Definition

Noun: 1. A state of stable internal equilibrium maintained by physiological processes: In biology and physiology, homeostasis refers to the self-regulating process by which a living organism maintains a stable internal environment despite changes in external conditions. This stability is actively achieved through complex feedback mechanisms, often involving the autonomic nervous system and hormonal systems, to counteract disruptive changes.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The human body maintains homeostasis by regulating temperature, blood sugar, and fluid balance.
  • A fever is a temporary disruption of the body's thermal homeostasis in response to infection.
  • The concept of homeostasis is fundamental to understanding physiology.

Advanced Usage

• "Maintain homeostasis": This is the most common collocation, describing the active process of keeping internal stability.
  • The kidneys work to maintain homeostasis of electrolytes and pH in the blood.
• "Disrupt/homeostatic disruption": Refers to anything that interferes with or upsets the state of equilibrium.
  • Severe dehydration can disrupt the body's homeostasis.
• "Homeostatic mechanism/response": Refers to the specific biological processes (e.g., shivering, sweating, insulin release) that correct deviations from the set point.
  • Sweating is a homeostatic mechanism for cooling the body.

Variants and Related Words

• Homeostatic (adj): Relating to or characterized by homeostasis.
  • The body exhibits a homeostatic response to stress.

Synonyms

• Equilibrium: A state of balance. (More general; homeostasis is a specific type of biological equilibrium.)
• Balance: A condition in which different elements are in the correct proportions. (More general and colloquial.)
• Stability: The state of being stable and not changing. (Describes the result of homeostasis.)

Antonyms

• Imbalance: A lack of proportion or relation between corresponding things.
• Disequilibrium: A loss or lack of balance or stability.
• Dysregulation: The impairment of a physiological regulatory system.

Noun

1. (physiology) metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting changes