An example of the hierarchy of importance in homeostasis is a high salt intake. This increases of the blood. Thus, more moves into the blood. This balances osmolarity but increases . Thus, MABP increases which causes in the long term. Whilst hypertension is undesirable for the body, the more immediate high osmolarity in the blood caused by excessive salt intake must be dealt with in this way.

One example of a local negative feedback mechanism is in skeletal muscle. When skeletal muscle is contracting at a fast rate, there is increased and concentration in the blood. This is sensed in the which stimulates them to . This increases blood flow to the muscles. This removes and from the tissue and thus their concentrations return to normal.

The fight or flight response is an example of a feed-forward control mechanism.
When a threat is perceived, the nervous system anticipates physical exertion whereby the individual will need to fight the threat or flee from it.
The sympathetic nervous system activates the release of noradrenaline and to increase heart and blood flow in the . This prepares the body for increased demand.

Feed-forward mechanisms can be the result of learned behaviour. For example...
'Cues' can be associated with an incoming meal. Therefore, this cue will trigger anticipation of .
The nervous system stimulates the secretion of and .
This prepares the body for digestion before food is even ingested.

One example of a positive feedback mechanism is parturition.
When the head of the foetus begins to push against the cervix, are transmitted to the brain. The gland is stimulated to secrete . This is carried in the to the uterus. It then stimulates uterine which push the baby towards the cervix. Therefore, the will be stimulated even more so more will be secreted. The mechanism is terminated when the baby is born.