Thermoregulation
1. Define the following key terms
a) Thermoregulation
=>The process of keeping a constant internal body temperature
b) Homeotherms
=> An organism which is able to keep a constant internal body temperature and which is often warmer than
the surrounding environment.
c) Homeothermic
=> Organisms which are warm blooded.
d) Endotherms
An organism which can use heat from chemical reactions in cells to warm their bodies and regulate
temperature by shivering or sweating.
2. Which part of the brain contains the thermoregulatory center?
=> Hypothalamus
3. How does this part of the brain monitor body temperature?
=> It can monitor blood temperature as it flows through the hypothalamus
4. Describe why it is important for our body temperature to remain at 37oC. Us the following words in
your answer; Chemical reactions, respiration, enzymes and denaturing
=> So that chemical reactions can take place at the right rate, for example respiration. Another reason why it
is important for our body temperature to remain at 37oC so the enzymes don’t start denaturing.
5. Below is a diagram of the skin, complete the table below to label structures 1-13 and describe the
function of each structure.
Label Name of structure Function
number
1 Epidermis Stops water loss and protects the body against
pathogens
2 Dermis Contains sensory receptors, sweat glands, blood
vessels and hair follicles
3 Hypodermis Contains fat tissue, which insulates the body and
stores energy
4 Pore Allows oily chemicals and sweat to escape from
the Dermis for thermoregulation. In addition,
pore is the opening of a hair follicle where hair
starts to grow
5 Hair For thermoregulation and evaporation of sweat
6 Hair erector muscle Contracts so that hairs stand up and trap a layer
of insulating air
7 Capillary loop To carry blood in the papillae of the skin, allowing
widening or narrowing for thermoregulation.
8 Temperature receptor Detects changes in temperature
9 Fat layer Insulates the body and stores energy
10 Pressure receptor Detects changes in pressure
11 Sweat gland Secretes sweat for thermoregulation
12 Pain receptor Detects changes in pain
13 Oil gland Secretes oily chemicals
6. The diagram below shows the same piece of skin at two different temperatures.
a) Diagram A shows the skin when the body temperature is cooler
b) Diagram B shows the skin when the body temperature is warmer
c) Complete the table below to show the changes that take place when a person is in a hot or
cold environment
Changes taking place Hot environment Cold environment
Sweating Sweat glands secrete sweat N/A, sweat glands don’t secrete
onto the skin in order to release sweat in cold environments.
the heat through evaporation.
Blood flow through Vasodilation (blood vessels widen) Vasoconstriction (blood vessels
capillary loop so blood flow increases through narrow) so blood flow decreases
the surface of the skin, hence through the surface of the skin, so
more heat is radiated out of the less heat is radiated out of the skin.
skin.
Hairs in skin Erectors muscle relax, hairs lay Erectors muscle contract, hair
flat stands up
Shivering N/A Muscle contract automatically which
needs a lot of energy from
respiration. Heat energy is released
as a byproduct which is used to
warm the body
Metabolism Metabolic rate decreases so we Metabolic rate increases so we burn
burn less calories to cool us down more calories to heat us up.
7. Look at the table of body temperatures for mammals and birds below and use the information to answer
the following questions.
a) How does the average temperature of birds differ from the average temperature of mammals?
Can you suggest a reason why this is an advantage for birds?
The average temperature of birds is higher than the average temperature of mammals. This means that they
can travel in higher altitudes and also lose less energy due to their basal metabolic rate being higher.
b) Is there a relationship between the body temperature of a mammal and the temperature of its
habitat? Give an example to support your answer
The body temperature of a mammal is relatively constant regardless of its ambient temperature. For
example, the internal body temperature of a mammal stays around 37°C even if the ambient temperature is
at 10°C or at 40°C.
c) Polar bears have thick white fur covering their bodies. Explain two ways in which this is an
adaptation to their habitat (the place where the animals live).
More insulating air is captured.
Reflects light.
For camouflage.
