response to input stimuli.

There are controlled

systems for food ingestion, absorption, nutria
ent interconversion. metabolism, and storage.
ln addition, the system has both input (afferent) and output (efferent) signaling capabilities to and from the brain.
Afferent signals can be neural or humoral,
and both serve as elements of a feedback loop
that informs the brain about events in the
periphery (e.g., sensory properties of available
food or amount and composition of food
eaten). Efferent signals are the output of the
brain and are signals that drive motor function
involved in food acquisition and ingestion, as
well as signals that ensure that the appropriate
hormonal environment exists to\process
incoming nutrients from the food ingested.
These afferent and efferent signal pathways
constitute the essential elements of a feedback
scheme, conceptually similar to the functional

elements of a common household

system in which a temperature sensor is

to a system that adjusts heat output in
maintain temperature at a specied
Organization of the Systems
Energy Balance
Control of energy balance is achieved
a coordinated system that involves
nervous system integration of short~term
related afferent signals and long-term
signals reecting the content of
stores. These signaling pathways
a variety of different r
neuropeptide systems. The central
system integration of these signals leads
ent outputs that control a variety of
affecting energy balance including
energy expenditure and energy
reproduction, and growth (Fig. 22-I),