examples: Thermoregulation (cooling mechanisms), blood glucose regulation

(insulin and glucagon feedback).

• Positive Feedback:

• Response amplifies the initial change, leading to an increase in function.

• Reinforces the change until a specific endpoint or outcome is achieved.

• Examples: Blood clotting (platelet aggregation), childbirth (oxytocin-induced uterine

contractions).

Guide Questions:

• Examples of Negative and Positive Feedback Loops:

• Negative Feedback Example (Blood Glucose Regulation):

• Stimulus: Rise in blood glucose levels after a meal.

• Response: Pancreas releases insulin to promote glucose uptake by cells and storage
as glycogen, lowering blood glucose levels.
• Outcome: Blood glucose levels return to normal (homeostasis), and insulin
secretion decreases.

• Positive Feedback Example (Childbirth - Oxytocin Release):

• Stimulus: Stretching of the uterus during labor.

• Response: Pituitary gland releases oxytocin, causing stronger uterine contractions.

• Outcome: Uterine contractions intensify, leading to further stretching and more

oxytocin release, ultimately culminating in childbirth (positive feedback loop ends
with delivery).

• Relating Negative Feedback Mechanism in Daily Life:

• Example: Room Temperature Control with a Thermostat

• Stimulus: Increase in room temperature above the set point (desired temperature).

• Response: Thermostat detects the increase and activates the air conditioning system.

• Outcome: Air conditioning cools the room back to the set point.

• Explanation: In this scenario, the negative feedback loop maintains a stable room
temperature by detecting deviations (rise in temperature) and initiating corrective
actions (cooling) to restore the desired state (desired room temperature). Once the
temperature returns to the set point, the air conditioning system stops, demonstrating
the concept of negative feedback in everyday life.