B12.1 - Controlling Body Temperature (Finished)

Question 1

How are too low /too high body temperatures detected?

Answer 1

There is a Thermoregulatory centre in the brain which contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of the blood flowing through the brain. It also receives impulses from temperature receptors in the skin which gives it information about the temperature of the skin

Question 2

What happens when the body temperature is too high?

Answer 2

1) Temperature receptors detect that the core body temperature is too high
2) The thermoregulatory centre acts as a coordination centre, receiving information from receptors and triggering effectors automatically
3) Effectors produce a response that counteract the change

Question 3

What happens when body temperature is too low?

Answer 3

1) Temperature receptors detect that the core body temperature is too low
2) The thermoregulatory centre receives information from the temperature receptors and triggers the effectors automatically
3) Effectors produce a response and counteract the chnage

Question 4

What does it mean that some effectors for maintaining body temperature work antagonistically?

Answer 4

The effectors working antagonistically means that one effector heats and one cools, they work at the same time to achieve a very precise temperature

Question 5

What does effectors working antagonistically to maintain body temperature allow for?

Answer 5

It allows for a more sensitive response

Question 6

What are the responses produced by effectors when body temperatures are too hot?

Answer 6

Vasodilation - blood vessels supplying skin dilate (widen)

• Sweat glands produce sweat
• Hair erector muscles relax

Question 7

What are the responses produced by effectors when body temperatures are too cold?

Answer 7

• Hairs stand up
• No sweat produced
• Vasoconstriction - blood vessels supplying skin constrict
• Your muscles contract/relax automatically (shivering)

Question 8

How do erected hairs help increase body temperature?

Answer 8

When hairs are stood up they trap an insulating layer of air

Question 9

How does sweat cool you down?

Answer 9

Sweat evaporates from the skin transferring energy to the environment

Question 10

How does blood vessel dilation and constriction change body temp?

Answer 10

When blood vessels supplying surface of skin dilate it helps transfer energy from skin to environment. When they constrict it stops this transfer