B3.3.1 - Controlling Body Temperature Flashcards
At what temperature does the body work best?
37 degrees Celsius
Why is 37 degrees Celsius the optimum temperature for your body?
As it is the optimum temperature for your enzymes
What can exposure to extreme cold cause?
Reduction of core body temperature
Why is exposure to extreme cold dangerous?
It reduces your temperature which makes enzyme reactions in your body slower, causing cells to die, respiration to slower and hypothermia
At what range of degrees are you at risk of hypothermia?
Below 35 degrees Celsius
What can cause your body to overheat?
Exposure to high temperatures, exercise and infections
What could happen if your body temperature rises to around 40 - 42 degrees Celsius?
Your enzymes may denature and therefore the reactions in your body will stop and you may die
What is responsible for maintaining body temperature?
The thermoregulatory centre in your brain
What does the thermoregulatory centre in your brain rely on?
Receiving signals from the receptor cells in your skin and internal receptor cells
What do receptor cells in your skin monitor?
External temperature
What do internal receptor cells monitor?
The temperature of your blood
State changes that the brain triggers that stops you from overheating.
Body hairs lower on your skin to lie flat
Sweat glands produce sweat
Vasodilation
State changes that your brain trigger that stops you from freezing?
Body hairs rise
Sweat glands stop producing sweat
Vasconstriction
Shivering
Why do hairs lie down / rise to control temperature?
When the body hairs are risen, they can trap a layer of insular air to keep you warm, while when the hairs are lying down the air escapes and doesn’t keep you warm
Why do sweat glands produce sweat to cool you down?
As water from the sweat is evaporating, energy is transferred by heating from your body to the environment, reducing the temperature
