What term means 'maintaining balance or returning a system to functioning within its normal range'?

The term that signifies 'maintaining balance or returning a system to functioning within its normal range' is homeostasis. This concept refers to the physiological processes that organisms use to maintain stable internal conditions despite changes in external environments. For example, the body regulates temperature, pH levels, and fluid balance through various mechanisms to sustain life.

Homeostasis is crucial for survival; if an individual's internal conditions are not adequately maintained, it can lead to dysfunction or disease. In contrast, glycolysis relates specifically to the metabolic process of breaking down glucose to produce energy, hypertension is a medical term indicating high blood pressure, and metabolism encompasses all chemical reactions within the body, including those for energy production and nutrient processing, but does not specifically pertain to the idea of balance. Hence, homeostasis is the term that correctly fits the description of maintaining equilibrium within biological systems.