Physiological Homeostasis

Physiological homeostasis refers to the self-regulating processes by which living organisms maintain stable internal physical and chemical conditions despite fluctuations in the external environment. This dynamic stability is achieved by integrating signals across diverse physiological systems (e.g., nervous, endocrine, cardiovascular) and relies on feedback mechanisms—particularly negative feedback loops—to regulate variables such as temperature, pH, glucose level, blood pressure, and more. Canonically, homeostasis is coordinated by sensors (receptors), control centers, and effectors; for example, body temperature is tightly regulated by the hypothalamus, metabolic pathways are adjusted by pancreatic hormones (insulin, glucagon) for glucose, and blood pressure is maintained by the autonomic nervous system and hormone signals. Disruption in homeostasis is a fundamental cause of disease, and clinical management often aims to restore homeostatic balance. While molecular targets (e.g., receptors, enzymes) participate in homeostatic mechanisms, "physiological homeostasis" itself is an emergent system-level property, not a discrete druggable entity.

Other names

HomeostasisBiological homeostasis