B3.3.1 - Controlling body temperature

Question 1

At what temperature does our body work best at?

Answer 1

37 degrees

Question 2

What happens when you get too hot?

Answer 2

• Body hairs lower so the hair lies flat preventing an insulating layer of air around the body
• Sweat glands produce sweat. As the water in the sweat evaporates, energy is transferred by heating from our body to the environment
• Blood vessel supplying capillaries near the surface of the skin widen (vasodilation) which increases blood flow through the capillaries which increase heat loss by radiation

Question 3

What happens when we get too cool?

Answer 3

• Body hair rise, trapping a layer of air close to the skin
• Sweat gland stop producing sweat
• Shivering begins which occurs when your muscle contract and relax. This makes your cells respire faster, transferring extra energy by heating
• Blood vessels supplying capillaries near the surface of your skin narrow. (vasoconstriction). This reduce blood flow through the capillaries reducing heat loss

Question 4

How is body temperature controlled?

Answer 4

By the thermoregulatory centre in your brain

Question 5

What can chase our core body temperature to drop?

Answer 5

Exposure to extreme cold

Question 6

What causes our bodies to get too hot?

Answer 6

Exposure to very high temperatures and some infections

Question 7

What is vasodilation?

Answer 7

The widening of vessels, increasing blood flow through capillaries near the surface of the skin

Question 8

What is vasoconstriction?

Answer 8

The narrowing of blood vessels, decreasing blood flow through capillaries near the surface of the skin