ho·me·o·sta·sis (h  m --st  s s)n. The ability or tendency of an organism or cell to maintain internal equilibrium by adjusting its physiological processes. ho me·o·static (-st tk) adj. |
homeostasis, homoeostasis [ˌhəʊmɪəʊˈsteɪsɪs]
n
1. (Life Sciences & Allied Applications / Physiology) the maintenance of metabolic equilibrium within an animal by a tendency to compensate for disrupting changes
2. the maintenance of equilibrium within a social group, person, etc.
homeostatic , homoeostatic [ˌhəʊmɪəʊˈstætɪk] adj
| homeostasis (hm--stss) The tendency of an organism or cell to regulate its internal conditions, such as the chemical composition of its body fluids, so as to maintain health and functioning, regardless of outside conditions. The organism or cell maintains homeostasis by monitoring its internal conditions and responding appropriately when these conditions deviate from their optimal state. The maintenance of a steady body temperature in warm-blooded animals is an example of homeostasis. In human beings, the homeostatic regulation of body temperature involves such mechanisms as sweating when the internal temperature becomes excessive and shivering to produce heat, as well as the generation of heat through metabolic processes when the internal temperature falls too low. |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms
| Noun | 1. | homeostasis - (physiology) metabolic equilibrium actively maintained by several complex biological mechanisms that operate via the autonomic nervous system to offset disrupting changes physiology - the branch of the biological sciences dealing with the functioning of organisms equilibrium - a stable situation in which forces cancel one another |
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