Thermoregulation

Marvi
Rabeka
Naila
Homeostasis
Thermoregulation
(Regulation of Body
Temperature)
Thermoregulation refers to the mechanisms
and control systems used by the body to
balance thermal inputs and thermal losses so
as to maintain its core temperature nearly
constant.
Regulation of Body
Temperature
Body temperature balance between heat
production and heat loss
At rest, the liver, heart, brain, and endocrine
organs account for most heat production
During vigorous exercise, heat production from
skeletal muscles can increase 3040 times
Normal body temperature is 36.2C (98.2F); optimal
enzyme activity occurs at this temperature
Temperature spikes above this range denature
proteins and depress neurons

Core and Shell
Temperature
Organs in the core (within the skull, thoracic, and
abdominal cavities) have the highest
temperature
The shell, essentially the skin, has the lowest
temperature
Blood serves as the major agent of heat transfer
between the core and shell
Core temperature remains relatively constant,
while shell temperature fluctuates substantially
(20 C40 C)

Mechanisms of Heat
Exchange
The body uses four mechanisms of heat exchange
Radiation loss of heat in the form of infrared
rays
Conduction transfer of heat by direct contact
Convection transfer of heat to the surrounding
air
Evaporation heat loss due to the evaporation of
water from the lungs, mouth mucosa, and skin
(insensible heat loss)
Evaporative heat loss becomes sensible when body
temperature rises and sweating produces increased
water for vaporization
Role of the
Hypothalamus
The main thermoregulation center is the preoptic
region of the hypothalamus
The heat-loss and heat-promoting centers
comprise the thermoregulatory centers
The hypothalamus:
Receives input from thermoreceptors in the skin
and core
Responds by initiating appropriate heat-loss and
heat-promoting activities
Heat-Promoting
Mechanisms

Low external temperature or low temperature of
circulating blood activates heat-promoting
centers of the hypothalamus to cause:

Vasoconstriction of subcutaneous blood vessels
Increased metabolic rate
Shivering
Enhanced thyroxine release

Heat-Loss
Mechanisms
When the core temperature rises, the heat-loss
center is activated to cause:
Vasodilation
Enhanced sweating
Voluntary measures commonly taken to reduce
body heat include:
Reducing activity and seeking a cooler
environment
Wearing light-colored and loose-fitting clothing

Sweating
Vasodilation

CONCLUSION

The bodys ability to adapt to heat and cold are
crucial to the maintenance of life. The
mechanisms described above are capable of
controlling the temperature within defined limits.
If external factors become too extreme the body
cannot compensate and death may result.

Maintenance of Body Temperature
Epidermis
Dermis
Outermost
layer
Middle
layer
Innermost
layer
Sweat gland
Blood capillaries
Subcutaneous fat
Receptors
Erector
muscle
Nerve fibres
Sebaceous
gland
Hair
follicle
Structure of Mammalian Skin
Epidermis
dead outer layer
relatively impermeable
easily peeled off
protect the underlying tissues
to prevent mechanical
injury
to prevent bacterial entry
to reduce water loss
middle layer
made up of living cells
become dead as they approach the
surface
black inner layer
with pigment (melanin) to absorb ultra-
violet ray for sunlight
have cell division to repair the lost outer
layers
Epidermis
Dermis
CBlood capillaries
to nourish the cells of the skin
branch into superficial blood capillaries
CSweat gland
surrounded by a network of capillaries
secrete sweat (consists of water, mineral
salts, urea & some waste materials)
characteristic of mammals
CHair follicles & Hairs
each hair has a nerve & a capillary attached to it
nerve: receives stimuli
capillary: supply food & oxygen
hairs reduce heat loss & assist in temperature
regulation
CErector muscle
controls the hair movement for temperature
regulation
Dermis
CSebaceous gland
secretes oily substance
to make the skin waterproof
to prevent bacterial entry
Receptors
detect pain, pressure, temperature & touch
Dermis
U beneath the Dermis
U for fat storage
U acts as insulator of heat
Subcutaneous Fat
Functions of Our Skin
Eprotect the body (epidermis)
+to provide mechanical protection
+to prevent bacterial entry
+to reduce water loss
Etemperature regulation (hair)
Functions of Our Skin
Eexcretion of sweat (sweat gland)
Estore fats (subcutaneous fat)
Esensation (numerous receptors )
Eproduction of vitamin D under ultra-violet
light (inner epidermis)
Control Body
Temperature in
Hot Conditions
More sweat is produced by sweat glands
evaporation of sweat takes away heat which
produces a cooling effect
Vasodilation of skin arterioles
arterioles near the surface of the skin
dilates
to let more blood flows near the skin surface
to have more heat lost by conduction &
radiation.
EFFECTS ON BODY VESSELS
Vasodilation





Normal





Vasoconstriction
VASODILATION:
Smooth muscles
relaxes,increasing lumen
diameter,increasing blood
flow.

VASOCONSTRICTION:
Smooth muscle of artries
contracts,lumen of blood
vessel smaller,reducing
flow.
Erector muscles relax
hairs lie flat on the skin
reduce thickness of air trapped among
the hairs (not effective in human
because humans hairs are short)
Develop thinner subcutaneous fat &
shed their fur
as long term responses
increase heat loss
Decrease metabolic rate & muscle
contraction
gain less heat
Control Body
Temperature in
Cold Conditions
Vasoconstriction of skin arterioles
arterioles near the surface of the
skin constrict
to let less blood flows near the skin
surface
to have less heat lost by conduction
& radiation
Erector muscles contract
pull hairs erect for trapping more air
thicker layer of air acts as a good
insulator of heat
Less sweat is produced by sweat glands
reduce heat loss by evaporation

Develop thicker subcutaneous fat &
thicker fur
as long term responses
reduce heat loss
Increase metabolic rate & muscle
contraction
gain more heat