homeostasis

homeostasis
1. The state of equilibrium (balance between opposing pressures) in the body with respect to various functions and to the chemical compositions of the fluids and tissues. 2. The processes through which such bodily equilibrium is maintained. [homeo- + G. stasis, standing]
- Bernard-Cannon h. the set of mechanisms responsible for the cybernetic adjustment of physiologic and biochemical states in postnatal life. SYN: physiologic h..
- genetic h. SYN: Lerner h..
- Lerner h. the restorative mechanisms that tend to correct perturbations in the genetic composition of a population. SYN: genetic h..
- ontogenic h. SYN: homeorrhesis.
- physiologic h. SYN: Bernard-Cannon h..
- waddingtonian h. SYN: homeorrhesis.

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ho·meo·sta·sis or Brit ho·moeo·sta·sis .hō-mē-ō-'stā-səs n the maintenance of relatively stable internal physiological conditions (as body temperature or the pH of blood) in higher animals under fluctuating environmental conditions also the process of maintaining a stable psychological state in the individual under varying psychological pressures or stable social conditions in a group under varying social, environmental, or political factors
ho·meo·stat·ic or Brit ho·moeo·stat·ic -'stat-ik adj
ho·meo·stat·i·cal·ly or Brit ho·moeo·stat·i·cal·ly -i-k(ə-)lē adj

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n.
the physiological process by which the internal systems of the body (e.g. blood pressure, body temperature, acid-base balance) are maintained at equilibrium, despite variations in the external conditions.
• homeostatic adj.

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ho·meo·sta·sis (ho″me-o-staґsis) [homeo- + -stasis] a tendency to stability in the normal body states (internal environment) of the organism. It is achieved by a system of control mechanisms activated by negative feedback; e.g., a high level of carbon dioxide in extracellular fluid triggers increased pulmonary ventilation, which in turn causes a decrease in carbon dioxide concentration. See also equilibrium (def. 1). homeostatic adj

Medical dictionary. 2011.

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  • Homeostasis — (from Greek: ὅμος, hómos , equal ; and ιστημι, istēmi , to stand lit. to stand equally ; coined by Walter Bradford Cannon) is the property of either an open system or a closed system, especially a living organism, that regulates its internal… …   Wikipedia

  • Homeostasis — (Del griego homo (ὅμος) que significa similar y estasis (στάσις) posición , estabilidad ) es la característica de un sistema abierto o de un sistema cerrado o una conjugación entre ambos, especialmente en un organismo vivo, mediante la cual se… …   Wikipedia Español

  • homeostasis — o homeóstasis (plural homeostasis) sustantivo femenino 1. (no contable) Área: biología Conjunto de mecanismos que aseguran el control automático de las constantes biológicas de los seres vivos, manteniéndolas fijas dentro de unos límites muy… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • homeóstasis — (plural homeostasis) sustantivo femenino 1. (no contable) Área: biología Conjunto de mecanismos que aseguran el control automático de las constantes biológicas de los seres vivos, manteniéndolas fijas dentro de límites muy estrechos: La… …   Diccionario Salamanca de la Lengua Española

  • homeostasis — n. The ability and tendency of certain systems to maintain a relatively constant internal state in spite of changes in external conditions; this ability is achieved by the presence of feedback mechanisms which can adjust the state of the system… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • homeostasis — homeostasis. См. гомеостаз. (Источник: «Англо русский толковый словарь генетических терминов». Арефьев В.А., Лисовенко Л.А., Москва: Изд во ВНИРО, 1995 г.) …   Молекулярная биология и генетика. Толковый словарь.

  • homeostasis — index balance (equality) Burton s Legal Thesaurus. William C. Burton. 2006 …   Law dictionary

  • homeostasis — 1926, coined in Mod.L. from HOMEO (Cf. homeo ) + Gk. stasis standing still (see STET (Cf. stet)). Related: Homeostatic …   Etymology dictionary

  • homeostasis — (De homeo y el gr. στάσις, posición, estabilidad). 1. f. Biol. Conjunto de fenómenos de autorregulación, que conducen al mantenimiento de la constancia en la composición y propiedades del medio interno de un organismo. 2. Autorregulación de la… …   Diccionario de la lengua española

  • homeostasis — (also homoeostasis) ► NOUN (pl. homeostases) ▪ the maintenance of a stable equilibrium, especially through physiological processes. DERIVATIVES homeostatic adjective. ORIGIN from Greek homoios like + stasis stoppage, standing …   English terms dictionary

  • homeostasis — ☆ homeostasis [hō΄mē ō stā′sis ] n. [ModL: see HOMEO & STASIS] 1. Physiol. the tendency to maintain, or the maintenance of, normal, internal stability in an organism by coordinated responses of the organ systems that automatically compensate for… …   English World dictionary

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