88 Intro to Homeostasis Glossary
Homeostasis: in a general sense refers to stability or balance in a system.
Receptor: receives information that something in the environment is changing.
Control Center/Integration Center: receives and processes information from the receptor.
Effector: responds to the commands of the control center by either opposing or enhancing the stimulus.
Negative feedback: a reaction in which the system responds in such a way as to reverse the direction of change.
Positive feedback: a response is to amplify the change in the variable.
Set Point: the level or point at which a variable physiological state (as body temperature or weight) tends to stabilize.
Acclimatization: a physiological change in an individual stimulated by exposure to a different, often stressful, environment.
Endotherm: so-called warm-blooded animals; that is, those that maintain a constant body temperature independent of the environment.
Ectotherm: so-called cold-blooded animal—that is, any animal whose regulation of body temperature depends on external sources, such as sunlight or a heated rock surface.
Thermoregulation: a mechanism by which mammals maintain body temperature with tightly controlled self-regulation independent of external temperatures.