GENERAL

Biology
2

QUARTER 4 WEEK 4-6

‘’ Feedback Mechanisms ‘’
INSTRUCTIONS
Read and understand the lesson in this module.
Do all the activities in this module especially the worksheet.
You may use the space provided for your answer, you can also use the back page of the
worksheet.
Submit only the worksheet of this module.
Make sure to write your Name, Grade and Section upon submission.

This module is prepared by:

Name: Ms. Jhan Cel Fe M. Torres
Contact Number: 09975431875
Email Address: tjhancelfe@gmail.com

Learner’s Name: ___________________________

Contact number____________________________
Email address: ____________________________

At the end of this module, students will able to:

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  Explain how some organisms maintain steady internal conditions that possess various structures
and processes.
 Identify the stimulus, the response and the feedback mechanism the organism undergo.
 Perform the activity on the feedback mechanism and homeostasis.
 Appreciate the importance of feedback mechanism and homeostasis to maintain balance in your
body through performing the activity.

LESSON 10:

Introduction
When you eat, your body absorbs the glucose, a carbohydrate, in your food. But what happens
inside your body when you ingest too much carbohydrates? How about when you skip a meal? In this
module, you will learn how your body organs maintain internal balance. You will also learn how different
parts of your body work in keeping the internal state of equilibrium.
Your body has built-in mechanisms that allow it to function normally. All your body systems are
regulated by feedback mechanisms that serve to maintain balance. This allows different organs of the
body to work with one another. Homeostasis refers to the body's ability to maintain a constant internal
environment. This is important because it allows your body to function well in spite of the ever-changing
external environment.
Organisms with very efficient homeostasis systems are able to tolerate a wide range of external
factors. Your body performs many physiological processes, such that a lot of these need to be maintained.
Some of the substances that need to be maintained inside your body include glucose, water, a healthy
amount of carbon dioxide and oxygen, and mineral salts such as sodium and chlorine. Internal conditions
such as temperature, blood pressure, and hormone concentration also need to be regulated.

 Homeostasis
Homeostasis helps the cells in your body to function Even if your body fails
optimally. All cellular activities are controlled by different feedback to function because of the
mechanisms that regulate body temperature, body fluids, gas negative effects of your
concentration, blood pressure, and glucose concentration. lifestyle, your body will still try
To understand deeply how homeostasis happens at the cellular to regulate and maintain your
level, you should recall the structure of the cell membrane and its internal body conditions.
functions. The cell membrane shown in
figure 2.1 serves as the gatekeeper of the
cell. Only selected substances go in and out
of the cell, which is why it is described as
semipermeable. The structure of the cell
membrane is highly specialized to allow
efficient movement of substances in and out
of the cell. The cell membrane contains
signal receptors that help in identifying
substances to be transported across the
membrane. If the cell recognizes a disruption
in the steady state of the cell, signals are sent
to the nervous and endocrine systems, so that
an appropriate reaction will be done to
maintain the optimal condition of the cell. Fig.2.1. Fluid Mosaic Model of the Cell Membrane

Homeostasis through Positive and Negative Feedback Mechanisms

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 For the body to maintain its healthy state, its cells and body organs should operate at their
optimum level. Any changes in the external environment may affect the body's internal environment,
which will cause the body to continually adjust. To do so, your body can work through either a positive or
a negative feedback mechanism. However, if you want to learn how the body works to achieve stability,
you must first study the stimulus-response feedback model shown in figure 2.2.

Fig.2.2. Stimulus-response feedback model

The stimulus-response model shows the events that happen when a certain stimulus changes the
internal condition of the body. The following is a brief definition of the stimulus- response feedback
model:
1. Stimulus - a structure that produces the change
2. Receptor - a structure that detects the change
3. Control center - a structure that determines the appropriate response to the stimulus
4. Effector - can be organs, glands, or tissues that are instructed to adjust the amount of output that
produces a desired effect
5. Response – the outcome of the adjustment that should remove the initial

Feedback The Negative Mechanism

This type of mechanism allows the internal condition of the body
to go back to its normal or ideal state by inhibiting or removing the Positive feedback
stimulus. As the concentration of products or substances inside the body mechanisms enhance the
increases, the rate of process decreases. One good example of this type of original stimulus, and
mechanism is when your body absorbs a lot of glucose from the food you negative feedback
eat. As the glucose level in your blood increases, the receptors in your mechanisms inhibit it. These
body will signal the brain to command the pancreas to secrete insulin into mechanisms allow your body
the blood. Once the insulin is secreted, the blood sugar level effectively to function normally.
decreases. When the sugar level in your blood finally reaches homeostasis,
the pancreas will then stop secreting insulin.

