Control of Body Temperature

Created by

Sara rashid

Cards (11)

What should the human body temperature be kept at in celsius and why?
Around 37°C
This gives an optimum temperature for enzymes to work
What is the thermoregulatory centre?
The part of the brain responsible for maintaining a constant body temperature in warm blooded animals
What does the thermoregulatory centre in the brain do/contain?
-monitors and controls body temperature
-has receptors that monitor the temperature of the blood flowing through the brain
-receives information (impulses) from temperature receptors in the skin
What happens in the thermoregulatory centre if the body temperature is too high?
-blood vessels widen, directing more blood to the surface of the skin
-more sweat is produced from the sweat glands and evaporates
-both these mechanisms cause a transfer of energy from the skin to the environment
What is vasodilation?
process that occurs when blood vessels in the skin become wider so that more blood flows close to the surface of the skin to increase heat loss
What happens in the thermoregulatory centre if the body temperature is too low?
-blood vessels narrow, directing blood away from the surface of the skin
-sweating stops
-skeletal muscles uncontrollably contract and relax quickly (shiver), which transfers more heat to the blood
What is vasoconstriction?
Process that occurs when blood vessels in the skin become narrower so that less blood flows close to the surface of the skin
How is the brain alerted for changes in the external temperature of a person?
Temperature receptors in the skin give the brain an early warning
This allows behaviour to be adjusted to stop the body temperature changing
What behaviour would a person do if their body temperature is too high?
Taking off of clothes
What behaviour would a person do if their body temperature was too low?
Putting on more clothes
How do blood vessels in the skin adjust how much energy is transferred to the outside?
They narrow and widen since they cannot move