autoregulatory
- adjective
- /ˌɔːtəˈrɛɡjʊˌleɪtəri/
- Specialized
- The body has an autoregulatory system that maintains stable blood flow despite changes in pressure.
Examples
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As in animals and plants, the Neurospora clock consists of an autoregulatory negative feedback transcription loop, with two transcription factors driving the expression of a clock gene called frequency, which, after a delay, inhibits its own transcription.
Academic text (2005) -
These data suggest an autoregulatory mechanism whereby intravascular pressure, and possibly tissue pressure, would directly modulate resting neural activity via astrocytic mechanosensors.
Academic text (2017) -
Many ecosystems exhibit autoregulatory properties, allowing them to recover from disturbances without outside intervention.
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An autoregulatory mechanism in the brain helps regulate hormone levels autonomously.
Synonyms
Can adjust and control itself without outside help
Surface Forms
Morphology
autoregulatory = regulatory (transparent) = auto + regulate + ory
The word is transparently built from auto- meaning 'self' plus regulatory, yielding the meaning 'regulating itself'.
Etymology
The word autoregulatory combines auto- meaning 'self' and regulate meaning 'to control or make regular', so it describes something that controls itself. Think of a thermostat that changes the heat on its own; an autoregulatory system keeps conditions steady without outside control.