By Regina Bailey. Definition: Homeostasis is the ability to maintain a constant internal environment in response to environmental changes. It is a unifying principle of biology. The nervous and endocrine systems control homeostasis in the body through feedback mechanisms involving various organs and organ systems.
Urticaria is the medical term for a type of allergic rash. Hives are the most common type of urticaria. Hives are itchy, pink to light red, raised blotches that are usually one-quarter to one-half inch in size.Hives can occur on any part of the body.ives are the most common type of urticaria. Hives are itchy, pink to light red, raised blotches that are usually one-quarter to one-half inch in size. Hives can occur on any part of the body.
They are frequently caused by allergic reactions; however, there are many nonallergic causes. Most cases of hives lasting less than six weeks (acute urticaria) are the result of an allergic trigger. Chronic urticaria (hives lasting longer than six weeks) is rarely due to an allergy. The majority of chronic hives cases have an unknown (idiopathic) cause. In perhaps as many as 30â40% of patients with chronic idiopathic urticaria, it is caused by an autoimmune reaction.