The process of labor is induced by the release of the hormone Oxytocin from the pituitary gland. Oxytocin causes smooth muscle contraction associated with the uterus. Uterine contraction in turn causes the release of more Oxytocin from the pituitary, which causes more contraction. this represents a positive feedback loop of increasing amounts of Oxytocin and uterine contraction. Contractions of the uterus of course result in the movement of the fetus out of the birth canal (leaving the uterus, passing through the cervix, and out through the vaginal opening.
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During labor, positive feedback occurs when contractions of the uterus stimulate the release of oxytocin, which in turn increases the strength and frequency of contractions. This cycle continues until the baby is delivered.
After labor begins the baby's head puts pressure on the cervix, causing the cervix to stretch. This stimulates stretch receptors the trigger the mother's hypothalamus to release oxytocin, which increases the uterine contractions and pushes the baby against the cervix. This causes the cervix to stretch farther and the cycle continues.
Now, a positive feedback loop, by definition, is basically a cycle of increasing response. An external factor or event is required for the cycle to stop. In this example, the delivery of the baby is the external event. Once the baby is delivered, the uterine contractions stop, which halts the stretching of the cervix, and oxytocin is no longer released.
If the external factor is not introduced, the cycle continues. The duration of the cycle is what we refer to as labor.
It is a positive feedback mechanism because each contraction stimulates the release of more oxytocin which, in turn, makes the next contraction start sooner and become stronger. Think of it as saying to itself "faster and harder" over and over again as it continues in the same direction it is already going. That is positive feedback because it keeps building. A good example is a sneeze, it just keeps building up until you let it go. As a comparison, negative feedback tells the body process to slow down and change so it goes the opposite direction. AN example of that is getting chilly, and your body wants to get warmer, so it starts shivering to generate more heat.
Feedback can be both negative and positive. Negative feedback occurs when the body's response counteracts the stimulus, helping to maintain homeostasis. Positive feedback amplifies the stimulus, leading to a larger response.
Feedback occurs when a response or reaction is provided to a particular action, behavior, or output. It is typically given after an event has occurred in order to provide information on performance, behavior, or outcomes. Feedback can be used to reinforce positive behaviors or make corrections for improvement.
Negative feedback mechanisms work to maintain homeostasis by reversing a change in a physiological parameter, bringing it back to its set point. In contrast, positive feedback mechanisms amplify a change in a physiological parameter, leading to a continued deviation away from the set point until a specific endpoint or outcome is achieved.
The phenomenon you are referring to is called feedback. Feedback occurs when the output of a system or process is used as input to modify the operation of the system in order to achieve a desired result. It can be either positive (amplifying the original input) or negative (reducing the original input).
A control mechanism that responds to a stimulus by decreasing its intensity is called negative feedback. Negative feedback helps regulate and maintain stability within a system by counteracting any changes caused by an external stimulus.