Question

1. what causes the uterus to contract?
2. what does that make the baby do?
3. what causes the brain and pituitary to release oxytocin?
4. does this cycle try to keep homeostasis or try to keep the cycle going?
5. does the diagram above represent a negative feedback loop or a positive feedback loop? use evidence from the diagram and reasoning from your prior knowledge to support your answer.

use words like: negative/positive, feedback, homeostasis, hormone

Explanation:

This is a positive feedback loop. Unlike negative feedback that maintains homeostasis by reversing a change, this cycle amplifies a process: the hormone oxytocin triggers uterine contractions, which make the baby push against and stretch the cervix. This stretch sends signals to the brain to release more oxytocin, further increasing contractions. The loop drives the process forward (childbirth) instead of returning to a stable state, which defines positive feedback.

Answer:

1. Oxytocin causes the uterus to contract.
2. It makes the baby push against the cervix, stretching it.
3. Nerve impulses from the stretched cervix cause the brain and pituitary to release oxytocin.
4. This cycle tries to keep the cycle going (it does not maintain homeostasis).
5. Positive feedback loop. Evidence: The hormone oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, which lead to the baby stretching the cervix. This stretch sends signals to the brain to release more oxytocin, which increases contractions further. This amplifies the process rather than reversing it to maintain homeostasis, which is the key characteristic of a positive feedback loop.