Regulation of Body temperature Flashcards
Where does heat travel
from areas of higher temperature to areas of lower temperatures
what are the four main methods of heat transfer
conduction, convection, evaporation and radiation
what is the regulation of body temo in the body called
thermoregulation
what is the modulator/control centre in thermoregulation
the hypothalamus
what is the receptor in thermoregulation
thermoreceptors, typically near the brain or on the skin
what is the effector in thermoregulation
a variety of cells and tissues across the body
what is the normal body temp for humans
37 degress celcius
what mechanisms are used to cool the body down
vasodilation, sweating, hairs lying flat
what is vasodilation
arteriols near the surface of the skin become wider, allowing more blood to flow through them, this increases the amount of heat lost through the surface of the skin through radiation (red skin)
how does sweating cool us down
sweat glands increase the secretion of sweat, when the sweat evaporates from the skins surface it takes heat energy with it.
what is hairs lying flat and how does it cool us down
erector pili muscles underneath our skin relax which causes the hair on our body to lay flat which means less air is trapped by the hairs through insulation
what are the responses to being cold
vasoconstriction, shivering and hairs standing up
what is shivering
when skeletal muscles contract in spasms increasing the amount of respiration inside the muscle and heat is generated as a result
what is vasoconstriction
arteriols near the suurface of the skin become narrower so less blood can flow through them this minimises the amount of heat lost tthrough raidation on our skins surface
what is hairs standing up and how does it warm us up
erector pili muscles underneath the skin contract which causes the hair on our body to stand on end this hair traps a layer or air providing an insulator