Fig.2.3. Negative feedback

mechanisms in blood level
maintenance

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The Positive Feedback Mechanism
The positive feedback mechanism is exactly the opposite of the negative feedback mechanism.
Here, the increase in the concentration or products or substances also results in an increase in the rate of
process. Positive feedback mechanisms allow the output to enhance the original stimulus. A good
example of this can be observed during childbirth, as shown in figure 2.4. As the mother labors, oxytocin
is released inside her body. Oxytocin, a hormone, causes muscle contractions to speed up and intensify.
An increase in muscle contractions allows more oxytocin to be released until the baby is born. The birth
of the baby ends the continuous release of oxytocin, and thus the positive feedback mechanism comes to a
halt.

Fig.2.4. The birth of a human infant

as a result of a positive feedback
loop

Regulation of Body Temperature

Your body needs to maintain a relatively constant internal temperature for metabolic processes to
proceed efficiently. If the internal temperature of your body changes, your body will find ways to
maintain its temperature. High temperatures cause imbalance in the body. High temperature makes the
blood warmer than the hypothalamic set point. Thus, the heat-loss center in the hypothalamus is activated,
which will signal the sweat glands to secrete sweat. The sweat in your body is vaporized by your body
heat to lower your internal body temperature. Also, the hypothalamus signals the blood vessels in the skin
to become dilated. This allows the capillaries to become flushed with warm blood, permitting the heat to
radiate from the surface of the skin. Once your body temperature decreases or when you cool down, the
heat-loss center in the hypothalamus shuts off. This heat-loss mechanism protects the body from
excessively high temperatures.

On the other hand, when the environment or your blood temperature falls, the heat- promoting
center in the hypothalamus is activated. This allows your skeletal muscles to start shivering and for the
diameter of your blood vessels to become small. Shivering occurs to help your muscles generate heat, and
blood vessel constriction allows your blood to be diverted from your skin to the deeper tissues to
minimize overall heat loss from the skin surface. When the body temperature finally increases or when
you feel warm, the hypothalamus is triggered to shut down the heat promoting center.

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 Fig.2.5. Mechanisms in the
regulation of body
temperature

Regulation of Body Fluids

Water needs to be regulated inside your body. It is continually released from your body through
sweat and urine. When water is lost, dissolved solutes become more concentrated inside the cell, thus
creating high osmotic pressure. This change in osmotic pressure is detected by osmoreceptors in the
hypothalamus. Once this happens, the hypothalamus sends a message to the nerve impulses to activate the
drinking center and the posterior pituitary gland to release the antidiuretic hormone (ADH). Subsequently,
the person's drinking behavior is stimulated. Also, once the ADH reaches the kidney, the kidney will
decrease the amount of water to be excreted in the urine and increases the amount of water to put back
into the bloodstream. This process will continue until the hypothalamus finally detects that the amount of
water in the blood is normal. Thus, water intake and increased reabsorption of water in the kidneys help
maintain the normal amount of water in your body. Figure 2.6 shows the summary of how body fluids are
regulated.

Fig.2.6. Diagram showing regulation of body fluids

Regulation of Gas Concentration

Carbon dioxide and oxygen are two important gases that must have a normal concentration inside
the body. The respiratory system helps in maintaining the concentration of these two gases. The
respiratory system also maintains the pH level inside your body. Oxygen enters the body as an essential
component for the process of respiration, and carbon dioxide is produced as its by-product. Both oxygen
and carbon dioxide enter and exit the lungs and travel through the bloodstream. Oxygen is important for
cellular respiration because a constant supply of this gas maintains homeostasis. When oxygen supply is
insufficient, cells cannot produce energy. On the other hand, carbon dioxide should also be at constant
concentration inside the cell; if the carbon dioxide level is not carefully managed, it would accumulate at
problematic levels.
The pH level is also maintained by the respiratory system because it is directly influenced by the
concentration of carbon dioxide. Note that pH is important because many biological processes and
structures can proceed only within a certain level of pH.
The parts of the respiratory
system, along with the help of the
circulatory system, aid in the intake
of oxygen and the release of carbon
dioxide out of the body. Your body
has voluntary control regarding this
process of gas exchange. Nerve
impulses control the muscles and
other organs of the respiratory

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Fig.2.7. The gas exchange process in the alveolus of the
lungs
system. Respiratory control lies in the respiratory center located in the medulla oblongata at the base of
the brain.

