Good definition - Good definition of homeostasis (Mar/11/2006 )

Hi all,

Quick question, does anyone have a really good definition of homeostasis?


Thank You

PS. This has been bugging me does anyone know if a goiter is ONLY caused by hypothyroidism or can you obtain this another way?

The maintenance of relatively stable internal physiological conditions (as body temperature or the pH of blood) in higher animals under fluctuating environmental conditions.

[homeo-, like, similar + -stasis, a standing, a state]