A positive feedback loop maintains the direction of the stimulus and possibly accelerates it. Another example of positive feedback is uterine contractions during childbirth. The hormone oxytocin
Oxytocin
Oxytocin is a peptide hormone and neuropeptide. Oxytocin is normally produced in the hypothalamus and released by the posterior pituitary. It plays a role in social bonding, sexual reproduction, childbirth, and the period after childbirth. Oxytocin is released into the bloodstre…
What type of feedback loop is childbirth?
Normal childbirth is driven by a positive feedback loop. A positive feedback loop results in a change in the body's status, rather than a return to homeostasis. Oxytocin causes stronger contractions of the smooth muscles in of the uterus (the effectors), pushing the baby further down the birth canal. Click to see full answer.
Why is childbirth an example of positive feedback?
Why is childbirth an example of positive feedback? Homeostasis in the body is maintained through positive and negative feedback loops. These are methods used by the body to respond accordingly to a stimulus while also not adversely affecting normal function of the body. Become a Study.com member to unlock this answer! Create your account
What is a positive feedback loop?
A positive feedback loop is a system where one variable increases the quality of another variable which in turn increases the quantity/occurrence of the first variable. Positive feedback loops are processes that occur within feedback
Why is there a positive feedback loop in the milk cycle?
This positive feedback loop is necessary to make sure the child has enough milk during the time it nurses. When the baby begins to wean off of milk, the levels of prolactin in the mother’s body return to their normal levels.
How childbirth belongs to the positive feedback loop?
The release of oxytocin from the posterior pituitary gland during labor is an example of positive feedback mechanism. Oxytocin stimulates the muscle contractions that push the baby through the birth canal. The release of oxytocin result in stronger or augmented contractions during labor.
Is childbirth a good example of a positive feedback mechanism?
The process of labor and childbirth is perhaps the most-cited example of positive feedback. In childbirth, when the fetus's head presses up against the cervix, it stimulates nerves that tell the brain to stimulate the pituitary gland, which then produces oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract.
Why is childbirth a positive feedback quizlet?
A good example of a positive feedback system is child birth. During labor, a hormone called oxytocin is released that intensifies and speeds up contractions. The increase in contractions causes more oxytocin to be released and the cycle goes on until the baby is born.
What type of feedback is childbirth?
positive feedback loopNormal childbirth is driven by a positive feedback loop. A positive feedback loop results in a change in the body's status, rather than a return to homeostasis.
What stimulates uterine contractions and pushes baby towards cervix during childbirth Brainly?
Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, which push the baby harder against the cervix. In response, the cervix starts to dilate in preparation for the passage of the baby.
Which of the following is the negative feedback effect of ovaries losing sensitivity to FSH and LH?
In females, FSH and LH cause estrogen and progesterone to be produced. They regulate the female reproductive system which is divided into the ovarian cycle and the menstrual cycle. Menopause occurs when the ovaries lose their sensitivity to FSH and LH and the female reproductive cycles slow to a stop.
What type of homeostatic feedback reflex is the withdrawal reflex?
The withdrawal reflex is a spinal reflex intended to protect the body from damaging stimuli. It is a polysynaptic reflex, causing stimulation of sensory, association, and motor neurons.
Why is a positive feedback loop important?
It is a positive feedback loop because the body's response increases in response to a stimulus rather than acclimating or decreasing. In childbirth, when contractions begin, oxytocin is released. More oxytocin is gradually released by the body, corresponding with an increase in strength and intensity of the contraction as well.
What is positive feedback loop?
Positive feedback loops are a model which can help explain how numerous phenomena in human history affect seemingly unrelated aspects of civilization.
What is the effector of a positive feedback loop?
Effector. An effector is any organ or cell that ultimately responds to the stimulus. For example, in labor, the end result of the positive feedback loop is that the uterus contracts. In this case, the uterus is the effector organ. These four parts are also found in negative feedback loops, but the end result is different because in negative ...
What is the target of the feedback loop?
The control center responds to the sensor and takes action, such as producing a hormone. The effector organs are the target of the feedback loop and respond to the stimulus.
Why does breastfeeding cause more milk?
Breastfeeding is also a positive feedback loop; as the baby suckles, the mother’s pituitary gland produces more of the hormone prolactin, which causes more milk to be produced.
What is feedback mechanism?
Related Biology Terms. Feedback mechanism – A process that uses one component to regulate another, either through positive or negative feedback. Negative feedback – The result of a process inhibits the process from continuing to occur; it is the opposite of positive feedback.
What is positive feedback?
Positive feedback is a process in which the end products of an action cause more of that action to occur in a feedback loop . This amplifies the original action. It is contrasted with negative feedback, which is when the end results of an action inhibit that action from continuing to occur. These mechanisms are found in many biological systems. An important example of positive feedback is the process of labor and childbirth.
What causes action potentials in the brain?
Action potentials are caused by an influx of sodium ions in the nerve cell. If a small amount of sodium enters the nerve, it causes more channels to open which cause more sodium to rush in, creating a positive feedback loop that causes a large amount of sodium to enter the nerve and create an action potential.
What is a stimulus?
Stimulus. A stimulus is something that disrupts the body’s homeostasis, which is the tendency toward equilibrium in all body systems. A bodily injury or an infection are examples of stimuli. They disrupt normal processes in the body.
What are positive feedback loops? What are some examples?
Childbirth and the body’s response to blood loss are two examples of positive feedback loops that are normal but are activated only when needed. Childbirth at full term is an example of a situation in which the maintenance of the existing body state is not desired.
What is negative feedback?
Negative feedback is a mechanism that reverses a deviation from the set point, and in turn, maintains body parameters within their normal range. The maintenance of homeostasis by negative feedback goes on throughout the body at all times and an understanding of negative feedback is thus fundamental to an understanding of human physiology.
