Brainscape's Knowledge GenomeTM

Browse over 1 million classes created by top students, professors, publishers, and experts.


See full index

Sophie - Applied Physiology & Pharmacology Year 2 > 53.4 Body Temperature Control > Flashcards

53.4 Body Temperature Control Flashcards

1
Q

What are some normal variations in body temperature?

A

*Circadian rhythms
*Menstrual cycle.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

What is the normal range of body temperature?

A

36oC-37.5oC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

How does body temp change in the circadian rhythm?

A
  • Variations of around 1oC
  • Lowest temp from 3-6am
  • Highest temp from 3-6pm
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

How does body temp change in the menstrual cycle?

A
  • Rise of ~0.5 - 1 oC seen after ovulation
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

What are the two compartments of the body in temp regulation?

A
  • Core
  • Peripheral shell
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

What is the difference between the core and peripheral temperatures?

A
  • Important for core temp to stay constant - for optimal enzymatic reactions
  • Whereas peripheral temp is highly variable - changes depdendent on environmental conditions. Can drop as low as 21oC in fingers and toes
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

Why is (core) body temperature so tightly regulated?

A
  • To provide optimal conditions for cellular enzymatic reactions
    • When body temperature exceeds 42*C, cellular proteins are damaged
    • If the temperature drops, these enzymes and proteins become less efficient/effective
    • Energy expenditure falls 13% for every 1*C drop in core temperature (as drop in body temperature results in decreased enzymatic rates)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What type of organ is brown adipose tissue?

A

Thermogenic

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

How does brown adipose tissue underlie thermogenesis?

A
  • Rich in mitochondria and uncoupling protein 1
  • UCP-1 dissipates the proton gradient across the inner mitochondrial membrane
  • Energy released as heat
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

When is brown adipose tissue thermogenesis important?

A

For neonates that cannot shiver yet

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

What is the definition of hyperthermia?

A

Sustained high body temp above 40.6oC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

What is the definition of hypothermia?

A

Sustained low temp below 35oC

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

What are some causes of hyperthermia?

A
  • Febrile crisis
  • Malignant hyperthermia (e.g. suxamethonium)
  • Overheating
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

What are consequences of hyperthermia?

A
  • Heat exhaustion, heat stroke
  • Fibrinolysis –> disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC), haemorrhage
  • Damage to membranes –> rhabdomyolosis (muscle cells release contents), myocardial necrosis
  • High brain temp –> CNS disturbances
  • Loss of consciousness, death
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

What are some causes of hypothermia?

A

More to do with environment

  • Cold water
  • Cold weather
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

What are consequences of hypothermia?

A
  • Death and decay of tissue (gangrene) - interrupted blood flow
  • Freezing of body tissue (frostbite)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
17
Q

What are the peripheral injuries caused by extreme heat and cold respectively?

A
  • Frostbite
    -Burns
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
18
Q

What are the four processes that cause heat loss?

A
  • Convection
  • Evaporation
  • Conduction
  • Radiation
19
Q

What is conduction?

A

Transfer of heat through direct contact with objects

20
Q

What is convection?

A

Removal of heat from body by air currents

21
Q

What is evaporation?

A

Heat loss through conversion of water in sweat as a liquid to a gas (requires energy to overcome latent heat of vaporisation, which is released to environment)

22
Q

What is radiation?

A

Heat loss through emission of infrared rays

23
Q

Which process accounts for least heat loss?

A

Conduction

24
Q

Which process accounts for most heat loss?

A

Radiation

25
Q

How do neurons in the anterior/preoptic hypothalamus respond to cold? What are the effects?

A
  • Fall in temp detected by cold-sensitive neurons –> TSH released to anterior pit, stimulates thyroxine release to increase metabolism
  • Vasoconstriction in skin and piloerection (goose bumps)
  • Shivering
  • Behavioural response - seek warmth, more clothes
26
Q

How do neurons in the anterior/preoptic hypothalamus respond to hot temp? What are the effects?

