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Feedback Inhibition

Meaning

Feedback inhibition is a fundamental regulatory mechanism in endocrinology and metabolism where the end product of a biochemical pathway or a hormonal axis acts to suppress its own production or secretion. This self-regulating system is crucial for maintaining hormonal and metabolic homeostasis, preventing the overproduction or underproduction of vital substances. It ensures that hormone levels remain within a narrow, physiological range, thereby preventing toxicity or deficiency states. The principle of negative feedback is the most common form of this biological control.