Homeostasis - thermoregulation Flashcards
what is the job of the thermoregulatory centre?
to monitor and control the body temp by the brain
what does the thermoregulatory centre contain?
receptors which are sensitive to the temperature of blood
what does the skin contain to notify the thermoregulatory system?
receptors which send electrical impulses down sensory neurones to the thermoregulatory system
what happens if the body gets too hot?
release sweat or flushing
how does the body cool itself down through releasing sweat?
sweat glands release sweat onto surface of skin which evaporates and takes energy from the body cooling it down
how does flushing cool down the body?
under the surface of the skin there are a fine network of capillaries which are supplied with blood from blood vessels further in the skin. if we get too hot, the blood vessels supplying the capillaries dilate (get wider) - vasodilation. more blood will flow through and heat can now transfer out of the blood to return body temperature to normal.
what happens if body temperature gets too low?
vasoconstriction, stop sweating or shiver
how does vasoconstriction help if the body temperature is too low?
blood vessels under skin get narrower (vasoconstriction) meaning less blood flows through the capillaries so less heat is lost from the body
how does shivering help when our body temperature is too low?
our skeletal muscles contract but to generate energy for contraction, muscle cells increase rate of respiration which releases heat
what happens when the body responds if it is too hot or cold?
thermoregulatory centre detected that the body temperature had changed from the normal value so body responded to reverse this change and restore the normal body temperature.
what is the control of body temperature an example of?
homeostasis
