ABSTRACT
After reading the following chapter and undertaking personal study, you should be able to:
Explain what is meant by the term ‘internal environment’.
Explain what is meant by the term ‘controlled condition’ and give examples.
Define the term ‘homeostasis’.
Identify the components of homeostatic control mechanisms and explain the principle of feedback.
Distinguish between negative feedback mechanisms and positive feedback mechanisms and give examples of each.
Identify conditions that are characterised by imbalance of homeostatic control.
Discuss how certain nursing interventions attempt to restore homeostatic control.
