homeostasis and thermoregulation

Question 1

what is homeostasis

Answer 1

it is the maintenance of a more or less constant internal environment. Receptors detect changes in blood composition and pressure to initiate changes in the respiratory/ cardiovascular system to keep conditions in safe limits.

Question 2

what are endotherms

Answer 2

Obtain most of their heat from internal metabolic activities
Behavioural changes and physiological changes to help regulate body temperature

Question 3

what are ectotherms

Answer 3

Obtain most of their heat from the environment
So they control their temperature by adapting their behaviour

Question 4

What is the normal temperature range of endothermic mammals

Answer 4

36-40°C

Question 5

What is the normal temperature range of endothermic birds

Answer 5

34-44°C

Question 6

How do endotherms conserve and gain heat in response to a cold environment

Answer 6

Shrinking the diameter of blood vessels that supply the skin, a process known as vasoconstriction, reduces blood flow and helps retain heat.
When it’s cold out, they increase metabolic heat production to keep their body temperature constant.
Fur keeps them warm
Fat layers
Shivering , these involuntary muscle contractions produce metabolic heat. Piloerection, lifting body hair by pili erector muscles.

Question 7

How do endotherms lose heat in response to a warm environment

Answer 7

Vasodilation brings more blood and heat to the body surface, facilitating radiation and evaporative heat loss, which helps to cool the body. Blood vessels get wider, or dilate.
Glands in their skin secrete sweat
Large SA : Volume ratio (low volume and high SA)
Light coloured fur to reflect heat
Pilorelaxation (hairs flatten)

Question 8

what is counter current flow

Answer 8

Some animals have this current flow mechanism - where blood flows in opposite directions next to each other
As the veins and arteries pass, the warm arterial blood from the heart transfers most of its heart to cool venous blood, balancing the temperature
Fish, wolves, monkeys, humans and birds have this mechanism

Question 9

what is hypothermia

Answer 9

This is when your body loses heat faster than it can produce heat

Question 10

what is hyperthermia

Answer 10

An abnormally high body temperature or overheating