Which term refers to the body's ability to detect change and activate mechanisms that oppose it to maintain stable internal conditions?

The term that best describes the body's ability to detect changes in internal and external conditions and activate mechanisms to oppose those changes in order to maintain stable internal conditions is homeostasis. Homeostasis is a fundamental concept in physiology that refers to the dynamic processes that keep the body’s internal environment relatively constant despite fluctuations in the external environment.

Various mechanisms contribute to homeostasis, including feedback loops. When there is a change in a physiological variable, sensors detect this change, and effectors generate responses to restore balance. For example, if body temperature rises, mechanisms such as sweating and vasodilation are activated to help cool the body down, while if it drops, shivering and vasoconstriction work to conserve heat.

Metabolism refers to all chemical reactions that occur within the body to maintain life, but it does not specifically address the body's regulatory processes related to internal stability. Feedback inhibition is a specific type of regulatory mechanism where the end product of a process inhibits its own production, but it is not the overarching concept of maintaining internal stability. Adaptation refers to the process by which organisms adjust to their environment over time, but it does not specifically focus on immediate responses to maintain internal equilibrium. Thus, homeostasis is the most accurate term that encapsulates the