Controlling Body Temperature

• What is the optimal body temperature for enzymes in the body?

  37°C
• What must body temperature be kept constant for?

  • To balance energy gained through respiration
  • To maintain core body temperature
• What does the thermoregulatory center in the brain contain?

  Temperature receptors sensitive to blood temperature
• How does the thermoregulatory center respond to high core body temperature?

  It detects that the temperature is too high
• What happens when the core body temperature is too low?

  The thermoregulatory center detects it
• What are the roles of the thermoregulatory center?

  • Receives impulses from temperature receptors
  • Triggers effectors to maintain body temperature
• What do effectors do in response to temperature changes?

  They produce a response to maintain temperature
• How do sweat glands respond to high body temperature?

  They produce sweat to cool the body
• What is the effect of muscles when body temperature is low?

  They contract to generate heat
• What are some factors that can affect body temperature regulation?

  • Environmental temperature
  • Physical activity level
  • Hormonal changes
• How do antagonistic effectors work in temperature regulation?

  They work against each other to stabilize temperature
• What happens when one effector heats while another cools the body?

  They work simultaneously to achieve precise temperature
• What are the body's mechanisms for altering temperature?

  • Sweating to cool down
  • Shivering to warm up
  • Blood flow adjustments
• What is a response when the body is too hot?

  Body cools down through sweating
• What is a response when the body is too cold?

  Body warms up through shivering
• What are the different responses produced by effectors?

  • Sweating for cooling
  • Shivering for warming
  • Blood vessel constriction or dilation
• What is the role of skin temperature receptors?

  They provide information about skin temperature
• How do the body and environment interact in temperature regulation?

  The body responds to environmental temperature changes
• What is the significance of maintaining a precise body temperature?

  It ensures optimal enzyme activity and metabolism
• What are the consequences of failing to regulate body temperature?

  • Enzyme denaturation
  • Impaired metabolic processes
  • Potentially life-threatening conditions
• What does the mechanism allow in terms of response sensitivity?

  It allows a more sensitive response.
• What does the body have for altering its temperature?

  Some nifty tricks.
• What do different responses produced by effectors do?

  They counteract and adjust body temperature.
• What happens when you are too hot?

  You sweat to cool down.
• What occurs when you are too cold?

  You shiver to generate heat.
• What does sweating produce when you are hot?

  It produces sweat from glands.
• What does the blood supply do when you are hot?

  It increases to the skin surface.
• What is the term for the blood supply increasing to the skin?

  Vasodilation.
• How does vasodilation help the body?

  It helps transfer energy to the environment.
• What do hairs do when you are cold?

  They stand up to trap air.
• What happens to sweat production when you are cold?

  No sweat is produced.
• What do blood vessels do during vasoconstriction?

  They constrict to reduce blood flow.
• What happens when you shiver?

  Muscles contract to generate heat.
• What does shivering require for energy?

  It requires respiration.
• What can happen to people exposed to extreme cold without protection?

  They can get frostbite on extremities.
• What happens to blood supply to fingers and toes in extreme cold?

  It gets cut off to conserve energy.
• What is the effect of reduced blood supply to extremities?

  It reduces energy loss in cold.
• What is the consequence of cutting off blood supply to cells?

  It can kill the cells.
• What is the area of the brain that controls body temperature?

  The hypothalamus.
• What is homeostasis?

  It is the maintenance of stable internal conditions.