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Positive Feedback Loop

Meaning

A Positive Feedback Loop is a specific control system in endocrinology where the final output of a physiological pathway acts to amplify or further increase the initial stimulus that initiated the process, leading to a rapid, explosive escalation of the biological response. In direct contrast to the more common negative feedback, which works to promote stability and homeostasis, the positive loop drives a system toward a swift, definitive endpoint or a change of state. This specialized mechanism is absolutely essential for biological processes that require a large, acute hormonal surge.