Rheostasis: The Physiology of ChangeThis work offers a comprehensive re-examination and elaboration of homeostasis, a guiding principle in physiology that has received surprisingly little critical evaluation. Among the key topics addressed are questions concerning the competing demands of different regulatory systems within the body and the problem of maintaining equilibrium in such circumstances. The author makes the important point that the body does not always seek constancy of its internal environment, nor does it always react in ways that prevent change. On the contrary, sometimes physiological mechanisms actively promote change. These changes in regulated levels--termed "rheostasis"--are seen as having an adaptive value beyond a simple failure of homeostasis. This book compares and categorizes examples of rheostasis for a variety of physiological variables, and presents what is known about conflicts between different regulatory systems and their role in promoting the occurrence of rheostasis. Among other topics covered are weight loss during hibernation, calcium storage and reproduction, fever, and rates of fat deposition in adults. The work of an outstanding scholar, this integrative study represents a refreshing and essential new approach to one of the basic concepts in physiological science. |
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Contents
Resolving Conflicts | 16 |
Terminology and Definitions | 28 |
Programmed Rheostasis | 33 |
Copyright | |
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activity alliesthesia alpham alter ambient temperature animals anorexia baroreceptor behavior blood pressure body temperature body weight bone brain Cabanac calcium causal factors Chapter chemostat circadian CO₂ compensatory conflict constant cooling cycle decrease defended levels defense dehydration diet eating ectotherms effector effects elevated estradiol estrogen estrous cycles evidence examples of rheostasis exercise experiments feeding female fever function glucocorticoids gonadostat resetting heat loss heat production hibernation higher homeostasis hormone hypertension hyperthermia hypothalamic imidazole increase incubation inhibition injections intake Kluger lactation lesions lizards lower maintain mechanisms metabolic Mrosovsky negative feedback neurones normal obesity occur open-loop osmolality osmostat perature Physiol physiological plasma pregnancy preoptic region progesterone programmed puberty rats reactive rheostasis regulated levels regulated variable regulatory systems reproductive response result rheostasis seasonal sensitivity set-point shift similar sleep slow wave sleep species steroid stimulation sweating testosterone thermal set-point thermoregulation thermoregulatory threshold tion warm weight loss