What are the components of a negative feedback system?
( Figure 1.3.2 a ). A sensor, also referred to a receptor, monitors a physiological value, which is then reported to the control center. The control center compares the value to the normal range. If the value deviates too much from the set point, then the control center activates an effector. An effector causes a change to reverse the situation and return the value to the normal range.
How do pancreatic beta cells respond to increased blood glucose levels?
These pancreatic beta cells respond to the increased level of blood glucose by releasing the hormone (insulin) into the bloodstream . The insulin signals skeletal muscle fibers, fat cells (adipocytes), and liver cells to take up the excess glucose, removing it from the bloodstream.
Why does the brain shiver?
This arrangement traps heat closer to the body core and restricts heat loss. If heat loss is severe, the brain triggers an increase in random signals to skeletal muscles, causing them to contract , producing shivering. The muscle contractions of shivering release heat while using up ATP.
How does the body respond to a potential catastrophe?
The body responds to this potential catastrophe by releasing substances in the injured blood vessel wall that begin the process of blood clotting. As each step of clotting occurs, it stimulates the release of more clotting substances. This accelerates the processes of clotting and sealing off the damaged area.
What hormones are released by the brain?
The brain also signals the adrenal glands to release epinephrine (adrenaline), a hormone that causes the breakdown of glycogen into glucose, which can be used as an energy source. The breakdown of glycogen into glucose also results in increased metabolism and heat production.
What is positive feedback?
Positive feedback is a self-amplifying cycle in which a physiological change leads to even greater change in the same direction, rather than producing the corrective effects of negative feedback. Positive feedback is often a normal way of producing rapid change. When a woman is giving birth, for example, the head of the baby pushes against her cervix (the neck of the uterus) and stimulates its nerve endings (fig. 1.13). Nerve signals travel to the brain, which, in turn, stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the hormone oxytocin. Oxytocin travels in the blood and stimulates the uterus to contract. This pushes the baby downward, stimulating the cervix still more and causing the positive feedback loop to be repeated. Labor contractions therefore become more and more intense until the baby is expelled. Other cases of beneficial positive feedback are seen later in the book; for example, in blood clotting, protein digestion, and the generation of nerve signals.
What hormones are produced when a woman gives birth?
1.13). Nerve signals travel to the brain, which, in turn, stimulates the pituitary gland to secrete the hormone oxytocin.
How does oxytocin affect the uterus?
Oxytocin travels in the blood and stimulates the uterus to contract. This pushes the baby downward, stimulating the cervix still more and causing the positive feedback loop to be repeated. Labor contractions therefore become more and more intense until the baby is expelled.
Why is it important to have a self-amplifying body?
This is because its self-amplifying nature can quickly change the internal state of the body to something far from its homeostatic set point. Consider a high fever, for example. A fever triggered by infection is beneficial up to a point, but if the body temperature rises much above 42°C (108°F), it may create a dangerous positive feedback loop ...
Why is a positive feedback loop harmful?
Because a change in the level of a variable causes responses that further increase the level of that variable, a positive feedback loop can grow quickly and unstable-y, leading to a runaway condition. Positive feedback loops can often be harmful because of this tendency to become unstably, though in some cases, ...
What is feedback loop?
Feedback loops are defined as systems that adjust levels of the specific variable whenever identifiable receptors, effectors, methods of communication, and control centers are present. It would be helpful to define these terms: ADVERTISEMENT.
What are some examples of negative feedback loops?
An example of a negative feedback loop is the thermoregulation of the body, like sweating when you are too hot. The sweat reduces body temperature and will continue until you are back to acceptable body temperature.
What hormone is responsible for milk production?
During the course of the pregnancy levels of the hormone known as prolactin increase, and prolactin is typically responsible for stimulating the production of milk.

Positive Feedback Definition
Parts of A Positive Feedback Loop
- Stimulus
A stimulus is something that disrupts the body’s homeostasis, which is the tendency toward equilibrium in all body systems. A bodily injury or an infection are examples of stimuli. They disrupt normal processes in the body. - Sensor
A sensor detects the change in homeostasis. For example, nerve cells in the cervix detect pressure placed on it from the head of the fetusduring labor. Nerve impulses from a sensor will travel to the control center.
Examples of Positive Feedback
- Blood Clotting
When a part of the body is injured, it releases chemicals that activate bloodplatelets. Platelets are responsible for stopping bleeding by forming clots. An activated platelet in turn activates more platelets, which group together to form a blood clot. (In individuals with hemophilia, the blood la… - The Menstrual Cycle
Before a woman ovulates, the hormone estrogen is released by the ovary. The estrogen travels to the brain, which causes gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) to be released from the hypothalamus and luteinizing hormone (LH) to be released from the pituitary gland. LH causes …
Related Biology Terms
- Feedback mechanism– A process that uses one component to regulate another, either through positive or negative feedback.
- Negative feedback– The result of a process inhibits the process from continuing to occur; it is the opposite of positive feedback.
- Hormone– A type of molecule that is released by glands and has a specific effect on certain …
- Feedback mechanism– A process that uses one component to regulate another, either through positive or negative feedback.
- Negative feedback– The result of a process inhibits the process from continuing to occur; it is the opposite of positive feedback.
- Hormone– A type of molecule that is released by glands and has a specific effect on certain cells or organs.
- Pituitary gland– A small gland at the base of the brain that produces a variety of hormones.
Quiz
- 1. A ripe apple on a tree produces the molecule ethylene. This molecule causes the surrounding apples to ripen, and they in turn produce ethylene until all of the apples on the tree are ripe. What is this process an example of? A. Homeostasis B. Positive feedback C. Negative feedback D.Action potential 2. Which is NOT an example of positive feedback? A. Contractions during chil…