Homeostasis vs Allostasis - What's the difference?
homeostasis | allostasis |
(physiology) The ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a state of dynamic constancy; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a stable temperature.
* 2011 , Professional Guide to Pathophysiology , Lippincott, Williams, & Wilkins, page 1:
Such a dynamic equilibrium or balance.
The process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, in the body, through physiological or behavioral change.
* {{quote-news, year=2009, date=August 18, author=Natalie Angier, title=Brain Is a Co-Conspirator in a Vicious Stress Loop, work=New York Times
, passage=This system of so-called allostasis , of maintaining control through constant change, stands in contrast to the mechanisms of homeostasis that keep the pH level and oxygen concentration in the blood within a narrow and invariant range. }}
As nouns the difference between homeostasis and allostasis
is that homeostasis is the ability of a system or living organism to adjust its internal environment to maintain a state of dynamic constancy; such as the ability of warm-blooded animals to maintain a stable temperature while allostasis is the process of achieving stability, or homeostasis, in the body, through physiological or behavioral change.homeostasis
English
(wikipedia homeostasis)Alternative forms
* homoeostasis (UK) * (dated)Noun
(homeostases)- When homeostasis is disrupted by an external stressor - such as injury, lack of nutrients, or invasion by parasites or other organisms - illness may occur.
Derived terms
* homeostatic * metal homeostasisExternal links
*allostasis
English
(wikipedia allostasis)Noun
(-)citation