Chapter 12: Thermoregulation Flashcards
What is an endotherm?
An animal that retains heat generated by metabolic activity
What is thermoregulation?
The process of maintaining the internal body temperature
What are the structural features of endotherms?
Insulation, brown adipose tissue, shape and size
What is brow adipose tissue?
Tissue with high numbers of mitochondria which results in increased heat produced
How does shape and size help with thermoregulation?
Surface area : volume ratio reduces heat loss
What are the behavioural response?
Huddling and shutting down in extreme conditions
What is lower critical temperature?
the external temperature which metabolic activity rises, increasing the output of heat
What is upper critical temperature?
The temperature at which the body’s cooling mechanisms failing, resulting in metabolic activity
What are the physiological mechanisms?
Vasomotor control, evaporative heat loss, counter-current exchange and thermogenesis
What is vasomotor control?
The dilation of blood vessels near the surface of the skin to release heat
What is evaporative heat loss?
The sweat glands produce skin which in conjunction with the outside temperature cool to blood
What is counter-current exchange?
Arteries and veins located close to each other, in outer limbs, the blood is cooled and doesn’t cells cell activities
What is thermogenesis?
Shivering
What is the hypothalamus?
A region in the forebrain, it secretes hormones which regulate body temperature
What is insulin?
A hormone produced by the pancreas that regulated the amount of glucose in the blood
