Negative feedback helps keep hormone levels in the body balanced and steady.
It works like a control system — when the level of a hormone gets too high, the body sends a signal to stop making more; when it gets too low, the body makes more until the level is normal again.
Example:
- The thyroid gland makes thyroxine, which controls metabolism.
- When thyroxine levels rise too high, the pituitary gland senses it and reduces the release of TSH (thyroid-stimulating hormone).
- When thyroxine levels drop, the pituitary gland releases more TSH, telling the thyroid to make more thyroxine.
This back-and-forth control keeps hormone levels normal.
In short:
Negative feedback works like a thermostat — it keeps hormone levels within a healthy range by turning hormone production on or off as needed.