What is the Difference Between Homeostasis and Equilibrium

The key difference between homeostasis and equilibrium is that homeostasis is a self-regulating process that maintains internal stability while simultaneously adjusting to changing external conditions in living organisms, whereas equilibrium refers to the state of balance within a system.

Homeostasis and equilibrium are closely related terms, but they are not the same. They often involve in stability or balance. Homeostasis is normally used only in biology or animal sciences. On the other hand, equilibrium can be used in systems in biology, animal science, chemistry, economics, or sociology. Therefore, it is vital to understand them and use them correctly.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Homeostasis 
3. What is Equilibrium
4. Similarities – Homeostasis and Equilibrium
5. Homeostasis vs Equilibrium in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Homeostasis vs Equilibrium

What is Homeostasis?

Homeostasis describes the internal stability needed for the survival of an organism. For example, temperature and pH balance within a living creature. Homeostasis is separate from the external environment. If a living creature is unable to attain internal stability through the homeostasis conditions needed, it may get a disease or face death. Homeostasis is the condition of optimal functioning for the living organism and includes many variables such as temperature, fluid balance, pH of extracellular fluid, the concentrations of sodium, potassium, and calcium ions,  blood sugar level, etc. In homeostasis, these variables need to be regulated despite changes in the environment, diet, or level of activity.

One of the best examples of homeostasis is body temperature control in humans. Normal body temperature is around 37 °C (98.6 °F). But it can go up or down due to a number of factors, including exposure to the elements, hormones, metabolic rate, and disease. In homeostasis, the body’s temperature regulation is controlled by a region in the brain called the hypothalamus. The core body temperature is regulated through mechanisms like shivering and sweating when it goes down or up. Moreover, the hypothalamus makes compensatory adjustments in breathing rate, level of blood sugar, and metabolic rate in homeostasis. Body temperature regulation is a good example of negative feedback regulation in homeostasis. Furthermore, oxytocin increasing uterine contractions and pressure on the cervix is an example of positive feedback regulation in homeostasis.

What is Equilibrium?

Equilibrium refers to a state of balance within a system. For example, in biological systems, sweating to cool off and return to 98.6 Fahrenheit after the body’s temperature increases during exercising is a good example of equilibrium. The term equilibrium may also be relevant to other topics, like finding the balance of the weight of an object or supply and demand in the economy.

Dynamic equilibrium is a special type of equilibrium used to describe the equilibrium state of a reaction. These reactions are reversible reactions that have both forward and backward reactions. In dynamic equilibrium, the forward and reverse reactions occur at the same rate, thus resulting in no observable change in the system.

What are the Similarities Between Homeostasis and Equilibrium?

• Homeostasis and equilibrium are closely related terms.
• Both are often discussing stability or balance.
• They are used in biology and animal sciences.
• Both are extremely important for the survival of living organisms.

What is the Difference Between Homeostasis and Equilibrium?

Homeostasis is a self-regulating process that maintains internal stability while adjusting to changing external conditions in living organisms, whereas equilibrium refers to the state of balance within a system. Thus, this is the key difference between homeostasis and equilibrium. Furthermore, homeostasis is used mainly in the biology or animal sciences. On the other hand, equilibrium can be used in systems in biology, animal science, chemistry, economics, or sociology.

The below infographic presents the differences between homeostasis and equilibrium in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Homeostasis vs Equilibrium

Homeostasis and equilibrium are closely related terms. However, they are different states or conditions. Homeostasis is defined as the maintenance in humans or an animal of a constant internal milieu (environment) despite changes to the external environment. While homeostasis refers to the entire internal environment of a living organism, the term equilibrium (steady state) can be used to describe systems (living or nonliving) and specific mechanisms. So, this summarizes the difference between homeostasis and equilibrium.

Reference:

“Homeostasis.” An Overview | ScienceDirect Topics.
“1.7: Equilibrium vs. Homeostasis.” Biology LibreTexts.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Homeostasis of blood sugar” By OpenStax College – Anatomy & Physiology, Connexions Web site, Jun 19, 2013. (CC BY 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “2325 Carbon Dioxide Transport” By Christinelmiller – Own work (CC0) via Commons Wikimedia