- Thermo-regulation - maintanence of body temperature within a range that enables cells to function properly. Standard body temperature = 37 degrees C
- Hypothalamus - a region of the vertebrate's brain responsible for coordinating many nerve and hormone functions.
Response to heat stress
- Sensors in the brain detect a rise in body temperature, a nerve message is coordinated within the hypothalamus and a signal is sent, telling your sweat glands to initiate sweating.
- Evaporation of this sweat cools the body and at the same time, blood vesicles in the skin dilate allowing blood flow to the skin to cool your blood.
- This cooled blood is circulated and keeps your organs cool.
- Salts are lost from your body during perspiration. (electrolytes- this is why athletes use sports drinks such as Gatorade to replenish their electrolytes while exercising)
- Message again sent to hypothalamus, telling your body to attempt to heat itself up.
- Nerves going to arterioles of the skin cause smooth muscles to contract and arterioles constrict to limit blood flow. This keeps heat in your core.
- you get goosebumps because smooth muscles are around the hair follicles.
- prolonged exposure to the cold can increase your metabolism to create heat.
- A drop of a few degrees in your core body temperature can cause a coma or death.
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