Energy homeostasis: physiologic regulatory mechanisms for Ingestive behavior

Abstract

This article discusses the mechanisms by which humans achieve homeostatic control of vital characteristics of extracellular fluid through ingestive behavior which includes ingestion of food, water and electrolytes. A physiological regulatory mechanism is a mechanism that has the capacity to maintain the constancy of some internal characteristics of the organism in the face of external variability. Ingestive behaviors are correctional mechanisms that replenish or provide the body’s depleted stores of water and nutrients and may include eating and drinking behavior. Drinking behavior may be influenced by physiological make-up, environmental factors or underlying disease conditions. Atrial chamber baroreceptors and juxtaglomerular apparatus-response related mechanisms are some of the mechanisms in control of volumetric thirst. Osmometric thirst and eating behavior are more concerned with responses by the central nervous system with areas within the ventral portion of the third ventricle, the ventromedial and lateral hypothalamic nucleus. Without a basic understanding of the physiologic regulatory mechanisms of ingestion and ingestive behaviors, chances of finding an intervention in certain metabolic neurobehavioral disorders may be lost.