Lesson 6: Thermoregulation

Question 1

What is body temperature “monitored and controlled” by in the human body?

Answer 1

Body temperature is monitored and controlled by the thermoregulatory
centre in the brain.

Question 2

What does the thermoregulatory centre in the brain contain to detect changes in the temp of the blood?

Answer 2

• The thermoregulatory centre contains receptors, sensitive to the temperature of the blood.

Question 3

Which two parts of the body contain receptors sensitive to temperature?

Answer 3

• Skin
• Thermoregulatory centre (brain.)

Question 4

After the skin receptors detect a change in temperature, what happens?

Answer 4

• A nervous impulse will be sent to the thermoregulatory centre.

Question 5

How does the body respond to restore normal body temperature when it’s too hot?

Answer 5

• Sweat is produced from sweat glands and evporates (taking energy out of the body.)
• Blood vessels (supplying surface of skin) dilate (get wider) - more blood flow near surface of skin/ more heat is lost.

Question 6

What is the scientific word for blood vessels dilating/ becoming wider?

Answer 6

• Vasodilation

Question 7

How do the mechanisms of the body allow us to cool down when the temperature of the body rises?

Answer 7

• The mechanisms cause a transfer of energy from the skin to the environment.

Question 8

How does the body respond to restore normal body temperature when the temperature falls?

Answer 8

• Sweating stops (reduce energy lost.)
• Skeletal muscles contract (shiver) –> more respiration –> more heat energy released.
• Blood vessels (suppling surface of the skin) constrict. Less blood flows near surface of the skin - so less heat lost.

Question 9

What is the scientific word for blood vessels becoming narrower/ constricting when it’s cold?

Answer 9

• Vasoconstriction.