Lab 1

Homeostasis Lab

Sarah Clarke

Anatomy and Physiology 12

September 10th

Wittney and Cortney

Purpose:

To investigate how the homeostatic mechanism of body temperature regulation functions.

Background:

The term homeostasis means “staying the same.” Homeostasis is when an organism
maintains a constant internal environment regardless of external changes. This concept links
nearly all organ systems together. All homeostatic mechanisms have three parts: a sensory
receptor, a control center, and an effector. The receptor detects a stimulus from the external or
internal environment and relays the info to the control center (the brain). The control center uses
the information to instruct the effectors how to respond. This response is called feedback. There
are two types of feedback negative, where feedback will always return to a set point, and positive
where feedback will always amplify. Water levels (osmolarity), pH, Blood sugar, blood pressure,
and temperature are all examples of negative feedback in humans. While childbirth, blood clots,
and lactation are all examples of positive feedback in humans. Positive feedback would not be a
useful homeostatic mechanism as it would worsen an already unsatisfactory condition.
Therefore, homeostasis uses negative feedback loops.

Materials and Apparatus:

- Oral thermometer
- Mobile timer or stopwatch

Procedure:

Take your body temperature by placing your thermometer under your tongue for 3
minutes. Record your temperature to the nearest 0.1 Degrees C. Record your breathing rate and
heart rate for one minute at rest. Have your partner count for you. For breath rate, 1 breath is
inhalation and exhalation. Once complete, do 15 to 20 minutes of moderate to vigorous exercise
such as running, jazzercise, basketball, etc. The exercise should be what you are accustomed to,
and it should be aerobic. Immediately after you have completed the exercises observe and record
your heart rate, breathing rate, and oral temperature. Note the appearance of your neck, face, and
shoulders. Continue to record your oral temperature every five minutes until 20 minutes after or
until your body temperature returns to resting. Record all your data and observations in a chart.

Observations and Results:

Breathing rate Heart Rate Oral Temp. Appearance of

(/min) (/min) (Degrees C) Face, Neck, and
Shoulders
Resting 16 56 32 Not sweaty,
normal colour
Immediately 20 120 33 Sweaty
after exercise
Oral Temperature

Resting
After Exercise: 5 mins after - 34
10 mins after - 33
15 mins after - 33
20 mins after – 32 (Resting)

Discussion:

1. A) Explain the difference in oral temperature at rest and immediately after exercise.

The oral temperature taken right after exercise was higher than the resting body temperature.
This is most likely due to increased heart rate and external factors. The resting body temperature
is lower because the body has had time to adjust to the external environment and return to its set
point.

B) List three external factors that may result in a greater or smaller difference in oral
temperature. Explain how these factors influence the difference.

- Sunlight/Warm Weather:

When it is warmer outside your body temperature may increases a little due to your skin
absorbing the warmth from the sun

- Wind/Cold Weather:

When it is windy outside your body temperature may lower a little due to the wind blowing away
the heat emitted from our bodies.

- Water

When your body is submerged in water hot or cold your body temperture may change drastically.
Lowering when in cold water due to water conducting heat away from the body 25 times faster
than air and rising when in warm water.

2. A) Describe three homeostatic mechanisms that are used to control your body
temperature.

1. When the hypothalamus receives a single that the body is too warm it sends a message to the
sweat glands to produce sweat. This allows extra heat to evaporate off the skin, lowering the
body temperature when it is too hot.
2. When the hypothalamus receives a single that the body is too cold it sends a message to the
skeletal muscles to start contracting and relaxing (shivering). This allows energy to be made,
warming the body up.

3. When the hypothalamus receives a signal that the body is too cold it sends a signal to the body
to have the blood circulating around to focus on the more crucial parts of the body. Pulling the
blood away from extremities and towards internal organs makes the skin appear pale and may
feel numb.

B) Describe the mechanisms involved in regulating your body temperature in this

investigation. Refer to the specific observations that you made.

In our investigation we were unable to identify any changes to the skin due to the subject's darker
complexion, we were able to see perspiration on their forehead and neck. once the sweat glands
produce sweat allowing extra heat to evaporate off the skin, lowering the body temperature when
it is too hot.

C)

3. Define homeostasis.

Homeostasis is a process in which an organism or system maintains a stable internal environment

despite external changes. It involves positive feedback loops that keep key variables—like body
temperature, pH levels, and glucose concentration—within a narrow, optimal range. For
example, when body temperature rises, humans sweat to cool down; when it drops, shivering
generates heat, helping to maintain balance.

4. Describe the three components of a homeostatic mechanism and name the specific
components involved in the regulation of body temperature.
- Receptors: The temperature-sensitive nerve cells in the skin and the hypothalamus act as
receptors. These detect changes in body temperature and relay the information.
- Control Center: The hypothalamus in the brain acts as the control center. It processes
information about body temperature and compares it to the set point (around 37°C or
98.6°F in humans).
- Effectors: The effectors include sweat glands, blood vessels, and muscles.
 5. A) Explain why negative and not positive feedback is more common.

Negative feedback will always return to a set point. Positive feedback always amplifies and tends
to make things worse; this is why negative feedback is more common.

B) Explain how the following examples illustrate positive feedback: blood clot formation,
courtship and mating, and the depolarization of an axon resulting in an action potential.

In blood clot formation, when a blood vessel is injured, platelets adhere to the site and release
chemicals that attract more platelets, rapidly increasing the clot until the wound is covered. In
courtship and mating, an initial display, like a bird’s song, encourages reciprocal behaviors in
the potential mate, amplifying the courtship signals until mating happens. In axon
depolarization during an action potential, the opening of sodium channels causes further
depolarization, triggering more sodium channels to open, rapidly propagating the nerve signal
along the axon. In all cases, positive feedback enhances and accelerates the process toward a
specific outcome.

6. Describe the following conditions with respect to their cause, symptoms and cure or
control: fever, heat stroke, heat exhaustion, hypothermia, and frostbite.

Fever is usually caused by infections, leading to elevated body temperature, chills, fatigue, and
headaches. It can be managed by using fever-reducing medications like acetaminophen. Heat
stroke, caused by lots of exposure to heat or physical exertion, results in a dangerously high
body temperature, confusion, and unconsciousness. Immediate cooling and medical intervention
are essential. Heat exhaustion, due to excessive sweating in hot conditions, leads to weakness,
dizziness, and heavy sweating, and can be treated with rest, hydration, and cooling down.
Hypothermia, caused by exposure to cold, drops the body’s temperature below 35°C, leading to
shivering, confusion, and loss of coordination. It requires immediate warming and possibly
medical attention. Frostbite occurs when skin freezes from cold exposure, causing numbness
and pale skin, often in extremities. It can be treated by gentle rewarming, and in severe cases
may need medical care.

7. Describe how a countercurrent heat exchanger functions in maintaining body

temperature.

A countercurrent heat exchanger maintains body temperature by transferring heat between fluids
flowing in opposite directions. In the human body, this system is often found in blood vessels,
particularly in the extremities. Warm arterial blood flowing from the body’s core transfers heat
to the cooler venous blood returning from the extremities. As the warm blood moves towards the
extremities, it heats up the cooler returning blood. This process reduces heat loss and helps to
conserve body heat, maintaining stable core temperatures.
Conclusions:

In conclusion, I learned the body’s complex ability to regulate temperature through homeostatic
mechanisms involving receptors, control centers, and effectors. By observing temperature
changes during and after exercise, we confirmed how the body adjusts to maintain a set point.
Understanding these processes is key to managing temperature-related health conditions and
appreciating the body's self-regulation systems.