Thermoregulation Flashcards
Thermoregulatory centre
In the brain as the hypothalamus
Contains receptors sensitive to temperature of blood
Temperature receptors in skin
Send electrical impulses down sensory neurones to the brain (thermoregulatory centre)
So can detect if body temperature gets too high or low
If temperature gets too high
Sweating
Vasodilation
Sweating
Sweat glands release sweat onto surface of skin which evaporates = takes energy from body to cool down
Flushing/ vasodilation
Blood capillaries under skin dilate/ get wider
More water enters the capillaries
Which can transfer out the blood through skin surface
If body temperature gets too low
Vasoconstriction
Stop sweating
Shivering
Vasoconstriction
Capillaries under skin get more narrow
Less blood can flow = less heat lost through surface of heat
Shivering
Skeletal muscles contract
To get energy for this we require respiration
Which releases heat energy = warm