dictionary help| homeostasis | medical dictionary |
<physiology> A tendency to stability in the normal body states (internal environment) of the organism. It is achieved by a system of control mechanisms activated by negative feedback, for example a high level of carbon dioxide in extracellular fluid triggers increased pulmonary ventilation, which in turn causes a decrease in carbon dioxide concentration.
Origin: Gr. Stasis = stoppage
(04 Nov 1997)
homeoplasia, homeoplastic, homeorrhesis, homeosis < Prev | Next > homeostatic, homeostatic equilibrium
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