9th February 2024

Negative feedback mechanism

The action of one hormone either directly or indirectly inhibits the secretion of another hormone. It is self-limiting. The majority of homeostasis within our body relies on negative feedback loops.

Long-loop feedback

Hormone feeds back to the hypothalamic-pituitary axis

E.g. High levels of the T3 hormone suppress the secretion of TSH 

Short-loop feedback

Anterior pituitary hormone feeds back on the hypothalamus to inhibit the secretion of hypothalamic-secreting hormone

E.g. Growth hormone suppresses the release of Growth-hormone releasing hormone