Temperature Regulation

Homeostasis

Thermoregulation
Thermoregulation is the process of keeping the body at a constant temperature.

How would you feel in this environment?

How would you feel in this environment?

How would you feel?

South Pole, <41C

To understand thermoregulatory adaptations, must know paths of energy exchange: radiation, convection, conduction, evaporation

Same temperature?
Using the probes supplied collect the temperature of 2 members in your group.
Where will you place the temperature probe? Why have you chosen this point? How did you choose your volunteers?

Now work out the class average.

In humans it is the core body temperature which is maintained by homeostasis.

420C
390C NORMAL 370C

DEATH from HYPERTHERMIA Dehydration and heat stroke Unusual sweating, fever

350C
330C

Shivering

Difficulty in staying awake 280C Breathing stops 250C DEATH from HYPOTHERMIA

Differences between core and skin temperature.

Two class volunteers required. (H&S)
2 groups to join together

Place one hand in very cold water. Collect the following data:
Water temperature will a standard thermometer Changing skin temperature of the other hand Core body temperature Final skin temperature of hand in water after a few minutes

Does size matter?

Each group collect 5 different size beakers. Fill each to just below the lip with boiling water. Measure the start temperature.
Measure the height of the water in the beaker. Measure the radius of the beaker.

Record the final temperature after 10 minutes. Measure the volume of water in each beaker. Now calculate the rate of temperature in relation to size.

Prep
Size relates to Surface Area:Volume We will need the height of the water in the beaker and the radius of the beaker

Prepare a table for results and a graph. Write a paragraph on results.

 Human enzymes work best at 37C (body temperature). The temperature of the body is monitored by a part of the brain called the hypothalamus.

How do we respond?

Temperature Control
Cold Hot

 If you are too hot or too cold the hypothalamus sends nerve impulses to the skin, which has three ways to either increase or decrease heat loss from the body's surface.

1. Hairs
Hairs on the skin trap more warmth if they are standing up, and less if they are lying flat.
Tiny muscles in the skin can quickly pull the hairs upright to reduce heat loss, or lay them down flat to increase heat loss.

2. Glands
Glands under the skin secrete sweat onto the surface of the skin in order to increase heat loss by evaporation if the body is too hot.
Sweat secretion stops when body temperature returns to normal.

3. Blood vessels
Blood vessels supplying blood to the skin can swell or dilate (called vasodilation)
so that more heat is carried by the blood to the skin where it can be lost to the air; or

shrink down again (called vasoconstriction)

to reduce heat loss through the skin once the body temperature has returned to normal.

Other effectors and responses

Shivering. skeletal muscles contract and relax involuntarily to generate heat. Hormones
A lowered core temperature stimulates the release of the hormones adrenaline and thyroxine from the adrenal and thyroid glands. Both these hormones increase the bodys metabolic rate to generate heat.