The steady-state physiological condition of the body.

The steady-state physiological condition of the body.

• A. Homeostasis
• B. Theory
• C. Development
• D. Hypothesis

Answer: (A)

Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment. The steady-state physiological condition refers to keeping essential variables—like temperature, pH, and glucose levels—within narrow, healthy ranges through regulatory mechanisms. When something moves a variable away from its set point, negative feedback systems act to bring it back, preserving the organism’s proper function. The other terms describe ideas or processes rather than a bodily condition. A theory is a well-supported explanation of observations; development is the process of growth and maturation; a hypothesis is a tentative explanation to be tested.

Homeostasis is the body's ability to maintain a stable internal environment. The steady-state physiological condition refers to keeping essential variables—like temperature, pH, and glucose levels—within narrow, healthy ranges through regulatory mechanisms. When something moves a variable away from its set point, negative feedback systems act to bring it back, preserving the organism’s proper function.

The other terms describe ideas or processes rather than a bodily condition. A theory is a well-supported explanation of observations; development is the process of growth and maturation; a hypothesis is a tentative explanation to be tested.