thermoregulation Flashcards
Regulation of body temp
balancing of heat gain and loss in order to maintain a constant internal body temp independent of the environmental temperature
Human body temp
36.8°C – 37°C
why is it Optimum (Human body temp)
Optimum for cellular reactions
how to achieve this optimum temp
heat gained by the body = heat lost from the body
which is higher: Internal body temp or surrounding environmental temp
Internal body temp usually higher than surrounding environmental temp
temp during exercise
increase in metabolic rate generates more heat than the body needs to keep its temp constant → excess heat needs to be removed or body temp will rise
what can an increased temp lead to?
nerve malfunction, change in structure of proteins, death
how is heat produced
Carbs, proteins and lipids we eat contain energy in chemical bonds → energy released when food is oxidised through cellular respiration
- Energy released in the form of heat
metabolic rate
Rate at which energy is released by the breakdown of food
Factors that affect metabolic rate
stress and body temp
Factors that affect metabolic rate: stress
Stress increased the rate due to activities of autonomic NS → noradrenaline is released and increases metabolic activity of cells
Factors that affect metabolic rate: body temp
For each 1C rise in body temp, rate of biochemical reactions increases by about 10% (if an individual has a fever, metabolic rate may be double the normal rate
Thermoreceptors
temperature receptors
Peripheral thermoreceptors
found in skin and mucous membranes; detect changes in external environment → send to hypothalamus
Central thermoreceptors
found in hypothalamus; detect temperature of internal environment
Additional thermoreceptors
spinal cord, abdominal organs (provide hypothalamus with info about internal environment)
Two types of thermoreceptors
cold and heat
Cold receptors
stimulated by lower temperatures → hypothalamus receives info and initiates heat conservation and heat production mechanisms
Heat receptors
detect temperatures higher than normal → mechanisms operate to reduce heat production and increase heat loss
Skin
Skin an important organ in regulating body temp (large SA and location of skin b/w internal and external environment)
Changes in the skin can speed up or slow down rate at which heat is lost from the body
Heat can be lost from the skin by: (4)
- Conduction: transfer of heat by direct contact b/w particles
- Convection: transfer of heat by movement of a liquid or gas
- Radiation: transfer of heat by infrared radiation being emitted by objects
- Evaporation: process of a liquid forming a gas, which absorbs heat energy
Blood vessels: purpose in thermoregulation
Blood vessels located in the dermis of the skin carry heat to the skin from the core of the body