Thermoregulation Basics
This is the process by which animals maintain their body temperature within a certain range.
What is thermoregulation?
This involuntary muscle activity generates heat when the body is cold.
What is shivering?
This type of animal, such as reptiles, relies on external heat sources to regulate body temperature.
What are ectotherms?
This illness results from prolonged exposure to cold, causing the body's core temperature to drop dangerously low.
What is hypothermia?
This part of the brain acts as the body's thermostat, regulating temperature by triggering responses such as sweating or shivering.
What is the hypothalamus?
When the body temperature drops, this process constricts blood vessels to reduce heat loss.
What is vasoconstriction?
This behavioral response involves moving to a cooler or warmer environment to regulate body temperature.
What is Migration?
This term refers to the formation of ice crystals in the body's cells and tissues due to extreme cold.
What is frostbite?
This is the part of the body most commonly affected by frostbite due to their distance from the core and high exposure to the cold.
What are fingers and toes?
This term describes organisms, like humans, that maintain a constant body temperature regardless of the environment.
What are endotherms?
This physiological response increases blood flow to the skin, allowing heat to be lost through radiation and evaporation.
What is vasodilation?
During exercise, this mechanism is crucial for dissipating heat and preventing overheating.
What is sweating?
This type of mechanism is most commonly associated with thermoregulation, where the response reduces the stimulus.
What is negative feedback?
This refers to when signals are sent to the hypothalamus, the brain's temperature control center, informing it of temperature change.
What is stimulus detection?
Some species do this to share body heat and stay warm during cold periods.
What is huddling?
These types of species may adjust their activity patterns to avoid exposure to extreme temperatures during the day.
What is nocturnal/crepuscular?
This refers to body temperature returning to the optimal range, the hypothalamus ceasing its signals and ending the cycle until another temperature disturbance occurs.
What is a homeostatic feedback loop?
People with this chronic condition, affecting blood flow to their extremities, are at higher risk of developing frostbite.
What is diabetes?