Endotherms

• what is an endotherm


  animals that maintain their own internal body temperature
• peripheral temperature receptors are in the skin and detect changes in surface temperature
• temperature receptors in hypothalamus detect temperature in the blood
• temperature of skin more likely to be affected by external conditions rather than hypothalamus
• combination of skin and hypothalamus receptors allows greater sensitivity and any possible problems to be pre-empted
• what is the optimal internal temperature


  within 1° of 37°

  • hypothalamus controls responses to maintain core temperature in dynamic equilibrium
• use internal exothermic metabolic activities to warm up
• use energy-requiring physiological responses to cool down
• behavioural responses


  • basking in the sun, pressing against surfaces
  • wallowing in water or mud
  • digging burrows
  • hibernation/aestivation
• physiological responses


  • peripheral temperature receptors
  • thermoregulatory centres of hypothalamus, skin and muscles