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2.1.

3- Feedback Loops (Blood Sugar and Body


Temperature)

INTRODUCTION

So far in this lesson, you have studied the connection between insulin and glucose and how the
interaction of the two is related to diabetes. But how does your body monitor and control the level of
sugar in your blood? The human body maintains homeostasis, a steady state, by monitoring
changes in the internal and external environment and feeding this information back to the body so
that it can make necessary change. The control of body temperature, heart rate, and the
concentration of sugar in the blood are all regulated by these feedback mechanisms or feedback
loops. There are actually two types of feedback mechanisms: negative feedback and positive
feedback. In this instance, the terms positive and negative do not infer good or bad. Instead, the
terms refer to the effect the input of information (feedback) has on the output (action) of the system.
Positive feedback causes a reinforcement of the original action, so the input causes the reaction to
increase. Negative feedback causes the system to stop doing the original action and to either take
no action or to perform an opposite action.

While our nervous system communicates using electrical signals, the bodys endocrine system uses
chemical signals, called hormones, to regulate body functioning. Hormones are proteins involved in
maintaining the bodys homeostasis. These chemical messengers carry signals from one cell to
another and regulate many of the bodys functions, including growth and development, metabolism,
and reproduction. Hormones are secreted by tissues in the body referred to as glands. Each
hormone has a specific list of target tissues, and in many cases these include other endocrine
glands. Hormones are a vital component of the bodys feedback system. Insulin is one of the key
hormones that helps maintain a healthy blood sugar level.

In this activity you will investigate feedback and feedback loops. Using knowledge of the
insulin/glucose connection, diagram the specific steps in the body that function to keep blood sugar
in balance.

Definition of feedback mechanism: Feedback mechanisms are what the body does in
response to regulate a function in the body

Positive feedback reinforces the action. An example is blushing. A person may realize they are
blushing and become embarrassed, causing them to blush even more.
Negative feedback works against the action. An example is sweating. A person sweats to cool
off, so it is a negative feedback against the heat.
The body uses sweat to cool off
Core temperature is regulated by the hypothalamus (in the brain). The hypothalamus responds
to various temperature regulators in the body
Responses to overheating include:

Vasoconstriction to decrease the flow of heat to the skin.


Cessation of sweating.
Shivering to increase heat production in the muscles.
Secretion of norepinephrine, epinephrine, and thyroxine to increase heat production

When the body is too hot, the hypothalamus activates cooling mechanisms. It causes the skin
blood vessels to dilate and radiate the heat outwards. The skin also sweats for evaporation to
cool off the body. Once temperature is back to normal, the hypothalamus shuts off these
mechanisms.

When the body is too cold, the hypothalamus activates warming mechanisms. Blood vessels
constrict to divert the blood to deeper tissues and important organs, as well as prevent heat
from radiating through the skin. Muscles begin to shiver to create more heat through energy.
Once temperature is back to normal, warming mechanisms are turned off.

8.) After eating a candy bar, the pancreas beta cells will be stimulated to release insulin into the
blood. Insulin will go into the body and signals for cells to allow the glucose in for energy. The
liver also takes in glucose and stores it as glycogen. Once blood sugar is back to normal, the
release of insulin declines.

9.) After blood sugar has declined, pancreas alpha cells are stimulated to release glucagon. The
glucagon stimulates the liver to break down glycogen and release glucose into the bloodstream
for energy. Blood sugar rises to normal and the release of glucose declines.

In the case of type 1 and type 2 diabetes,


CONCLUSION QUESTIONS:

1. Blood sugar is maintained by negative feedback. When blood sugar is too high or low, the body
reacts to bring it back to its normal level. The pancreas releases insulin for high levels and
glucagon for low levels that work to bring blood sugar back to normal.
2. Without our insulin receptors, insulin would not be stimulated to do its job. Insulin is released to
lower our high blood sugar. When blood sugar is too high, insulin allows cells and the liver to
take in glucose and lower blood sugar. Without insulin, it would be impossible to achieve
homeostasis.
3. Anna Garcias death was possibly caused by a problem with her hormones and feedback
mechanisms. It is possible that Anna Garcias feedback mechanisms were not working properly,
which would prevent her body functions from working to achieve homeostasis. Maybe Annas
type 1 diabetes were not being treated properly and her hormones were not responding to
signals to bring blood sugar down. Without proper treatment and healthy lifestyle, feedback
mechanisms to maintain homeostasis will not work.

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