Nervous System - Temperature Control + Thermoregulation Flashcards
What is the human body’s core temperature
37 degrees
Why is the human body temperature it temperature that it is?
optimum temperature for enzymes to work best
Where is the thermoregulatory centre located at?
The hypothalamus in the brain
What cells are in the thermoregulatory centre that detect temperature change?
Temperature receptors
How does the receptors in the thermoregulatory centre detect change in temperature?
Detects the temperature of the blood flowing through the brain
Temperature receptors also receive additional information form where
Skin
How do the temperature receptors detect and transmit the temperature on the skin
Skin receptors send electrical impulses to the thermoregulatory centre - sending information about skin temperature
What is the response in the smooth muscles in the arterials that supply the skin when a high temperature is detected?
Vasodilation:
- arterioles dilate
- more blood flows through capillaries (under skin surface)
- more heat lost through the skin
What is the response in the sweat glands when a high temperature is detected?
Glands secrete more sweat onto surface of skin
- sweat evaporates
- water has high latent heat of evaporation —> heat from skin is transferred to surrounding
What is the response in the smooth muscles in the arterioles that supply the skin when a low temperature is detected?
Vasoconstriction:
- arterioles contract
- less blood flow to capillaries
- less heat carried from core to surface of body —> maintaining core body temperature
- less heat lost from skin surface
What is the response in the sweat glands when a low temperature is detected?
less / no sweat produced —> less sweat evaporates —> reducing thermal energy lost
What is the response in the skeletal muscles when a low temperature is detected?
shivering:
- muscles contract and relax repeatedly
- increased rate of respiration
- more heat generated —> releases thermal energy which raises body temperature