Regulation of Blood Pressure

The circulatory system is a very important body system because it does not only control the
temperature, body fluids, and gases – it also regulates blood pressure.
 Blood pressure is the pressure exerted by the blood against the walls of the blood vessels.
Blood pressure is controlled by a homeostatic mechanism.
As the heart pumps blood into the different parts of the body through the blood vessels, pressure is
regulated. There are different blood vessels that receive the blood pumped by the heart. As the blood
travels farther from the heart, these blood vessels branch off and gradually decrease in size. Blood
pressure keeps the blood flowing through all the blood vessels so that cells receive oxygen and nutrients,
which are important components needed to sustain life. The blood pressure should be regulated because,
for the blood to reach all the vital organs of the body, the healthy and elastic blood vessels should stretch
and recoil as the pressure goes up and down, respectively. If the blood pressure rises too high, it could
damage the blood vessels. However, if the blood pressure is too low, the organs in your body would not
receive adequate oxygen and nutrients.
If there are stimuli that can cause the increase or decrease of blood pressure, the nervous system
helps in regulating it. Blood pressure is closely monitored by baroreceptors that send messages to the
cardio-regulatory center of your medulla oblongata. They are found within the walls of blood vessels. As
baroreceptors detect changes in the blood pressure, they transmit the information to the brain. The brain
responds by initiating mechanisms that bring the blood pressure back to normal. If there is high blood
pressure, baroreceptors will send signals that cause vasodilation, or the expanding of the walls of the
blood vessels. Vasodilation allows the peripheral resistance of the blood to decrease, which eventually
causes a decrease in blood pressure. The opposite happens when the baroreceptors detect a drop in the
blood pressure. A low blood pressure causes a decrease in the signals sent to the cardio-regulatory center
of your medulla oblongata. Therefore, the sinoatrial node (SA node), which is responsible for creating
nerve impulses, would fire more frequently to increase the heart rate. When the heart is stimulated to
increase its pumping force, the blood pressure increases.

Fig.2.8. As the
blood flows,
blood vessels
should dilate and
constrict
properly.

Regulation of Glucose Concentration

Glucose is an important sugar in the body. When combined
with oxygen inside the cell, it produces energy necessary to perform Your blood sugar level
certain physiological processes. Many functions in the body are based should be kept as close to
on the energy sourced from glucose. Without glucose, metabolic normal range as possible.
reactions would not occur. Therefore, glucose should be regulated, as Excessive imbalance in blood
too much or too less of it might result in brain damage and loss of sugar levels can lead to serious
consciousness. short-term and even long-term
Hormones such as insulin and glucagon play important roles in complications, such as
regulating blood glucose levels in the body by allowing the glucose hypoglycemia (very low blood
level to decrease or increase, respectively. The pancreas and the
glucose) or diabetes (very high
adrenal gland are two major organs responsible for the balance of
blood glucose).
blood glucose in the body. Changes in the blood glucose level are
perceived by the islets of Langerhans in the pancreas. The islets of
Langerhans are cells that release insulin and glucagon. As seen in figure 2.9, if there is an increase in the
blood glucose level, the islets of Langerhans secrete insulin into the blood.
 Insulin is a hormone that facilitates glucose transport into the cells.

