B1.10 Controlling Your Body Temperature Flashcards
Why can your cells sometimes not function properly in your body?
- wrong temperature
- does not have the right amount of water
- too much carbon monoxide in the blood
What is homeostasis?
To maintain a constant internal environement, inpurs and outputs need to be balanced in the body
What is the normal body temp of a human?
37 degrees celsuis
How can you measure body temp?
- clinical thermometer- in ear, mouth or anus
- temp- sensitive strips on forehead
- digital recording probes on a finger, linked to a computer
What can happen if you have the wrong temperature?
Above 40- heat stroke, dehydration- if not treated may die
Below 35- develop hypothermia- if not treated may die
How does your body gain and lose heat to keep th core temp constant?
Internal organs start to get too hot, blood flowing theough them carries the excess heat away. The increased temp is monitored by the brain. The brain then brings about mechanisms to control temp
How does the body gain heat in cold conditions?
- respiration in cells release some energy as heat
- shivering (muscles contracting) generates heat
- less blood flows near the skins surface (vasoconstriction)
- exercise generates heat because muscles need to respire more to contract
- wearing more clothes- insulates the body
How does the body lose heat in hot conditions?
- more blood flows near the skin surface and gives off heat to the environment (vasodilation)
- more sweating. The water in sweat evaporates. This takes heat feom the skin and transfers it to the environment
- wearing fewer clothes allows heat loss
What is negative feedback?
Negative feedback is a mechanism that keeps things at a steady level.
How does negative feedback work?
- level changes away from steady
- sense organs in your body detect the change
- send info to control centre in brain
- sends indo back to particular body structures
- sets processes in motion that redress the balance and bring the level back to steady