A
  • Rise in temp detected by warm-sensitive neurons –> reduces TSH, metabolism slowed
  • Blood shunted to periphery to dissipate heat
  • Sweating
  • Behavioural response - seek shade
27
Q

How are changes in temperature sensed?

A
  • Primarily through nervous feedback systems from the periphery to the CNS
  • Centre in the brain: temperature regulating centers in the hypothalamus
28
Q

Where is temperature centrally controlled?

A

Hypothalamus

29
Q

What is the ‘thermostat’ for the body?

A
  • The preoptic and anterior hypothalamus operates as the body’s thermostat
    • This part of the brain has greater sensitivity to heat than to cold
30
Q

Where are the peripheral temperature sensors located and what are they more sensitive to?

A
  • Spinal cord, abdominal viscera and great veins (deep body sensors)
  • Skin
  • Greater sensitivity to cold than hot
31
Q

How can heat loss be increased without the presence of a thermal gradient?

A

Through sweat production and its subsequent evaporation facilitates heat loss from the body, particularly in hot conditions

32
Q

How can sweat production be increased? What properties does this secretion have?

A
  • Sweat production can be increased by cholinergic sympathetic nerve fibres
  • The glands can also be stimulated by adrenaline/noradrenaline, e.g. during exercise to increase heat dissipation
  • This elicits the secretion of a primary fluid into the sweat duct
    • This fluid has a composition similar to that of plasma, just without plasma proteins
    • As regulation/reabsorption occurs along the tubule, if the demand for secretion increases and therefore the transit time decreases, then the time over which this secretion can be modified is rapidly decreased
33
Q

Are the following more sensitive to hot or cold stimuli?

  1. Preoptic and Anterior Hypothalamus
  2. Peripheral temperature receptors
A
  1. Hot
  2. Cold
34
Q

Which part of the hypothalamus controls temperature?

A

Anterior hypothalamus and preoptic area (sometimes grouped together)

35
Q

What is the thermoneutral zone and its values?

A
  • The temp range over which there is no ‘active’ heat generation or loss
  • 25-30oC
36
Q

How does light clothing affect the thermoneutral zone?

A
  • Reduces loss of heat from body
  • Reduces thermoneutral zone range to 18-22oC
37
Q

What are some adaptations seen in cold acclimatisation?

A
  • Increased thermogenesis with less shivering
  • Blunted cutaneous vasoconstriction response
  • Behavioural: clothing, shelters, posture, activity
  • piloerection
38
Q

What are some adaptations seen in exercise heat acclimatisation?

A
  • Improved sweating
  • Improved skin blood flow
  • Lowered body temp
  • Reduced cardiovascular strain
  • Enhanced cellular protection
39
Q

How do NSAIDs and paracetamol act as antipyretics (reduce fever)?

A

Reduce production of prostaglandins
So they cannot signal to hypothalamus to raise set-point

40
Q

How does fever occur following infection?

A
  • Body releases pyrogens - e.g. cytokines, prostaglandins, thromboxane
  • Pyrogens induce COX2 to convert arachidonic acid to prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)
  • PGE2 binds to E2 receptors in the anterior hypothalamus - raises set-point
  • Elevated set-point means body works harder to achieve a higher internal temperature
  • Sweating, vasodilation, hot skin
41
Q

What is the definition of the set-point for temperature control?

A

The point above or below which there are intense changes that bring about heat loss or production

42
Q

What is the mechanism by which PGE2 binding to its receptors raises the set-point?

A

PGE2 binds to GqPCR in warm neurons –> increases cAMP sythesis and release
cAMP acts as a neurotransmitter –> activates thermostatic neurons
Increases set point

43
Q

Which drugs can act as antipyretics?

A
  • NSAIDs
  • Paracetamol (Acetaminophen)

Sophie - Applied Physiology & Pharmacology Year 2 (32 decks)

Brainscape helps you reach your goals faster, through stronger study habits.
© 2025 Bold Learning Solutions. Terms and Conditions