Controlling body temperature

• What is the thermoregulatory centre

  In the brain

  contains receptors sensitive to the temperature of the blood flowing through the brain

  it receives impulses from temperature receptors in the skin
• what happens if the body temperature is too high

  -temperature receptors detect that the temperature is too high

  -thermoregulatory centre acts as a coordination centre- it receives information from the receptors and triggers the effectors automatically

  -effectors produce a response and counteract the change
• what happens if the body temperature is too low

  -receptors detect its too low

  -thermoregulatory centre acts as a coordination centre - it receives the information from the receptors and triggers the effectors automatically

  -effectors produce a response and counteract the change
• What responses are produced by effectors when you’re too hot

  Sweat is produced

  vasodilation
• how does sweating reduce body temperature

  sweat evaporates from the skin

  this transfers energy to the environment
• what is vasodilation

  the blood vessels supplying the skin dilate

  so more blood flows closer to the surface

  this helps transfer energy from the skin to the environment
• What responses are produced by effectors when you’re too cold

  Hairs stand up

  no sweat is produced

  vasoconstriction

  shivering
• why do hairs stand up when you‘re too cold

  to trap an insulating layer of air
• what is vasoconstriction

  blood vessels supplying skin capillaries constrict to close off the skins blood supply
• why do you shiver when you’re cold

  muscles contracting automatically needs respiration

  this transfers energy to warm the body