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Temperature Regulation
Allows humans to cope with a wide range
of environments
Temperature Regulation
Mammals are endothermic homeotherms,
which is a very precise way of saying
they regulate their own body temperature.
It is worth noting that not all organisms
do so because it would in fact be
disadvantageous for some to do so.
Furthermore some organisms regulate
their body temperature solely through
behavioural methods.
Temperature Regulation
In humans it is the core
body temperature
which is maintained by
homeostasis.
Components
•1. Thermoreceptors in the skin
Receptors •2. Thermoreceptors in the hypothalamus
•Sweat glands
•Hair erector muscles
Effectors •Arterioles supplying skin capillaries
•Skeletal muscles
•Glands
Hypothalamus (of a
sheep)
Hypothalamus (of a
sheep)
Hypothalamus
Skin based effectors
Skin based effectors
Skin based effectors
Skin based effectors – responding to heat gain
Effector Response
Effector Response
max. 8
Exam questions
2. Size matters for marathon runners. Big athletes produce more heat and
find it harder to keep cool. Shape matters too - a tall, thin runner has fewer
problems keeping cool than a short, tubby runner of the same body mass. A
65 kg athlete running a marathon in 2 hours 10 minutes in reasonably dry
conditions can avoid overheating at air temperatures up to 37 °C, but in
humid conditions the same level of performance is possible only at
temperatures below about 17 °C.
(a) Explain how athletes produce heat when they run. (2)
(b) Why does a ‘tall, thin runner have fewer problems keeping cool than a
short, tubby runner of the same body mass’? (2)
(c) Explain why runners are more likely to overheat in humid conditions. (3)
(d) Describe how the body responds to a rise in core body temperature. (5)
(Total 12 marks)
Exam answers
2. (a) Respiration for muscular activity; (energy ‘needed/used’ for
respiration’
etc, disqualifies)
respiration inefficient / releases waste heat / all energy ‘ends up as ‘heat’
2
(b) Larger surface area: volume ratio, or less fat under skin;
more rapid / more heat loss from body surface. 2
(c) Humidity reduces diffusion gradient / less difference in water potential;
less evaporation of sweat;
less cooling due to use of heat energy for evaporation of sweat.3
(d) Temperature receptors stimulated in; (in skin disqualifies)
hypothalamus;
heat loss centre stimulated;
nerve impulses to sweat glands;
increase rate of / start sweat production;
nerve impulses to skin arterioles;
vasodilation (ref to vessels moving disqualifies) max 5
[12]