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 With the presence of insulin, cell membranes in the bloodstream become more permeable to glucose.
Because of this, the glucose level in the bloodstream decreases. Also, glucose production from amino
acids, fatty acids, and glycogen is inhibited. The liver helps in maintaining the blood glucose level by
storing the excess glucose as glycogen. Once the blood glucose level returns to normal, the release of
insulin by the pancreas is inhibited.
On the other hand, if the blood glucose level decreases, the pancreas detects this change and
secretes glucagon.
 Glucagon is a hormone produced by the pancreas that raises the blood glucose level by
stimulating the breakdown of glycogen into glucose and by allowing glucose production from
amino acids and fatty acids.
The liver also breaks down the stored glycogen to be secreted as blood glucose. When the blood
glucose level returns to normal, the secretion of glucagon is inhibited.
Insulin and glucagon have contrasting and antagonistic effects. Insulin inhibits the increase
of glucose in the blood, whereas glucagon promotes its production. Their counteracting effects help
maintain homeostasis in the blood glucose level.

Fig.2.9. Regulation of blood glucose levels in the body

Essential Learning
All organisms need to maintain a normal internal environment to survive. Homeostatic reactions
are necessary for a normally functioning body. The body organs of an organism should operate together to
achieve this kind of internal state. Without homeostasis, the cells and body organs would not function
properly. Also, certain biological and physiological processes would not take place. For your body to
achieve internal balance, you should lead a healthy lifestyle by being conscious of what you eat and what

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you do. Learning the importance of the processes involved in maintaining homeostasis gives you an
advantage, as this knowledge helps you take good care of your body.

General Biology 2 WORKSHEET (Week 4-5)

DETACH AND SUBMIT ONLY THE WORKSHEET

Name: __________________________________________ Date Submitted: ____________________

Section: _________________________________________ SCORE: __________________________

A. Matching Type: Match each term in column A with its definition in column B. Write the letter of
the correct answer before each number.
Column A Column B

_______1. Homeostasis a. A detectable change in the internal or external environment

_______2. Receptor b. Structure that monitors internal conditions
_______3. Stimulus c.B.Reduces the output or activity of an organ back to its normal
_______4. Control Center range of functioning
_______ 5. Negative Feedback d. Amplifies the output or activity of an organ back to is normal
range of functioning
e. Composed of the brain that integrates the mechanism
information sent by the receptor
f. Tendency of an organism to maintain its constant internal
environment
B. Here are different processes that occur in the human body. Identify the stimulus, the response, and
the type of feedback mechanism (i.e., positive or negative) in each process.

1. When a tissue or blood vessel is torn or cut, the cells near the damaged part send out signals to
activate platelets. As platelets begin to form a plug, more chemical signals are released to
attract more platelets until the bleeding stops.
Stimulus: ___________________________________________________________________
Response: ___________________________________________________________________
Type of mechanism: ___________________________________________________________

2. When you do physical activities, the amount of energy produced in your cells increase. This in
turn causes an increase in the concentration of carbon dioxide in the blood. The continuous
increase of carbon dioxide in the blood creates a weak acid that lowers your blood pH. This
drop in pH level signals your brain to increase your heart rate and respiration for you to get
more oxygen.
Stimulus: ____________________________________________________________________
Response: ___________________________________________________________________
Type of mechanism: ___________________________________________________________

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 3. Hydrochloric acid is one of the important substances secreted in your stomach to digest
proteins and other minerals in the food you eat. The presence of undigested food in your
stomach triggers the secretion of more hydrochloric acid so that digestion will proceed.
Stimulus: ___________________________________________________________________
Response: __________________________________________________________________
Type of mechanism: __________________________________________________________

4. Homeostasis can be likened to driving a car. If the speed limit in a certain highway is 60
kilometers per hour (km/h) and you are driving at a rate of 20 km/h, the cars behind you will
become inconvenienced and will start blowing their horns. Thus, you step on the gas to speed
up.
Stimulus: ____________________________________________________________________
Response: __________________________________________________________________
Type of mechanism: ___________________________________________________________

GO BEYOND WALLS:
DIRECTION: This activity will serve as your PERFORMANCE TASK. Have a documentation while
performing the activity. The documentation will serve as evidence in performing the task. Put all your
outputs in a long folder with a following label Name of student, Name of partner, Grade and Section. The
deadline of this performance task will be this coming May 6, 2021. All output will be submitted at school
both online and modular students on or before the said deadline.

Temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate are some of the internal conditions in
the body that need to be maintained. They have to be within a normal range for your body to function
properly. As a nurse, you want to find out how feedback mechanisms and homeostasis affect your body.
You have asked your partner (or classmate) to do a laboratory activity to find out how exercise can affect
temperature, blood pressure, respiration rate, and heart rate. You should evaluate each other's work, based
on how well you can present the results of your activity through a graph.

Materials: Stopwatch (or wrist watch with a second hand), clinical thermometer

Procedure:
1. Record the temperature, pulse rate, and respiratory rate of your partner before exercising, after
exercising, and after resting. Perform three trials, and then get the average. See table 2.1. (How to
fill out the table will be explained further in the next steps.)

Table 2.1
Trial 1 Trial 2 Trial 3 Average
Before Pulse rate (in beats per minute)
Exercising Respiratory rate (in beats per minute)
Temperature (C)
After Pulse rate (in beats per minute)
Exercising Respiratory rate (in beats per minute)
Temperature (C)
After Pulse rate (in beats per minute)
Resting Respiratory rate (in beats per minute)
Temperature (C)

2. Heart rates can be identified in your partner's radial pulse by

placing your two fingers (index and middle finger) in the groove
on his or her wrist, which lies directly near the base of his or her
thumb. You may move your fingers back and forth until you
find a slight pulsation. Make sure not to press your fingers too
hard. Respiratory rates can be identified by counting the number
of breaths of your partner per minute. Temperature can be
identified by using a clinical thermometer.
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 3. Complete the “Before exercising” row by recording the pulse rate and the respiratory rate. Use the
clinical thermometer to identify your partner's temperature. Make sure that your partner has been
inactive for a few minutes before the experiment begins. Do this three times.

4. Let your partner exercise by running in place or by doing jumping jacks for three minutes. Record
the pulse and respiratory rates in the “After exercising" row. Record the temperature. Do this three
times.

5. Let your partner rest for 3–5 minutes after running. Then, record all the necessary data in the
"After resting” row.

6. Get the average of your results. Graph your data using a graphing paper. Write a short description
of your graph.

Guide Questions:
1. Compare your average heart rate, respiratory rate, and temperature in the "Before exercising" row
with the following normal range values in table 2.2.
Table 2.2. Normal range values for pulse rate, respiratory rate, and body temperature
Normal Range Values
Heart Rate 60-90 beats per minute
Respiratory Rate 12-20 beats per minute
Temperature 36.1-37.2C

2. What are the effects of exercise (i.e., running in this experiment) on the body's temperature, heart
rate, and respiratory rate?

3. Explain how changes in temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate contribute to the maintenance
of homeostasis.

4. What are some ways on how your body regulates the increase in temperature, heart rate, and
respiratory rate?

5. Do you think that there is a change in your partner's blood pressure at any stage of the experiment?
If so, describe it thoroughly.

6. How can homeostasis and feedback mechanisms be associated with this experiment?

CRITERIA EXCELLENT SATISFACTORY FAIR NEEDS

(10) (8) (5) IMPROVEMENT
(2)
EVIDENCE OF The student The student shows The student The student
UNDERSTANDING shows excellent a sufficient shows a very shows no
understanding on understanding on little understanding on
the concept. the concept. Have understanding on the concept. Have
Have complete complete the table the concept. not complete the
the table with with insufficient Have not table with
sufficient data. data. Answered 4- complete the sufficient data.
Answered all the 5 guided table with Did not answered
guided questions questions with sufficient data. all the guided
with thorough thorough Answered 2-3 questions with
understanding. understanding. guided questions thorough
with a little understanding.

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 understanding.
CREATIVITY The output The output shows The output The output shows
shows excellent a little creativity shows a very no creativity and
creativity in and effort in little creativity effort in
compiling the compiling the and effort in compiling the
data. Neatness data. Neatness compiling the data. Neatness
and cleanliness and cleanliness data. The output and cleanliness
are evident. are evident. is messy and are not evident.
dirty
PUNCTUALITY The output is The output is The output is The output is
submitted on or submitted on the submitted on the submitted the
before the following day of second day after third day after the
deadline. the deadline. the set deadline. set deadline.
DOCUMENTATION Have provide Have provide a Have provide a Have no
sufficient few very few documentation as
documentation documentations as documentations evidence.
as evidence. evidence. as evidence.

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