Regulation of body temperature Flashcards
Where are the main locations of the receptors responsible for controlling body temperature?
sympathetic nervous system
Where is the location of the temperature integrating centre?
hypothalamus
What are the main effectors involved in thermal regulation?
skin
subcutaneous tissue
What adult body temperature is indicative of fever?
over 38 degrees celcius
What differentiates fever from other types of hypothermia?
a fever is characterised by an increase in the hypothalamic set point
What is a pyrogen?
a substance, typically produced by a bacterium, which produces fever when introduced or released into blood
What do humans release in response to pyrogens?
phagocytic leukocytes
What are possible advantages of a fever when fighting infection?
- microbes might work best at the body’s normal temperature
- elevated body temperature helps certain types of immune cells work better