1. Homeostatic systems involve receptors, a communication system and effectors.
2. Receptors detect when a level is too high or too low, and the information is communicated via the nervous system or the hormonal system to effectors.
3. The effectors respond to counteract the change - bringing the level back to normal.
4. The mechanism that restores the level to normal is called a negative feedback mechanism.
5. Negative feedback keeps things around the normal level e.g. body temperature is usually kept within 0.5 degrees above or below 37 degrees.
6. Negative feedback only works within certain limits though - if the change is too big then the effectors may not be able to counteract it, e.g. A huge drop in body temperature caused by prolonged exposure to cold weather may be too large to counteract.
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